Eureka College vs. Columbia College

Should I go to Eureka College or Columbia College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Eureka College or Columbia 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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Eureka College vs. Columbia College comparison
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Eureka College
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Overview

Eureka College Columbia College
Location Eureka, IL Columbia, SC
Setting Town Fringe Midsize City
Enrollment 559 1,514
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #913
Religious Affiliation Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website eureka.edu columbiasc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Eureka College Columbia College
Tuition (In State) $27,450 $21,250
Tuition (Out of State) $27,450 $21,250
Room & Board $10,353 $8,400
Avg Net Price $19,443 $18,779
Avg Grant Aid $19,367 $16,089
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 97%

Admission

Eureka College Columbia College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 934 2,176
Admitted 810 2,135
Acceptance Rate 86.7% 98.1%
Enrolled % 18.6% 8.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.22 3.56
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 16/23 14/18
SAT Range 870/1155 850/1140
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 Aug 15, 2025

Academics

Eureka College Columbia College
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Education (17%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • History (8%)
  • Education (20%)
  • Psychology (12%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Human Services (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)

Outcomes

Eureka College Columbia College
Graduation Rate 65% 50%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $38,800 $34,700
Making Student Loan Payments 67% 43%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,375 $25,264
Median Loan Payment $262 $261

Diversity

Eureka College Columbia College
% Men 53% 15%
% Women 47% 85%
Racial Diversity Very Low High
HBCU No No
% White 84% 55%
% Black 5% 34%
% Hispanic 3% 4%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 1% 2%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

Eureka College Columbia College
% In-State 85% 76%
% Out-of-State 14% 22%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Columbia College is larger than than Eureka College based on total student enrollment (1,514 students vs. 559 students)

Eureka College vs. Columbia College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Eureka College or Columbia College?

  • Eureka College is 29.2% more expensive to attend than Columbia College for in-state tuition ($27,450.00 vs. $21,250.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 29.2% higher at Eureka College than Columbia College ($27,450.00 vs. $21,250.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Columbia College than Eureka College ($18,779 vs. $19,443)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia College are 23.2% lower than costs at Eureka College ($8,400 vs. $10,353)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Eureka College than Columbia College (100% vs. 97%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Eureka College students is 20.4% larger than aid received Columbia College ($19,367 vs. $16,089)

Eureka College vs. Columbia College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Eureka College (1033) is 62 points higher than at Columbia College (971)
  • Incoming Eureka College students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at Columbia College (21)
  • Accepted freshman Columbia College students have a 0.34 point higher average high school GPA (3.56) than students at Eureka College (3.22)
  • Columbia College has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than Eureka College (86.7%)

Eureka College vs. Columbia College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Eureka College or Columbia 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 Columbia College and Eureka College.

  • The graduation rate at Eureka College is higher than Columbia College (65% vs. 50%)
  • Graduates from Eureka College earn on average $4,100 more per year than Columbia College graduates after ten years. ($38,800 vs. $34,700)
  • Columbia College students graduate with a $111 lower median federal student loan debt than Eureka College graduates. ($25,264 vs. $25,375)
  • Columbia College graduates are paying $1 less per month on federal student loans than Eureka College graduates. ($261 vs. $262)
  • More Eureka College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia College students, three years after graduation. (67% vs. 43%)

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