VCM vs. Columbia College

Should I go to VanderCook College of Music or Columbia College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if VCM or Columbia College 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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VanderCook College of Music vs. Columbia College comparison
VanderCook College of Music Columbia College College 3 College 4
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Overview

 VCM Columbia College
Location Chicago, IL Columbia, SC
Setting Large City Midsize City
Enrollment 340 1,572
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #914
Religious Affiliation - United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website vandercook.edu columbiasc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 VCM Columbia College
Tuition (In State) $28,640 $20,650
Tuition (Out of State) $28,640 $20,650
Room & Board $7,500 $8,550
Avg Net Price $16,601 $23,920
Avg Grant Aid $22,249 $13,961
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 98%

Admission

 VCM Columbia College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 37 2,163
Admitted 36 2,072
Acceptance Rate 97.3% 95.8%
Enrolled % 47.2% 9.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.1 3.56
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 15/20 14/18
SAT Range 890/1160 850/1140
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Apr 1, 2025

Academics

 VCM Columbia College
Student to Faculty Ratio 4:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (100%)
  • Education (20%)
  • Psychology (12%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Human Services (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)

Outcomes

 VCM Columbia College
Graduation Rate 45% 50%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) N/A $34,700
Making Student Loan Payments 66% 43%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $25,264
Median Loan Payment $279 $261

Diversity

 VCM Columbia College
% Men 32% 2%
% Women 39% 17%
Racial Diversity Medium High
HBCU No No
% White 62% 55%
% Black 8% 34%
% Hispanic 21% 4%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 2% 2%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

 VCM Columbia College
% In-State 58% 79%
% Out-of-State 42% 16%

Campus

 VCM Columbia College
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Columbia College is larger than than VCM based on total student enrollment (1,572 students vs. 340 students)

VCM vs. Columbia College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, VCM or Columbia College?

  • VanderCook College of Music is 38.7% more expensive to attend than Columbia College for in-state tuition ($28,640.00 vs. $20,650.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 38.7% higher at VCM than Columbia College ($28,640.00 vs. $20,650.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at VanderCook College of Music than Columbia College ($16,601 vs. $23,920)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at VanderCook College of Music are 14% lower than costs at Columbia College ($7,500 vs. $8,550)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at VanderCook College of Music than Columbia College (100% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by VanderCook College of Music students is 59.4% larger than aid received Columbia College ($22,249 vs. $13,961)

VCM vs. Columbia College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at VanderCook College of Music (1107) is 136 points higher than at Columbia College (971)
  • Incoming VCM students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at Columbia College (21)
  • Accepted freshman Columbia College students have a 0.46 point higher average high school GPA (3.56) than students at VCM (3.1)
  • VCM has a higher acceptance rate (97.3%) than Columbia College (95.8%)

VCM vs. Columbia College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, VCM or Columbia College? 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 College and VCM.

  • The graduation rate at Columbia College is higher than VanderCook College of Music (50% vs. 45%)
  • Columbia College students graduate with a $1,736 lower median federal student loan debt than VCM graduates. ($25,264 vs. $27,000)
  • Columbia College graduates are paying $18 less per month on federal student loans than VCM graduates. ($261 vs. $279)
  • More VCM graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia College students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 43%)

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