Columbia College vs. UTC

Should I go to Columbia College or The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Columbia College or UTC 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. The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga comparison
Columbia College The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga College 3 College 4
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
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Overview

 Columbia College UTC
Location Columbia, SC Chattanooga, TN
Setting Midsize City Midsize City
Enrollment 1,572 11,380
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #914 #815
Religious Affiliation United Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website columbiasc.edu utc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Columbia College UTC
Tuition (In State) $20,650 $8,232
Tuition (Out of State) $20,650 $16,296
Room & Board $8,550 $10,052
Avg Net Price $23,920 $13,801
Avg Grant Aid $13,961 $9,834
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 93%

Admission

 Columbia College UTC
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,163 9,096
Admitted 2,072 7,006
Acceptance Rate 95.8% 77%
Enrolled % 9.8% 34%
Avg High School GPA 3.56 3.61
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 14/18 20/25
SAT Range 850/1140 1005/1185
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline May 1, 2025

Academics

 Columbia College UTC
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (20%)
  • Psychology (12%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Human Services (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)

Outcomes

 Columbia College UTC
Graduation Rate 50% 39%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $34,700 $40,600
Making Student Loan Payments 43% 56%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,264 $20,792
Median Loan Payment $261 $214

Diversity

 Columbia College UTC
% Men 2% 5%
% Women 17% 8%
Racial Diversity High Low
HBCU No No
% White 55% 75%
% Black 34% 11%
% Hispanic 4% 3%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 7%
% International 2% 1%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

 Columbia College UTC
% In-State 79% 88%
% Out-of-State 16% 11%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is larger than than Columbia College based on total student enrollment (11,380 students vs. 1,572 students)

Columbia College vs. UTC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbia College or UTC?

  • Columbia College is 150.9% more expensive to attend than UTC for in-state tuition ($20,650.00 vs. $8,232.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 26.7% higher at Columbia College than The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga ($20,650.00 vs. $16,296.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga than Columbia College ($13,801 vs. $23,920)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia College are 17.6% lower than costs at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga ($8,550 vs. $10,052)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Columbia College than The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (98% vs. 93%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia College students is 42% larger than aid received The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga ($13,961 vs. $9,834)

Columbia College vs. UTC Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (1087) is 116 points higher than at Columbia College (971)
  • Incoming UTC students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at Columbia College (21)
  • Accepted freshman UTC students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.61) than students at Columbia College (3.56)
  • Columbia College has a higher acceptance rate (95.8%) than UTC (77%)

Columbia College vs. UTC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Columbia College or UTC? 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 UTC and Columbia College.

  • The graduation rate at Columbia College is higher than The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (50% vs. 39%)
  • Graduates from The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga earn on average $5,900 more per year than Columbia College graduates after ten years. ($40,600 vs. $34,700)
  • The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga students graduate with a $4,472 lower median federal student loan debt than Columbia College graduates. ($20,792 vs. $25,264)
  • UTC graduates are paying $47 less per month on federal student loans than Columbia College graduates. ($214 vs. $261)
  • More UTC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia College students, three years after graduation. (56% vs. 43%)

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