Columbia College vs. Chatham

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

Columbia College Chatham
Location Chicago, IL Pittsburgh, PA
Setting Large City Large City
Enrollment 6,646 2,387
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #288
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website colum.edu chatham.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Columbia College Chatham
Tuition (In State) $29,270 $40,625
Tuition (Out of State) $29,270 $40,625
Room & Board $18,000 $12,719
Avg Net Price $28,387 $28,322
Avg Grant Aid $18,020 $27,330
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 100%

Admission

Columbia College Chatham
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,701 3,514
Admitted 7,298 2,331
Acceptance Rate 94.8%Open 66.3%
Enrolled % 22%Open 13.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.41 3.86
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Unavailable Challenging
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 21/29
SAT Range 1060/1270
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 Chatham
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Visual and Performing Arts (63%)
  • Communication (12%)
  • Business (9%)
  • Communications Technology (6%)
  • English and Literature (5%)
  • Psychology (13%)
  • Health Professions (13%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • English and Literature (8%)

Outcomes

Columbia College Chatham
Graduation Rate 41% 60%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,300 $36,700
Making Student Loan Payments 46% 62%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $20,500
Median Loan Payment $268 $211

Diversity

Columbia College Chatham
% Men 40% 25%
% Women 60% 75%
Racial Diversity High Low
HBCU No No
% White 55% 72%
% Black 15% 10%
% Hispanic 11% 5%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 2%
% International 3% 3%
% Unknown Race 7% 5%

Students

Columbia College Chatham
% In-State 57% 70%
% Out-of-State 40% 26%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Columbia College Chicago is larger than than Chatham based on total student enrollment (6,646 students vs. 2,387 students)

Columbia College vs. Chatham Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbia College or Chatham?

  • Chatham University is 38.8% more expensive to attend than Columbia College for in-state tuition ($40,625.00 vs. $29,270.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 38.8% higher at Chatham than Columbia College Chicago ($40,625.00 vs. $29,270.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Chatham University than Columbia College ($28,322 vs. $28,387)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Chatham University are 41.5% lower than costs at Columbia College Chicago ($12,719 vs. $18,000)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Chatham University than Columbia College Chicago (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Chatham University students is 51.7% larger than aid received Columbia College Chicago ($27,330 vs. $18,020)

Columbia College vs. Chatham Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Chatham students have a 0.45 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at Columbia College (3.41)
  • Columbia College has a higher acceptance rate (94.8%) than Chatham (66.3%)

Columbia College vs. Chatham Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Chatham is higher than Columbia College Chicago (60% vs. 41%)
  • Graduates from Columbia College Chicago earn on average $600 more per year than Chatham graduates after ten years. ($37,300 vs. $36,700)
  • Chatham University students graduate with a $5,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Columbia College graduates. ($20,500 vs. $26,000)
  • Chatham graduates are paying $57 less per month on federal student loans than Columbia College graduates. ($211 vs. $268)
  • More Chatham graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia College students, three years after graduation. (62% vs. 46%)

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