Lyon College vs. Columbia International University

Should I go to Lyon College or Columbia International University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Lyon College or Columbia International University 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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Lyon College vs. Columbia International University comparison
Lyon College Columbia International University College 3 College 4
Lyon College
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Overview

Lyon College Columbia International University
Location Batesville, AR Columbia, SC
Setting Remote Town Midsize City
Enrollment 496 2,481
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #705
Religious Affiliation Presbyterian Church (USA) - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website lyon.edu ciu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Lyon College Columbia International University
Tuition (In State) $29,900 $25,620
Tuition (Out of State) $29,900 $25,620
Room & Board $10,750 $9,950
Avg Net Price $25,545 $19,911
Avg Grant Aid $19,072 $18,834
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 95%

Admission

Lyon College Columbia International University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,382 506
Admitted 827 244
Acceptance Rate 59.8% 48.2%
Enrolled % 17.7% 73.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.0 3.5
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Easy
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 21/26 16/25
SAT Range 1050/1195 990/1195
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2025

Academics

Lyon College Columbia International University
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (19%)
  • Biology (16%)
  • Psychology (14%)
  • History (12%)
  • English and Literature (10%)
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (69%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (11%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • General Studies (6%)
  • Communication (3%)

Outcomes

Lyon College Columbia International University
Graduation Rate 50% 57%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $43,900 $33,400
Making Student Loan Payments 60% 63%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $258 $222

Diversity

Lyon College Columbia International University
% Men 59% 46%
% Women 41% 54%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 75% 72%
% Black 6% 10%
% Hispanic 7% 4%
% Native American 2% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 2%
% International 2% 4%
% Unknown Race 6% 6%

Students

Lyon College Columbia International University
% In-State 55% 59%
% Out-of-State 42% 38%

Campus

Lyon College Columbia International University
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

  • Columbia International University is larger than than Lyon College based on total student enrollment (2,481 students vs. 496 students)

Lyon College vs. Columbia International University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lyon College or Columbia International University?

  • Lyon College is 16.7% more expensive to attend than Columbia International University for in-state tuition ($29,900.00 vs. $25,620.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 16.7% higher at Lyon College than Columbia International University ($29,900.00 vs. $25,620.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Columbia International University than Lyon College ($19,911 vs. $25,545)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia International University are 8% lower than costs at Lyon College ($9,950 vs. $10,750)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Lyon College than Columbia International University (100% vs. 95%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Lyon College students is 1.3% larger than aid received Columbia International University ($19,072 vs. $18,834)

Lyon College vs. Columbia International University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Lyon College (1120) is 75 points higher than at Columbia International University (1045)
  • Incoming Lyon College students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at Columbia International University (23)
  • Accepted freshman Columbia International University students have a 0.5 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at Lyon College (3.0)
  • Lyon College has a higher acceptance rate (59.8%) than Columbia International University (48.2%)

Lyon College vs. Columbia International University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Lyon College or Columbia International University? 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 International University and Lyon College.

  • The graduation rate at Columbia International University is higher than Lyon College (57% vs. 50%)
  • Graduates from Lyon College earn on average $10,500 more per year than Columbia International University graduates after ten years. ($43,900 vs. $33,400)
  • Columbia International University students graduate with a $3,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Lyon College graduates. ($21,500 vs. $25,000)
  • Columbia International University graduates are paying $36 less per month on federal student loans than Lyon College graduates. ($222 vs. $258)
  • More Columbia International University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Lyon College students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 60%)

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