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North Central College Benedictine University Dominican UIC Aurora University Lewis University ISU Northern Illinois North Park University Carthage DePaul Concordia University Chicago| Elmhurst College | VanderCook College of Music | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Elmhurst College | VCM | ||
| Location | Elmhurst, IL | Chicago, IL | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 3,906 | 340 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #386 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | United Church of Christ | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | elmhurst.edu | vandercook.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Elmhurst College | VCM | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $41,258 | $28,640 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $41,258 | $28,640 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,858 | $7,500 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $22,760 | $16,601 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $29,445 | $22,249 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 100% |
Admission |
Elmhurst College | VCM | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 6,254 | 37 | ||
| Admitted | 4,737 | 36 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 75.7% | 97.3% | ||
| Enrolled % | 12.8% | 47.2% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.59 | 3.1 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Extremely Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 23/28 | 15/20 | ||
| SAT Range | 960/1210 | 890/1160 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Apr 1, 2026 |
Academics |
Elmhurst College | VCM | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 14:1 | 4:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Elmhurst College | VCM | ||
| Graduation Rate | 70% | 45% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $50,200 | N/A | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 72% | 66% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $21,500 | $27,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $222 | $279 |
Diversity |
Elmhurst College | VCM | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 7% | 32% | ||
| % Women | 12% | 39% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 67% | 62% | ||
| % Black | 5% | 8% | ||
| % Hispanic | 17% | 21% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 4% | ||
| % International | 0% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 2% |
Students |
Elmhurst College | VCM | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 78% | 58% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 13% | 42% | ||
Campus |
Elmhurst College | VCM | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Elmhurst College is larger than than VCM based on total student enrollment (3,906 students vs. 340 students)
Elmhurst College vs. VCM Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Elmhurst College or VCM?
- Elmhurst College is 44.1% more expensive to attend than VCM for in-state tuition ($41,258.00 vs. $28,640.00)
- Out of state tuition is 44.1% higher at Elmhurst College than VanderCook College of Music ($41,258.00 vs. $28,640.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at VanderCook College of Music than Elmhurst College ($16,601 vs. $22,760)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at VanderCook College of Music are 58.1% lower than costs at Elmhurst College ($7,500 vs. $11,858)
- More students receive financial grant aid at VanderCook College of Music than Elmhurst College (100% vs. 99%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Elmhurst College students is 32.3% larger than aid received VanderCook College of Music ($29,445 vs. $22,249)
Elmhurst College vs. VCM Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Elmhurst College or VCM? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between VCM or Elmhurst College .
- The average SAT score at VanderCook College of Music (1107) is 17 points higher than at Elmhurst College (1090)
- Incoming VCM students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at Elmhurst College (24)
- Accepted freshman Elmhurst College students have a 0.49 point higher average high school GPA (3.59) than students at VCM (3.1)
- VCM has a higher acceptance rate (97.3%) than Elmhurst College (75.7%)
Elmhurst College vs. VCM Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Elmhurst College or VCM? 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 VCM and Elmhurst College.
- The graduation rate at Elmhurst College is higher than VanderCook College of Music (70% vs. 45%)
- Elmhurst College students graduate with a $5,500 lower median federal student loan debt than VCM graduates. ($21,500 vs. $27,000)
- Elmhurst College graduates are paying $57 less per month on federal student loans than VCM graduates. ($222 vs. $279)
- More Elmhurst College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former VCM students, three years after graduation. (72% vs. 66%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/