Columbia College vs. Tennessee Wesleyan College

Should I go to Columbia College or Tennessee Wesleyan College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Columbia College or Tennessee Wesleyan College is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Columbia College vs. Tennessee Wesleyan College comparison
Columbia College Tennessee Wesleyan College College 3 College 4
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Overview

Columbia College Tennessee Wesleyan College
Location Columbia, SC Athens, TN
Setting Midsize City Distant Town
Enrollment 1,572 1,074
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #914 #725
Religious Affiliation United Methodist United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website columbiasc.edu twcnet.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Columbia College Tennessee Wesleyan College
Tuition (In State) $20,650 $28,014
Tuition (Out of State) $20,650 $28,014
Room & Board $8,550 $9,416
Avg Net Price $23,920 $16,414
Avg Grant Aid $13,961 $20,782
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 100%

Admission

Columbia College Tennessee Wesleyan College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,163 988
Admitted 2,072 587
Acceptance Rate 95.8% 59.4%
Enrolled % 9.8% 28.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.56 3.5
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 14/18 17/23
SAT Range 850/1140 960/1100
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline

Academics

Columbia College Tennessee Wesleyan College
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (20%)
  • Psychology (12%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Human Services (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Business (25%)
  • Health Professions (24%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (10%)
  • General Studies (8%)

Outcomes

Columbia College Tennessee Wesleyan College
Graduation Rate 50% 44%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $34,700 $42,700
Making Student Loan Payments 43% 61%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,264 $18,750
Median Loan Payment $261 $193

Diversity

Columbia College Tennessee Wesleyan College
% Men 2% 6%
% Women 17% 14%
Racial Diversity High Low
HBCU No No
% White 55% 78%
% Black 34% 8%
% Hispanic 4% 3%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 2% 4%
% Unknown Race 1% 4%

Students

Columbia College Tennessee Wesleyan College
% In-State 79% 80%
% Out-of-State 16% 14%

Campus

Columbia College Tennessee Wesleyan College
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Columbia College is larger than than Tennessee Wesleyan College based on total student enrollment (1,572 students vs. 1,074 students)

Columbia College vs. Tennessee Wesleyan College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbia College or Tennessee Wesleyan College?

  • Tennessee Wesleyan College is 35.7% more expensive to attend than Columbia College for in-state tuition ($28,014.00 vs. $20,650.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 35.7% higher at Tennessee Wesleyan College than Columbia College ($28,014.00 vs. $20,650.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Tennessee Wesleyan College than Columbia College ($16,414 vs. $23,920)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia College are 10.1% lower than costs at Tennessee Wesleyan College ($8,550 vs. $9,416)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Tennessee Wesleyan College than Columbia College (100% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Tennessee Wesleyan College students is 48.9% larger than aid received Columbia College ($20,782 vs. $13,961)

Columbia College vs. Tennessee Wesleyan College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Columbia College or Tennessee Wesleyan College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Tennessee Wesleyan College or Columbia College .

  • The average SAT score at Tennessee Wesleyan College (1019) is 48 points higher than at Columbia College (971)
  • Incoming Tennessee Wesleyan College students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at Columbia College (21)
  • Accepted freshman Columbia College students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.56) than students at Tennessee Wesleyan College (3.5)
  • Columbia College has a higher acceptance rate (95.8%) than Tennessee Wesleyan College (59.4%)

Columbia College vs. Tennessee Wesleyan College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Columbia College or Tennessee Wesleyan College? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Tennessee Wesleyan College and Columbia College.

  • The graduation rate at Columbia College is higher than Tennessee Wesleyan College (50% vs. 44%)
  • Graduates from Tennessee Wesleyan College earn on average $8,000 more per year than Columbia College graduates after ten years. ($42,700 vs. $34,700)
  • Tennessee Wesleyan College students graduate with a $6,514 lower median federal student loan debt than Columbia College graduates. ($18,750 vs. $25,264)
  • Tennessee Wesleyan College graduates are paying $68 less per month on federal student loans than Columbia College graduates. ($193 vs. $261)
  • More Tennessee Wesleyan College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia College students, three years after graduation. (61% vs. 43%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/