Wilmington University vs. Columbia College

Should I go to Wilmington University or Columbia College Chicago? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Wilmington University 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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Wilmington University vs. Columbia College Chicago comparison
Wilmington University Columbia College Chicago College 3 College 4
Columbia College Chicago
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Overview

Wilmington University Columbia College
Location New Castle, DE Chicago, IL
Setting Large Suburban Large City
Enrollment 14,020 6,646
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wilmu.edu colum.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Wilmington University Columbia College
Tuition (In State) $11,970 $29,270
Tuition (Out of State) $11,970 $29,270
Room & Board $6,000 $18,000
Avg Net Price $14,089 $28,387
Avg Grant Aid $5,380 $18,020
% Receiving Grant Aid 41% 99%

Admission

Wilmington University Columbia College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied - 7,701
Admitted - 7,298
Acceptance Rate Open 94.8%Open
Enrolled % Open 22%Open
Avg High School GPA - 3.41
Typical High School Grades - B+
Admissions Standards Unavailable Unavailable
Applicant Competition
ACT Range
SAT Range
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Aug 30, 2025 Aug 1, 2025

Academics

Wilmington University Columbia College
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (31%)
  • Health Professions (12%)
  • General Studies (12%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (11%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (63%)
  • Communication (12%)
  • Business (9%)
  • Communications Technology (6%)
  • English and Literature (5%)

Outcomes

Wilmington University Columbia College
Graduation Rate 37% 41%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $43,600 $37,300
Making Student Loan Payments 42% 46%
Median Student Loan Debt $18,750 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $193 $268

Diversity

Wilmington University Columbia College
% Men 37% 40%
% Women 63% 60%
Racial Diversity High High
HBCU No No
% White 53% 55%
% Black 25% 15%
% Hispanic 4% 11%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 5%
% International 3% 3%
% Unknown Race 12% 7%

Students

Wilmington University Columbia College
% In-State 28% 57%
% Out-of-State 72% 40%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Wilmington University is larger than than Columbia College based on total student enrollment (14,020 students vs. 6,646 students)

Wilmington University vs. Columbia College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Wilmington University or Columbia College?

  • Columbia College Chicago is 144.5% more expensive to attend than Wilmington University for in-state tuition ($29,270.00 vs. $11,970.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 144.5% higher at Columbia College than Wilmington University ($29,270.00 vs. $11,970.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Wilmington University than Columbia College ($14,089 vs. $28,387)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Wilmington University are 200% lower than costs at Columbia College Chicago ($6,000 vs. $18,000)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Columbia College Chicago than Wilmington University (99% vs. 41%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia College Chicago students is 234.9% larger than aid received Wilmington University ($18,020 vs. $5,380)

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

Wilmington University vs. Columbia College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Wilmington University 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 Wilmington University.

  • The graduation rate at Columbia College is higher than Wilmington University (41% vs. 37%)
  • Graduates from Wilmington University earn on average $6,300 more per year than Columbia College graduates after ten years. ($43,600 vs. $37,300)
  • Wilmington University students graduate with a $7,250 lower median federal student loan debt than Columbia College graduates. ($18,750 vs. $26,000)
  • Wilmington University graduates are paying $75 less per month on federal student loans than Columbia College graduates. ($193 vs. $268)
  • More Columbia College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Wilmington University students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 42%)

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