Rockford University vs. Columbia College

Deciding between Rockford University 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.

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Rockford University Rockford, IL
  • Columbia College Columbia, MO
  • Setting
  • Rockford University Midsize City
  • Columbia College Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Rockford University 1,241
  • Columbia College 5,689
  • Type
  • Rockford University Private 4 Year
  • Columbia College Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Rockford University #834
  • Columbia College
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Rockford University -
  • Columbia College Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
  • Status
  • Rockford University Non-profit
  • Columbia College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Rockford University
  • Columbia College

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Rockford University $37,780
  • Columbia College $25,826
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Rockford University $37,780
  • Columbia College $25,826
  • Room & Board
  • Rockford University $11,420
  • Columbia College $9,552
  • Average Net Price
  • Rockford University $23,642
  • Columbia College $21,530
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Rockford University $25,671
  • Columbia College $15,882
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Rockford University 98%
  • Columbia College 91%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Rockford University 1,721
  • Columbia College -
  • Admitted
  • Rockford University 1,599
  • Columbia College -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Rockford University 92.9%
  • Columbia College Open
  • Enrolled
  • Rockford University 13.4%
  • Columbia College Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • Rockford University 960
  • Columbia College
  • Typical ACT score
  • Rockford University 20
  • Columbia College
  • Average High School GPA
  • Rockford University 3.25
  • Columbia College 3.59
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Rockford University B+
  • Columbia College A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Rockford University Extremely Easy
  • Columbia College Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • Rockford University
  • Columbia College
  • ACT Range
  • Rockford University 17/23
  • Columbia College
  • SAT Range
  • Rockford University 850/1070
  • Columbia College
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Rockford University Test optional
  • Columbia College Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • Rockford University
  • Columbia College

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Rockford University 10:1
  • Columbia College 20:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Rockford University
    • Business (28%)
    • Education (27%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Columbia College
    • Business (42%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (29%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (9%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • Human Services (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Rockford University 31%
  • Columbia College 39%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Rockford University $44,600
  • Columbia College $41,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Rockford University 60%
  • Columbia College 40%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Rockford University $25,000
  • Columbia College $22,034
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Rockford University $258
  • Columbia College $227

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Rockford University 46%
  • Columbia College 41%
  • % Women
  • Rockford University 54%
  • Columbia College 59%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Rockford University Medium
  • Columbia College High
  • HBCU
  • Rockford University No
  • Columbia College No
  • % White
  • Rockford University 67%
  • Columbia College 55%
  • % Asian
  • Rockford University 2%
  • Columbia College 1%
  • % Black
  • Rockford University 9%
  • Columbia College 25%
  • % Hispanic
  • Rockford University 14%
  • Columbia College 8%
  • % Native American
  • Rockford University 0%
  • Columbia College 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Rockford University 0%
  • Columbia College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Rockford University 3%
  • Columbia College 3%
  • % International
  • Rockford University 1%
  • Columbia College 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Rockford University 5%
  • Columbia College 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Rockford University 70%
  • Columbia College 63%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Rockford University 27%
  • Columbia College 37%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Rockford University in Rockford, IL with Columbia College in Columbia, MO on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Columbia College is larger than Rockford University based on total student enrollment (5,689 students vs. 1,241 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Rockford University is located in Rockford, IL (Midsize City setting); Columbia College is in Columbia, MO (Midsize City setting).
  • Rockford University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Columbia College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Rockford University 10:1; Columbia College 20:1.

Rockford University vs. Columbia College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rockford University 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 Columbia College than Rockford University ($21,530 vs. $23,642).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia College are 16.4% lower than at Rockford University ($9,552 vs. $11,420).
  • Rockford University is 46.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Columbia College (about $11,954 more per year; $37,780.00 vs. $25,826.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 46.3% higher at Rockford University than at Columbia College (about $11,954 more per year; $37,780.00 vs. $25,826.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rockford University than at Columbia College (98% vs. 91%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rockford University students is 61.6% larger than aid received by Columbia College students ($25,671 vs. $15,882).

Rockford University vs. Columbia College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Rockford University 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 Rockford University.

  • Columbia College reports an open admissions policy.
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rockford University 850/1070.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rockford University 17/23.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Rockford University - Test optional; Columbia College - Open admission.
  • Accepted freshman Columbia College students have a 0.34 point higher average high school GPA (3.59) than students at Rockford University (3.25).

Rockford University vs. Columbia College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Rockford University 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).

  • Columbia College's six-year graduation rate (39%) is higher than Rockford University's (31%).
  • Graduates from Rockford University earn a median of about $2,800 more per year than Columbia College graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,600 vs. $41,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Columbia College graduates have a $2,966 lower median loan debt than Rockford University graduates ($22,034 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, Columbia College graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Rockford University graduates ($227 vs. $258).
  • More Rockford University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia College students, three years after graduation. (60% 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.