HIU vs. VCM

Should I go to Hope International University or VanderCook College of Music? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if HIU or VCM 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.

Add a college to compare up to four schools

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

Vanguard University of Southern California Cal State Fullerton
Hope International University vs. VanderCook College of Music comparison
Hope International University VanderCook College of Music College 3 College 4
Hope International University
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

HIU VCM
Location Fullerton, CA Chicago, IL
Setting Midsize City Large City
Enrollment 1,140 340
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #935
Religious Affiliation Christian Churches and Churches of Christ - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website hiu.edu vandercook.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

HIU VCM
Tuition (In State) $35,000 $28,640
Tuition (Out of State) $35,000 $28,640
Room & Board $13,700 $7,500
Avg Net Price $30,514 $16,601
Avg Grant Aid $21,986 $22,249
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

HIU VCM
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 828 37
Admitted 293 36
Acceptance Rate 35.4% 97.3%
Enrolled % 30% 47.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.26 3.1
Typical High School Grades B B
Admissions Standards Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition High
ACT Range 15/20
SAT Range 1000/1180 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 Aug 20, 2026 Apr 1, 2026

Academics

HIU VCM
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 4:1
Popular Majors
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (36%)
  • Work and Family Studies (18%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (6%)
  • Education (100%)

Outcomes

HIU VCM
Graduation Rate 32% 45%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $39,700 N/A
Making Student Loan Payments 58% 66%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $268 $279

Diversity

HIU VCM
% Men 14% 32%
% Women 37% 39%
Racial Diversity Very High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 42% 62%
% Black 7% 8%
% Hispanic 21% 21%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 1% 0%
% Two or More Races 11% 4%
% International 0% 2%
% Unknown Race 15% 2%

Students

HIU VCM
% In-State 82% 58%
% Out-of-State 10% 42%

Campus

HIU VCM
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Hope International University is larger than than VCM based on total student enrollment (1,140 students vs. 340 students)

HIU vs. VCM Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, HIU or VCM?

  • Hope International University is 22.2% more expensive to attend than VCM for in-state tuition ($35,000.00 vs. $28,640.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 22.2% higher at HIU than VanderCook College of Music ($35,000.00 vs. $28,640.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at VanderCook College of Music than HIU ($16,601 vs. $30,514)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at VanderCook College of Music are 82.7% lower than costs at Hope International University ($7,500 vs. $13,700)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Hope International University as VanderCook College of Music (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by VanderCook College of Music students is 1.2% larger than aid received Hope International University ($22,249 vs. $21,986)

HIU vs. VCM Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at VanderCook College of Music (1107) is 197 points higher than at HIU (910)
  • Incoming VCM students have a 6 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at HIU (19)
  • Accepted freshman HIU students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.26) than students at VCM (3.1)
  • VCM has a higher acceptance rate (97.3%) than HIU (35.4%)

HIU vs. VCM Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, HIU 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 HIU.

  • The graduation rate at VCM is higher than Hope International University (45% vs. 32%)
  • Hope International University students graduate with a $1,000 lower median federal student loan debt than VCM graduates. ($26,000 vs. $27,000)
  • HIU graduates are paying $11 less per month on federal student loans than VCM graduates. ($268 vs. $279)
  • More VCM graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former HIU students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 58%)

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