Warren Wilson vs. Columbia College

Should I go to Warren Wilson College or Columbia College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Warren Wilson 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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Warren Wilson College vs. Columbia College comparison
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Overview

Warren Wilson Columbia College
Location Swannanoa, NC Columbia, SC
Setting Midsize Suburban Midsize City
Enrollment 793 1,514
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #913
Religious Affiliation Presbyterian Church (USA) United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website warren-wilson.edu columbiasc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Warren Wilson Columbia College
Tuition (In State) $37,500 $21,250
Tuition (Out of State) $37,500 $21,250
Room & Board $12,050 $8,400
Avg Net Price $28,086 $18,779
Avg Grant Aid $26,012 $16,089
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 97%

Admission

Warren Wilson Columbia College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 905 2,176
Admitted 760 2,135
Acceptance Rate 84% 98.1%
Enrolled % 25.3% 8.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.6 3.56
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/29 14/18
SAT Range 850/1140
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jul 3, 2025

Academics

Warren Wilson Columbia College
Student to Faculty Ratio 8:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Natural Resources Conservation (28%)
  • English and Literature (15%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • General Studies (9%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Education (20%)
  • Psychology (12%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Human Services (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)

Outcomes

Warren Wilson Columbia College
Graduation Rate 45% 50%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $30,800 $34,700
Making Student Loan Payments 72% 43%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,000 $25,264
Median Loan Payment $237 $261

Diversity

Warren Wilson Columbia College
% Men 34% 15%
% Women 66% 85%
Racial Diversity Low High
HBCU No No
% White 76% 55%
% Black 4% 34%
% Hispanic 9% 4%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 2% 2%
% Unknown Race 4% 1%

Students

Warren Wilson Columbia College
% In-State 40% 76%
% Out-of-State 58% 22%

Campus

Warren Wilson 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 Warren Wilson based on total student enrollment (1,514 students vs. 793 students)

Warren Wilson vs. Columbia College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Warren Wilson or Columbia College?

  • Warren Wilson College is 76.5% more expensive to attend than Columbia College for in-state tuition ($37,500.00 vs. $21,250.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 76.5% higher at Warren Wilson than Columbia College ($37,500.00 vs. $21,250.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Columbia College than Warren Wilson ($18,779 vs. $28,086)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia College are 43.5% lower than costs at Warren Wilson College ($8,400 vs. $12,050)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Warren Wilson College than Columbia College (100% vs. 97%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Warren Wilson College students is 61.7% larger than aid received Columbia College ($26,012 vs. $16,089)

Warren Wilson vs. Columbia College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Warren Wilson College (1120) is 149 points higher than at Columbia College (971)
  • Incoming Warren Wilson students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at Columbia College (21)
  • Accepted freshman Warren Wilson students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at Columbia College (3.56)
  • Columbia College has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than Warren Wilson (84%)

Warren Wilson vs. Columbia College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Warren Wilson 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 Warren Wilson.

  • The graduation rate at Columbia College is higher than Warren Wilson College (50% vs. 45%)
  • Graduates from Columbia College earn on average $3,900 more per year than Warren Wilson graduates after ten years. ($34,700 vs. $30,800)
  • Warren Wilson College students graduate with a $2,264 lower median federal student loan debt than Columbia College graduates. ($23,000 vs. $25,264)
  • Warren Wilson graduates are paying $24 less per month on federal student loans than Columbia College graduates. ($237 vs. $261)
  • More Warren Wilson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia College students, three years after graduation. (72% vs. 43%)

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