Columbia College vs. BSU

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

Columbia College BSU
Location Chicago, IL Muncie, IN
Setting Large City Small City
Enrollment 6,646 19,777
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #547
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website colum.edu bsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Columbia College BSU
Tuition (In State) $29,270 $8,434
Tuition (Out of State) $29,270 $25,918
Room & Board $18,000 $10,904
Avg Net Price $28,387 $12,615
Avg Grant Aid $18,020 $11,418
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 97%

Admission

Columbia College BSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,701 22,859
Admitted 7,298 15,761
Acceptance Rate 94.8%Open 68.9%
Enrolled % 22%Open 22.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.41 3.52
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Unavailable Challenging
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 23/28
SAT Range 1090/1260
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2024

Academics

Columbia College BSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Visual and Performing Arts (63%)
  • Communication (12%)
  • Business (9%)
  • Communications Technology (6%)
  • English and Literature (5%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (18%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Health Professions (8%)

Outcomes

Columbia College BSU
Graduation Rate 41% 55%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,300 $42,500
Making Student Loan Payments 46% 63%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $268 $258

Diversity

Columbia College BSU
% Men 40% 35%
% Women 60% 65%
Racial Diversity High Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 55% 81%
% Black 15% 8%
% Hispanic 11% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 3%
% International 3% 2%
% Unknown Race 7% 1%

Students

Columbia College BSU
% In-State 57% 90%
% Out-of-State 40% 9%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Ball State University is larger than than Columbia College based on total student enrollment (19,777 students vs. 6,646 students)

Columbia College vs. BSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbia College or BSU?

  • Columbia College Chicago is 247% more expensive to attend than BSU for in-state tuition ($29,270.00 vs. $8,434.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 12.9% higher at Columbia College than Ball State University ($29,270.00 vs. $25,918.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Ball State University than Columbia College ($12,615 vs. $28,387)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ball State University are 65.1% lower than costs at Columbia College Chicago ($10,904 vs. $18,000)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Columbia College Chicago than Ball State University (99% vs. 97%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia College Chicago students is 57.8% larger than aid received Ball State University ($18,020 vs. $11,418)

Columbia College vs. BSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman BSU students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.52) than students at Columbia College (3.41)
  • Columbia College has a higher acceptance rate (94.8%) than BSU (68.9%)

Columbia College vs. BSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at BSU is higher than Columbia College Chicago (55% vs. 41%)
  • Graduates from Ball State University earn on average $5,200 more per year than Columbia College graduates after ten years. ($42,500 vs. $37,300)
  • Ball State University students graduate with a $1,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Columbia College graduates. ($25,000 vs. $26,000)
  • BSU graduates are paying $10 less per month on federal student loans than Columbia College graduates. ($258 vs. $268)
  • More BSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia College students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 46%)

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