Columbia College vs. Iowa Wesleyan College

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

Columbia College Iowa Wesleyan College
Location Chicago, IL Mount Pleasant, IA
Setting Large City Remote Town
Enrollment 6,646 871
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation - United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website colum.edu iwc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Columbia College Iowa Wesleyan College
Tuition (In State) $29,270 $33,550
Tuition (Out of State) $29,270 $33,550
Room & Board $18,000 $11,340
Avg Net Price $28,387 $20,074
Avg Grant Aid $18,020 $26,670
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 92%

Admission

Columbia College Iowa Wesleyan College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,701 2,975
Admitted 7,298 2,404
Acceptance Rate 94.8%Open 80.8%
Enrolled % 22%Open 8%
Avg High School GPA 3.41 3.02
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Unavailable Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 16/22
SAT Range 830/1010
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 Aug 15, 2024

Academics

Columbia College Iowa Wesleyan College
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Visual and Performing Arts (63%)
  • Communication (12%)
  • Business (9%)
  • Communications Technology (6%)
  • English and Literature (5%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Education (19%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)
  • Biology (8%)

Outcomes

Columbia College Iowa Wesleyan College
Graduation Rate 41% 25%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,300 $36,900
Making Student Loan Payments 46% 55%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $268 $258

Diversity

Columbia College Iowa Wesleyan College
% Men 40% 56%
% Women 60% 44%
Racial Diversity High High
HBCU No No
% White 55% 52%
% Black 15% 9%
% Hispanic 11% 6%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 3%
% International 3% 4%
% Unknown Race 7% 24%

Students

Columbia College Iowa Wesleyan College
% In-State 57% 25%
% Out-of-State 40% 60%

Campus

Columbia College Iowa Wesleyan College
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 Iowa Wesleyan College based on total student enrollment (6,646 students vs. 871 students)

Columbia College vs. Iowa Wesleyan College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbia College or Iowa Wesleyan College?

  • Iowa Wesleyan College is 14.6% more expensive to attend than Columbia College for in-state tuition ($33,550.00 vs. $29,270.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 14.6% higher at Iowa Wesleyan College than Columbia College Chicago ($33,550.00 vs. $29,270.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Iowa Wesleyan College than Columbia College ($20,074 vs. $28,387)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Iowa Wesleyan College are 58.7% lower than costs at Columbia College Chicago ($11,340 vs. $18,000)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Columbia College Chicago than Iowa Wesleyan College (99% vs. 92%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Iowa Wesleyan College students is 48% larger than aid received Columbia College Chicago ($26,670 vs. $18,020)

Columbia College vs. Iowa Wesleyan College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Columbia College students have a 0.39 point higher average high school GPA (3.41) than students at Iowa Wesleyan College (3.02)
  • Columbia College has a higher acceptance rate (94.8%) than Iowa Wesleyan College (80.8%)

Columbia College vs. Iowa Wesleyan College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Columbia College or Iowa Wesleyan College? 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 Iowa Wesleyan College and Columbia College.

  • The graduation rate at Columbia College is higher than Iowa Wesleyan College (41% vs. 25%)
  • Graduates from Columbia College Chicago earn on average $400 more per year than Iowa Wesleyan College graduates after ten years. ($37,300 vs. $36,900)
  • Iowa Wesleyan College students graduate with a $1,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Columbia College graduates. ($25,000 vs. $26,000)
  • Iowa Wesleyan College graduates are paying $10 less per month on federal student loans than Columbia College graduates. ($258 vs. $268)
  • More Iowa Wesleyan College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia College students, three years after graduation. (55% vs. 46%)

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