Columbia College vs. AU

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

Columbia College AU
Location Chicago, IL Anderson, SC
Setting Large City Small City
Enrollment 6,646 4,121
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation - Baptist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website colum.edu andersonuniversity.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Columbia College AU
Tuition (In State) $29,270 $30,860
Tuition (Out of State) $29,270 $30,860
Room & Board $18,000 $11,230
Avg Net Price $28,387 $21,633
Avg Grant Aid $18,020 $24,409
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 100%

Admission

Columbia College AU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,701 5,043
Admitted 7,298 2,289
Acceptance Rate 94.8%Open 45.4%
Enrolled % 22%Open 34.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.41 3.72
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Unavailable Unavailable
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range
SAT Range
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 AU
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Visual and Performing Arts (63%)
  • Communication (12%)
  • Business (9%)
  • Communications Technology (6%)
  • English and Literature (5%)
  • Education (37%)
  • Business (36%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Psychology (4%)
  • Communication (3%)

Outcomes

Columbia College AU
Graduation Rate 41% 48%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,300 $37,500
Making Student Loan Payments 46% 60%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $26,862
Median Loan Payment $268 $277

Diversity

Columbia College AU
% Men 40% 35%
% Women 60% 65%
Racial Diversity High Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 55% 83%
% Black 15% 8%
% Hispanic 11% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 2%
% International 3% 1%
% Unknown Race 7% 2%

Students

Columbia College AU
% In-State 57% 68%
% Out-of-State 40% 31%

Campus

Columbia College AU
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 AU based on total student enrollment (6,646 students vs. 4,121 students)

Columbia College vs. AU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbia College or AU?

  • Anderson University is 5.4% more expensive to attend than Columbia College for in-state tuition ($30,860.00 vs. $29,270.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 5.4% higher at AU than Columbia College Chicago ($30,860.00 vs. $29,270.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Anderson University than Columbia College ($21,633 vs. $28,387)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Anderson University are 60.3% lower than costs at Columbia College Chicago ($11,230 vs. $18,000)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Anderson University than Columbia College Chicago (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Anderson University students is 35.5% larger than aid received Columbia College Chicago ($24,409 vs. $18,020)

Columbia College vs. AU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman AU students have a 0.31 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at Columbia College (3.41)
  • Columbia College has a higher acceptance rate (94.8%) than AU (45.4%)

Columbia College vs. AU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at AU is higher than Columbia College Chicago (48% vs. 41%)
  • Graduates from Anderson University earn on average $200 more per year than Columbia College graduates after ten years. ($37,500 vs. $37,300)
  • Columbia College Chicago students graduate with a $862 lower median federal student loan debt than AU graduates. ($26,000 vs. $26,862)
  • Columbia College graduates are paying $9 less per month on federal student loans than AU graduates. ($268 vs. $277)
  • More AU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia College students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 46%)

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