USD vs. Columbia College

Comparable Facts

Compare University of San Diego in San Diego, CA with Columbia College Chicago in Chicago, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of San Diego is larger than Columbia College based on total student enrollment (9,714 students vs. 5,570 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of San Diego is located in San Diego, CA (Large City setting); Columbia College Chicago is in Chicago, IL (Large City setting).
• University of San Diego is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Columbia College Chicago is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of San Diego 13:1; Columbia College Chicago 15:1.

USD vs. Columbia College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, USD 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 Chicago than USD ($29,473 vs. $37,918).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of San Diego are 3.4% lower than at Columbia College Chicago ($19,918 vs. $20,629).
• University of San Diego is 74.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Columbia College (about $25,398 more per year; $59,486.00 vs. $34,088.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 74.5% higher at USD than at Columbia College Chicago (about $25,398 more per year; $59,486.00 vs. $34,088.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Columbia College Chicago than at University of San Diego (100% vs. 84%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of San Diego students is 79.8% larger than aid received by Columbia College Chicago students ($40,965 vs. $22,780).

USD vs. Columbia College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, USD 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 USD.

• Columbia College Chicago reports an open admissions policy.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: USD - Test-free; Columbia College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: USD Dec 15, 2026; Columbia College Aug 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman USD students have a 0.54 point higher average high school GPA (3.95) than students at Columbia College (3.41).
• Columbia College has a higher acceptance rate (89.5%) than USD (52.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.4% at USD vs. 15.1% at Columbia College.

USD vs. Columbia College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for USD 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).

• University of San Diego's six-year graduation rate (75%) is higher than Columbia College Chicago's (41%).
• Graduates from University of San Diego earn a median of about $32,900 more per year than Columbia College graduates about ten years after starting college ($70,200 vs. $37,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of San Diego graduates have a $3,096 lower median loan debt than Columbia College graduates ($22,904 vs. $26,000).
• Among borrowers, USD graduates have an estimated $32 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Columbia College graduates ($236 vs. $268).
• More USD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia College students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 46%)

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.