KWC vs. Columbia College

Deciding between Kentucky Wesleyan College and Columbia College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Kentucky Wesleyan College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • KWC Owensboro, KY
  • Columbia College Columbia, MO
  • Setting
  • KWC Small City
  • Columbia College Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • KWC 887
  • Columbia College 5,689
  • Type
  • KWC Private 4 Year
  • Columbia College Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • KWC
  • Columbia College
  • Religious Affiliation
  • KWC United Methodist
  • Columbia College Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
  • Status
  • KWC Non-profit
  • Columbia College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • KWC
  • Columbia College

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • KWC $34,673
  • Columbia College $25,826
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • KWC $34,673
  • Columbia College $25,826
  • Room & Board
  • KWC $11,855
  • Columbia College $9,552
  • Average Net Price
  • KWC $20,999
  • Columbia College $21,530
  • Average Grant Aid
  • KWC $25,538
  • Columbia College $15,882
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • KWC 100%
  • Columbia College 91%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • KWC 2,113
  • Columbia College -
  • Admitted
  • KWC 1,513
  • Columbia College -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • KWC 71.6%
  • Columbia College Open
  • Enrolled
  • KWC 17.7%
  • Columbia College Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • KWC 1010
  • Columbia College
  • Typical ACT score
  • KWC 19
  • Columbia College
  • Average High School GPA
  • KWC 3.3
  • Columbia College 3.59
  • Typical High School Grades
  • KWC B+
  • Columbia College A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • KWC Extremely Easy
  • Columbia College Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • KWC Low
  • Columbia College
  • ACT Range
  • KWC 16/23
  • Columbia College
  • SAT Range
  • KWC 890/1130
  • Columbia College
  • Submit Test Scores
  • KWC Test optional
  • Columbia College Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • KWC
  • Columbia College

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • KWC 15:1
  • Columbia College 20:1
  • Popular Majors
  • KWC
    • Education (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • Columbia College
    • Business (42%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (29%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (9%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • Human Services (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • KWC 44%
  • Columbia College 39%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • KWC $38,500
  • Columbia College $41,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • KWC 54%
  • Columbia College 40%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • KWC $22,907
  • Columbia College $22,034
  • Median Loan Payment
  • KWC $236
  • Columbia College $227

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • KWC 50%
  • Columbia College 41%
  • % Women
  • KWC 50%
  • Columbia College 59%
  • Racial Diversity
  • KWC Low
  • Columbia College High
  • HBCU
  • KWC No
  • Columbia College No
  • % White
  • KWC 73%
  • Columbia College 55%
  • % Asian
  • KWC 0%
  • Columbia College 1%
  • % Black
  • KWC 15%
  • Columbia College 25%
  • % Hispanic
  • KWC 1%
  • Columbia College 8%
  • % Native American
  • KWC 0%
  • Columbia College 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • KWC 0%
  • Columbia College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • KWC 0%
  • Columbia College 3%
  • % International
  • KWC 0%
  • Columbia College 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • KWC 9%
  • Columbia College 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • KWC 56%
  • Columbia College 63%
  • % Out-of-State
  • KWC 38%
  • Columbia College 37%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • KWC Yes
  • Columbia College Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • KWC No
  • Columbia College No
  • Meal Plan
  • KWC Yes
  • Columbia College Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • KWC No
  • Columbia College Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • KWC No
  • Columbia College No

Comparable Facts

Compare Kentucky Wesleyan College in Owensboro, KY with Columbia College in Columbia, MO on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Columbia College is larger than KWC based on total student enrollment (5,689 students vs. 887 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Kentucky Wesleyan College is located in Owensboro, KY (Small City setting); Columbia College is in Columbia, MO (Midsize City setting).
  • Kentucky Wesleyan College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Columbia College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Kentucky Wesleyan College 15:1; Columbia College 20:1.

KWC vs. Columbia College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, KWC or Columbia College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Kentucky Wesleyan College than Columbia College ($20,999 vs. $21,530).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia College are 19.4% lower than at Kentucky Wesleyan College ($9,552 vs. $11,855).
  • Kentucky Wesleyan College is 34.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Columbia College (about $8,847 more per year; $34,673.00 vs. $25,826.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 34.3% higher at KWC than at Columbia College (about $8,847 more per year; $34,673.00 vs. $25,826.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Kentucky Wesleyan College than at Columbia College (100% vs. 91%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Kentucky Wesleyan College students is 60.8% larger than aid received by Columbia College students ($25,538 vs. $15,882).

KWC vs. Columbia College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, KWC or Columbia College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Columbia College and KWC.

  • Columbia College reports an open admissions policy.
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Kentucky Wesleyan College 890/1130.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Kentucky Wesleyan College 16/23.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: KWC - Test optional; Columbia College - Open admission.
  • Accepted freshman Columbia College students have a 0.29 point higher average high school GPA (3.59) than students at KWC (3.3).

KWC vs. Columbia College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for KWC and Columbia College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Kentucky Wesleyan College's six-year graduation rate (44%) is higher than Columbia College's (39%).
  • Graduates from Columbia College earn a median of about $3,300 more per year than KWC graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,800 vs. $38,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Columbia College graduates have a $873 lower median loan debt than KWC graduates ($22,034 vs. $22,907).
  • Among borrowers, Columbia College graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than KWC graduates ($227 vs. $236).
  • More KWC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia College students, three years after graduation. (54% vs. 40%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.