Columbus State vs. Purdue Calumet

Should I go to Columbus State University or Purdue University Calumet Campus? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Columbus State or Purdue Calumet 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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Columbus State University vs. Purdue University Calumet Campus comparison
Columbus State University Purdue University Calumet Campus College 3 College 4
Columbus State University
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Overview

 Columbus State Purdue Calumet
Location Columbus, GA Hammond, IN
Setting Midsize City Large Suburban
Enrollment 7,479 9,194
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #995
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website columbusstate.edu purduecal.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Columbus State Purdue Calumet
Tuition (In State) $4,371 $6,746
Tuition (Out of State) $15,425 $16,164
Room & Board $12,080 $7,560
Avg Net Price $12,902 $10,908
Avg Grant Aid $9,147 $5,703
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 58%

Admission

 Columbus State Purdue Calumet
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,870 2,810
Admitted 3,398 1,649
Acceptance Rate 87.8% 58.7%
Enrolled % 30.4% 54%
Avg High School GPA 3.07 3.19
Typical High School Grades B B
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 16/23 18/24
SAT Range 900/1130 940/1140
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Required
Application Deadline Jun 30, 2025

Academics

 Columbus State Purdue Calumet
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 0:1
Popular Majors
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (24%)
  • Business (19%)
  • Education (14%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • English and Literature (4%)
  • Business (31%)
  • Engineering Technology (14%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Communication (6%)

Outcomes

 Columbus State Purdue Calumet
Graduation Rate 31% 28%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,400 $42,500
Making Student Loan Payments 37% 38%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $20,908
Median Loan Payment $268 $216

Diversity

 Columbus State Purdue Calumet
% Men 40% 0%
% Women 60% 0%
Racial Diversity High High
HBCU No No
% White 51% 55%
% Black 37% 13%
% Hispanic 6% 19%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 1% 6%
% Unknown Race 0% 2%

Students

 Columbus State Purdue Calumet
% In-State 92% -
% Out-of-State 5% -

Campus

 Columbus State Purdue Calumet
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes No
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Purdue University Calumet Campus is larger than than Columbus State based on total student enrollment (9,194 students vs. 7,479 students)

Columbus State vs. Purdue Calumet Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbus State or Purdue Calumet?

  • Purdue University Calumet Campus is 54.3% more expensive to attend than Columbus State for in-state tuition ($6,746.00 vs. $4,371.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 4.8% higher at Purdue Calumet than Columbus State University ($16,164.00 vs. $15,425.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Purdue University Calumet Campus than Columbus State ($10,908 vs. $12,902)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Calumet Campus are 59.8% lower than costs at Columbus State University ($7,560 vs. $12,080)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Columbus State University than Purdue University Calumet Campus (98% vs. 58%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Columbus State University students is 60.4% larger than aid received Purdue University Calumet Campus ($9,147 vs. $5,703)

Columbus State vs. Purdue Calumet Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Columbus State or Purdue Calumet? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Purdue Calumet or Columbus State .

  • The average SAT score at Columbus State University (961) is 1 points higher than at Purdue Calumet (960)
  • Accepted freshman Purdue Calumet students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.19) than students at Columbus State (3.07)
  • Columbus State has a higher acceptance rate (87.8%) than Purdue Calumet (58.7%)

Columbus State vs. Purdue Calumet Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Columbus State or Purdue Calumet? 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 Purdue Calumet and Columbus State.

  • The graduation rate at Columbus State is higher than Purdue University Calumet Campus (31% vs. 28%)
  • Graduates from Purdue University Calumet Campus earn on average $5,100 more per year than Columbus State graduates after ten years. ($42,500 vs. $37,400)
  • Purdue University Calumet Campus students graduate with a $5,092 lower median federal student loan debt than Columbus State graduates. ($20,908 vs. $26,000)
  • Purdue Calumet graduates are paying $52 less per month on federal student loans than Columbus State graduates. ($216 vs. $268)
  • More Purdue Calumet graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbus State students, three years after graduation. (38% vs. 37%)

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