Columbia College vs. ISU

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

Columbia College ISU
Location Chicago, IL Normal, IL
Setting Large City Small City
Enrollment 6,646 20,683
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #493
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website colum.edu illinoisstate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Columbia College ISU
Tuition (In State) $29,270 $11,840
Tuition (Out of State) $29,270 $23,681
Room & Board $18,000 $10,602
Avg Net Price $28,387 $20,551
Avg Grant Aid $18,020 $11,619
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 97%

Admission

Columbia College ISU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,701 19,596
Admitted 7,298 16,899
Acceptance Rate 94.8%Open 86.2%
Enrolled % 22%Open 23.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.41 3.41
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Unavailable Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/27
SAT Range 1000/1210
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 ISU
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 19:1
Popular Majors
  • Visual and Performing Arts (63%)
  • Communication (12%)
  • Business (9%)
  • Communications Technology (6%)
  • English and Literature (5%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Education (18%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Health Professions (6%)
  • Communication (5%)

Outcomes

Columbia College ISU
Graduation Rate 41% 71%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,300 $49,000
Making Student Loan Payments 46% 74%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $22,000
Median Loan Payment $268 $227

Diversity

Columbia College ISU
% Men 40% 42%
% Women 60% 58%
Racial Diversity High Low
HBCU No No
% White 55% 77%
% Black 15% 8%
% Hispanic 11% 9%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 3%
% International 3% 0%
% Unknown Race 7% 0%

Students

Columbia College ISU
% In-State 57% 96%
% Out-of-State 40% 3%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Illinois State University is larger than than Columbia College based on total student enrollment (20,683 students vs. 6,646 students)

Columbia College vs. ISU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbia College or ISU?

  • Columbia College Chicago is 147.2% more expensive to attend than ISU for in-state tuition ($29,270.00 vs. $11,840.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 23.6% higher at Columbia College than Illinois State University ($29,270.00 vs. $23,681.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Illinois State University than Columbia College ($20,551 vs. $28,387)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois State University are 69.8% lower than costs at Columbia College Chicago ($10,602 vs. $18,000)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Columbia College Chicago than Illinois State University (99% vs. 97%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia College Chicago students is 55.1% larger than aid received Illinois State University ($18,020 vs. $11,619)

Columbia College vs. ISU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Columbia College students have at the same average high school GPA (3.41) as students at ISU (3.41)
  • Columbia College has a higher acceptance rate (94.8%) than ISU (86.2%)

Columbia College vs. ISU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at ISU is higher than Columbia College Chicago (71% vs. 41%)
  • Graduates from Illinois State University earn on average $11,700 more per year than Columbia College graduates after ten years. ($49,000 vs. $37,300)
  • Illinois State University students graduate with a $4,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Columbia College graduates. ($22,000 vs. $26,000)
  • ISU graduates are paying $41 less per month on federal student loans than Columbia College graduates. ($227 vs. $268)
  • More ISU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia College students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 46%)

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