The Chicago School at Chicago vs. Columbia College

Deciding between The Chicago School at Chicago and Columbia College Chicago? 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.

Columbia College Chicago

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • The Chicago School at Chicago Chicago, IL
  • Columbia College Chicago, IL
  • Setting
  • The Chicago School at Chicago Large City
  • Columbia College Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • The Chicago School at Chicago 1,100
  • Columbia College 5,570
  • Type
  • The Chicago School at Chicago Private 4 Year
  • Columbia College Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • The Chicago School at Chicago
  • Columbia College
  • Religious Affiliation
  • The Chicago School at Chicago -
  • Columbia College -
  • Status
  • The Chicago School at Chicago Non-profit
  • Columbia College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • The Chicago School at Chicago
  • Columbia College

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • The Chicago School at Chicago $21,780
  • Columbia College $34,088
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • The Chicago School at Chicago $21,780
  • Columbia College $34,088
  • Room & Board
  • The Chicago School at Chicago $18,536
  • Columbia College $20,629
  • Average Net Price
  • The Chicago School at Chicago -
  • Columbia College $29,473
  • Average Grant Aid
  • The Chicago School at Chicago $0
  • Columbia College $22,780
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • The Chicago School at Chicago 0%
  • Columbia College 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • The Chicago School at Chicago 29
  • Columbia College 7,079
  • Admitted
  • The Chicago School at Chicago 10
  • Columbia College 6,333
  • Acceptance Rate
  • The Chicago School at Chicago 34.5%
  • Columbia College 89.5% Open
  • Enrolled
  • The Chicago School at Chicago 40%
  • Columbia College 15.1% Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • The Chicago School at Chicago
  • Columbia College
  • Typical ACT score
  • The Chicago School at Chicago
  • Columbia College
  • Average High School GPA
  • The Chicago School at Chicago -
  • Columbia College 3.41
  • Typical High School Grades
  • The Chicago School at Chicago -
  • Columbia College B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • The Chicago School at Chicago Unavailable
  • Columbia College Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • The Chicago School at Chicago High
  • Columbia College
  • ACT Range
  • The Chicago School at Chicago
  • Columbia College
  • SAT Range
  • The Chicago School at Chicago
  • Columbia College
  • Submit Test Scores
  • The Chicago School at Chicago Test optional
  • Columbia College Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • The Chicago School at Chicago
  • Columbia College Aug 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • The Chicago School at Chicago 17:1
  • Columbia College 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • The Chicago School at Chicago
  • Columbia College
    • Visual and Performing Arts (63%)
    • Communication (12%)
    • Business (9%)
    • Communications Technology (6%)
    • English and Literature (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • The Chicago School at Chicago -
  • Columbia College 41%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • The Chicago School at Chicago N/A
  • Columbia College $37,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • The Chicago School at Chicago -
  • Columbia College 46%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • The Chicago School at Chicago N/A
  • Columbia College $26,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • The Chicago School at Chicago N/A
  • Columbia College $268

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • The Chicago School at Chicago 19%
  • Columbia College 40%
  • % Women
  • The Chicago School at Chicago 81%
  • Columbia College 60%
  • Racial Diversity
  • The Chicago School at Chicago -
  • Columbia College High
  • HBCU
  • The Chicago School at Chicago No
  • Columbia College No
  • % White
  • The Chicago School at Chicago 0%
  • Columbia College 55%
  • % Asian
  • The Chicago School at Chicago 0%
  • Columbia College 3%
  • % Black
  • The Chicago School at Chicago 0%
  • Columbia College 15%
  • % Hispanic
  • The Chicago School at Chicago 0%
  • Columbia College 11%
  • % Native American
  • The Chicago School at Chicago 0%
  • Columbia College 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • The Chicago School at Chicago 0%
  • Columbia College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • The Chicago School at Chicago 0%
  • Columbia College 5%
  • % International
  • The Chicago School at Chicago 0%
  • Columbia College 3%
  • % Unknown Race
  • The Chicago School at Chicago 0%
  • Columbia College 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • The Chicago School at Chicago 75%
  • Columbia College 54%
  • % Out-of-State
  • The Chicago School at Chicago 25%
  • Columbia College 44%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • The Chicago School at Chicago No
  • Columbia College Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • The Chicago School at Chicago
  • Columbia College No
  • Meal Plan
  • The Chicago School at Chicago No
  • Columbia College Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • The Chicago School at Chicago Yes
  • Columbia College No
  • Daycare Facility
  • The Chicago School at Chicago
  • Columbia College No
  • Learn More
  • The Chicago School at Chicago Details
  • Columbia College Details

Comparable Facts

Compare The Chicago School at Chicago in Chicago, IL with Columbia College Chicago in Chicago, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Columbia College Chicago is larger than The Chicago School at Chicago based on total student enrollment (5,570 students vs. 1,100 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • The Chicago School at Chicago is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); Columbia College Chicago is in Chicago, IL (Large City setting).
  • The Chicago School at Chicago is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Columbia College Chicago is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: The Chicago School at Chicago 17:1; Columbia College Chicago 15:1.

The Chicago School at Chicago vs. Columbia College Cost Comparison

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

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The Chicago School at Chicago are 10.1% lower than at Columbia College Chicago ($18,536 vs. $20,629).
  • Columbia College Chicago is 56.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than The Chicago School at Chicago (about $12,308 more per year; $34,088.00 vs. $21,780.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 56.5% higher at Columbia College than at The Chicago School at Chicago (about $12,308 more per year; $34,088.00 vs. $21,780.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Columbia College Chicago than at The Chicago School at Chicago (100% vs. 0%).

The Chicago School at Chicago vs. Columbia College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, The Chicago School at Chicago 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 The Chicago School at Chicago.

  • Columbia College Chicago reports an open admissions policy.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: The Chicago School at Chicago - Test optional; Columbia College - Open admission.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Columbia College Aug 1, 2027.
  • Columbia College has a higher acceptance rate (89.5%) than The Chicago School at Chicago (34.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 40% at The Chicago School at Chicago vs. 15.1% at Columbia College.

The Chicago School at Chicago vs. Columbia College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for The Chicago School at Chicago 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).

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.