Columbia College vs. GSU

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

Columbia College GSU
Location Chicago, IL University Park, IL
Setting Large City Rural Fringe
Enrollment 6,646 4,427
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website colum.edu govst.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Columbia College GSU
Tuition (In State) $29,270 $7,512
Tuition (Out of State) $29,270 $15,024
Room & Board $18,000 $11,000
Avg Net Price $28,387 $9,833
Avg Grant Aid $18,020 $11,987
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 100%

Admission

Columbia College GSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,701 1,865
Admitted 7,298 1,072
Acceptance Rate 94.8%Open 57.5%
Enrolled % 22%Open 29.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.41 4.0
Typical High School Grades B+ A/A+
Admissions Standards Unavailable Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range
SAT Range 830/1060
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 Apr 1, 2024

Academics

Columbia College GSU
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%)

Outcomes

Columbia College GSU
Graduation Rate 41% -
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,300 $42,600
Making Student Loan Payments 46% 48%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $17,250
Median Loan Payment $268 $178

Diversity

Columbia College GSU
% Men 40% 36%
% Women 60% 64%
Racial Diversity High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 55% 36%
% Black 15% 38%
% Hispanic 11% 11%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 2%
% International 3% 1%
% Unknown Race 7% 9%

Students

Columbia College GSU
% In-State 57% 95%
% Out-of-State 40% 3%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Columbia College Chicago is larger than than GSU based on total student enrollment (6,646 students vs. 4,427 students)

Columbia College vs. GSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbia College or GSU?

  • Columbia College Chicago is 289.6% more expensive to attend than GSU for in-state tuition ($29,270.00 vs. $7,512.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 94.8% higher at Columbia College than Governors State University ($29,270.00 vs. $15,024.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Governors State University than Columbia College ($9,833 vs. $28,387)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Governors State University are 63.6% lower than costs at Columbia College Chicago ($11,000 vs. $18,000)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Governors State University than Columbia College Chicago (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia College Chicago students is 50.3% larger than aid received Governors State University ($18,020 vs. $11,987)

Columbia College vs. GSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman GSU students have a 0.59 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Columbia College (3.41)
  • Columbia College has a higher acceptance rate (94.8%) than GSU (57.5%)

Columbia College vs. GSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • Graduates from Governors State University earn on average $5,300 more per year than Columbia College graduates after ten years. ($42,600 vs. $37,300)
  • Governors State University students graduate with a $8,750 lower median federal student loan debt than Columbia College graduates. ($17,250 vs. $26,000)
  • GSU graduates are paying $90 less per month on federal student loans than Columbia College graduates. ($178 vs. $268)
  • More GSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia College students, three years after graduation. (48% vs. 46%)

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