Columbia College vs. AIC

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

 Columbia College AIC
Location Chicago, IL Springfield, MA
Setting Large City Midsize City
Enrollment 6,646 2,010
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #945
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website colum.edu aic.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Columbia College AIC
Tuition (In State) $29,270 $40,550
Tuition (Out of State) $29,270 $40,550
Room & Board $18,000 $15,130
Avg Net Price $28,387 $18,317
Avg Grant Aid $18,020 $35,061
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 95%

Admission

 Columbia College AIC
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,701 2,707
Admitted 7,298 2,419
Acceptance Rate 94.8%Open 89.4%
Enrolled % 22%Open 13.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.41 2.91
Typical High School Grades B+ B-
Admissions Standards Unavailable Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range
SAT Range 940/1110
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 Sep 7, 2023

Academics

 Columbia College AIC
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Visual and Performing Arts (63%)
  • Communication (12%)
  • Business (9%)
  • Communications Technology (6%)
  • English and Literature (5%)
  • Business (25%)
  • Health Professions (23%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
  • Communication (6%)

Outcomes

 Columbia College AIC
Graduation Rate 41% 36%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,300 $46,400
Making Student Loan Payments 46% 49%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $268 $279

Diversity

 Columbia College AIC
% Men 40% 37%
% Women 60% 63%
Racial Diversity High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 55% 39%
% Black 15% 25%
% Hispanic 11% 14%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 3%
% International 3% 3%
% Unknown Race 7% 14%

Students

 Columbia College AIC
% In-State 57% 48%
% Out-of-State 40% 47%

Campus

 Columbia College AIC
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 Chicago is larger than than AIC based on total student enrollment (6,646 students vs. 2,010 students)

Columbia College vs. AIC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbia College or AIC?

  • American International College is 38.5% more expensive to attend than Columbia College for in-state tuition ($40,550.00 vs. $29,270.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 38.5% higher at AIC than Columbia College Chicago ($40,550.00 vs. $29,270.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at American International College than Columbia College ($18,317 vs. $28,387)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at American International College are 19% lower than costs at Columbia College Chicago ($15,130 vs. $18,000)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Columbia College Chicago than American International College (99% vs. 95%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by American International College students is 94.6% larger than aid received Columbia College Chicago ($35,061 vs. $18,020)

Columbia College vs. AIC Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Columbia College students have a 0.5 point higher average high school GPA (3.41) than students at AIC (2.91)
  • Columbia College has a higher acceptance rate (94.8%) than AIC (89.4%)

Columbia College vs. AIC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Columbia College is higher than American International College (41% vs. 36%)
  • Graduates from American International College earn on average $9,100 more per year than Columbia College graduates after ten years. ($46,400 vs. $37,300)
  • Columbia College Chicago students graduate with a $1,000 lower median federal student loan debt than AIC graduates. ($26,000 vs. $27,000)
  • Columbia College graduates are paying $11 less per month on federal student loans than AIC graduates. ($268 vs. $279)
  • More AIC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia College students, three years after graduation. (49% vs. 46%)

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