Saint Joseph's College of Maine vs. Columbia College

Comparable Facts

Compare Saint Joseph's College of Maine in Standish, ME with Columbia College in Columbia, SC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Columbia College is larger than Saint Joseph's College of Maine based on total student enrollment (1,725 students vs. 1,454 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Saint Joseph's College of Maine is located in Standish, ME (Distant Town setting); Columbia College is in Columbia, SC (Midsize City setting).
• Saint Joseph's College of Maine is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Columbia College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Saint Joseph's College of Maine 10:1; Columbia College 12:1.

Saint Joseph's College of Maine vs. Columbia College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Saint Joseph's College of Maine 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 Saint Joseph's College of Maine ($18,790 vs. $28,217).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia College are 39% lower than at Saint Joseph's College of Maine ($9,390 vs. $15,384).
• Saint Joseph's College of Maine is 100% more expensive for in-state tuition than Columbia College (about $22,206 more per year; $44,420.00 vs. $22,214.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 100% higher at Saint Joseph's College of Maine than at Columbia College (about $22,206 more per year; $44,420.00 vs. $22,214.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Saint Joseph's College of Maine than at Columbia College (100% vs. 97%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Saint Joseph's College of Maine students is 91.8% larger than aid received by Columbia College students ($31,558 vs. $16,451).

Saint Joseph's College of Maine vs. Columbia College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Saint Joseph's College of Maine 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 Saint Joseph's College of Maine.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Saint Joseph's College of Maine (1060) is 60 points higher than at Columbia College (1000).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Saint Joseph's College of Maine 960/1150; Columbia College 850/1140.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsColumbia College 14/18.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Saint Joseph's College of Maine - Test optional; Columbia College - Test-free.
• Accepted freshman Columbia College students have a 0.56 point higher average high school GPA (3.56) than students at Saint Joseph's College of Maine (3.0).
• Columbia College has a higher acceptance rate (93.9%) than Saint Joseph's College of Maine (83.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12% at Saint Joseph's College of Maine vs. 8.5% at Columbia College.

Saint Joseph's College of Maine vs. Columbia College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Saint Joseph's College of Maine 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).

• Saint Joseph's College of Maine's six-year graduation rate (55%) is higher than Columbia College's (50%).
• Graduates from Saint Joseph's College of Maine earn a median of about $8,600 more per year than Columbia College graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,300 vs. $34,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Columbia College graduates have a $1,736 lower median loan debt than Saint Joseph's College of Maine graduates ($25,264 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Columbia College graduates have an estimated $18 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Saint Joseph's College of Maine graduates ($261 vs. $279).
• More Saint Joseph's College of Maine graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia College students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 43%)

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.