Iowa Wesleyan College vs. Columbia College

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

 Iowa Wesleyan College Columbia College
Location Mount Pleasant, IA Columbia, MO
Setting Remote Town Midsize City
Enrollment 871 6,046
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation United Methodist Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website iwc.edu ccis.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Iowa Wesleyan College Columbia College
Tuition (In State) $33,550 $24,326
Tuition (Out of State) $33,550 $24,326
Room & Board $11,340 $8,670
Avg Net Price $20,074 $22,824
Avg Grant Aid $26,670 $13,725
% Receiving Grant Aid 92% 90%

Admission

 Iowa Wesleyan College Columbia College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,975 -
Admitted 2,404 -
Acceptance Rate 80.8% Open
Enrolled % 8% Open
Avg High School GPA 3.02 3.59
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Unavailable
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 16/22
SAT Range 830/1010
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 15, 2025

Academics

 Iowa Wesleyan College Columbia College
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 20:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Education (19%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Business (42%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (29%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Human Services (4%)

Outcomes

 Iowa Wesleyan College Columbia College
Graduation Rate 25% 39%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $36,900 $41,800
Making Student Loan Payments 55% 40%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $22,034
Median Loan Payment $258 $227

Diversity

 Iowa Wesleyan College Columbia College
% Men 56% 40%
% Women 44% 60%
Racial Diversity High High
HBCU No No
% White 52% 55%
% Black 9% 25%
% Hispanic 6% 8%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 4% 2%
% Unknown Race 24% 5%

Students

 Iowa Wesleyan College Columbia College
% In-State 25% 56%
% Out-of-State 60% 42%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Columbia College is larger than than Iowa Wesleyan College based on total student enrollment (6,046 students vs. 871 students)

Iowa Wesleyan College vs. Columbia College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Iowa Wesleyan College or Columbia College?

  • Iowa Wesleyan College is 37.9% more expensive to attend than Columbia College for in-state tuition ($33,550.00 vs. $24,326.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 37.9% higher at Iowa Wesleyan College than Columbia College ($33,550.00 vs. $24,326.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Iowa Wesleyan College than Columbia College ($20,074 vs. $22,824)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia College are 30.8% lower than costs at Iowa Wesleyan College ($8,670 vs. $11,340)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Iowa Wesleyan College than Columbia College (92% vs. 90%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Iowa Wesleyan College students is 94.3% larger than aid received Columbia College ($26,670 vs. $13,725)

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

  • Accepted freshman Columbia College students have a 0.57 point higher average high school GPA (3.59) than students at Iowa Wesleyan College (3.02)

Iowa Wesleyan College vs. Columbia College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Iowa Wesleyan 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 Iowa Wesleyan College.

  • The graduation rate at Columbia College is higher than Iowa Wesleyan College (39% vs. 25%)
  • Graduates from Columbia College earn on average $4,900 more per year than Iowa Wesleyan College graduates after ten years. ($41,800 vs. $36,900)
  • Columbia College students graduate with a $2,966 lower median federal student loan debt than Iowa Wesleyan College graduates. ($22,034 vs. $25,000)
  • Columbia College graduates are paying $31 less per month on federal student loans than Iowa Wesleyan College graduates. ($227 vs. $258)
  • More Iowa Wesleyan College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia College students, three years after graduation. (55% vs. 40%)

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