Columbia College vs. KWC

Columbia College Chicago and Kentucky Wesleyan College side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Columbia College Chicago
Kentucky Wesleyan College

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: KWC (71.6% admitted vs 89.5%). Typical SAT 1010 vs N/A.
  • Cheaper after aid: KWC. Average net price is $20,999 vs $29,473 at Columbia College.
  • Graduation: Columbia College 41% vs KWC 44%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Columbia College $37,300 vs KWC $38,500 (median).
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Key differences

Columbia College Chicago Kentucky Wesleyan College
Acceptance rate
KWC more selective
Columbia College89.5%
KWC71.6%
SAT range (middle 50%)
KWC higher
Columbia College-
KWC890-1130
Average net price
KWC $8,474 less
Columbia College$29,473
KWC$20,999
In-state tuition
Columbia College $585 less
Columbia College$34,088
KWC$34,673
Out-of-state tuition
Columbia College $585 less
Columbia College$34,088
KWC$34,673
Graduation rate
KWC +3 pts
Columbia College41%
KWC44%
Median earnings (10 years)
KWC +$1,200
Columbia College$37,300
KWC$38,500

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Columbia College 7,079
  • KWC 2,113
  • Admitted
  • Columbia College 6,333
  • KWC 1,513
  • Acceptance rate
  • Columbia College 89.5% Open
  • KWC 71.6%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Columbia College 15.1% Open
  • KWC 17.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Columbia College
  • KWC 1010
  • Typical ACT score
  • Columbia College
  • KWC 19
  • Average high school GPA
  • Columbia College 3.41
  • KWC 3.3
  • Typical high school grades
  • Columbia College B+
  • KWC B+
  • Admissions standards
  • Columbia College Unavailable
  • KWC Extremely Easy
  • Applicant competition
  • Columbia College
  • KWC Low
  • SAT range
  • Columbia College
  • KWC 890-1130
  • ACT range
  • Columbia College
  • KWC 16-23
  • Submit test scores
  • Columbia College Open admission
  • KWC Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Columbia College Aug 1, 2027
  • KWC
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Columbia College $34,088
  • KWC $34,673
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Columbia College $34,088
  • KWC $34,673
  • Room & board
  • Columbia College $20,629
  • KWC $11,855
  • Average net price
  • Columbia College $29,473
  • KWC $20,999
  • Average grant aid
  • Columbia College $22,780
  • KWC $25,538
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Columbia College 100%
  • KWC 100%
  • Graduation rate
  • Columbia College 41%
  • KWC 44%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Columbia College $37,300
  • KWC $38,500
  • Making student loan payments
  • Columbia College 46%
  • KWC 54%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Columbia College $26,000
  • KWC $22,907
  • Median loan payment
  • Columbia College $268
  • KWC $236
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Columbia College 15:1
  • KWC 15:1
  • Popular majors
  • Columbia College
    • Visual and Performing Arts (63%)
    • Communication (12%)
    • Business (9%)
    • Communications Technology (6%)
    • English and Literature (5%)
  • KWC
    • Education (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • Location
  • Columbia College Chicago, IL
  • KWC Owensboro, KY
  • Setting
  • Columbia College Large City
  • KWC Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Columbia College 5,570
  • KWC 887
  • Type
  • Columbia College Private 4 Year
  • KWC Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Columbia College
  • KWC

Comparable Facts

Compare Columbia College Chicago in Chicago, IL with Kentucky Wesleyan College in Owensboro, KY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Columbia College Chicago is larger than KWC based on total student enrollment (5,570 students vs. 887 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Columbia College Chicago is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); Kentucky Wesleyan College is in Owensboro, KY (Small City setting).
  • Columbia College Chicago is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Kentucky Wesleyan College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Columbia College Chicago 15:1; Kentucky Wesleyan College 15:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Kentucky Wesleyan College are 42.5% lower than at Columbia College Chicago ($11,855 vs. $20,629).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 1.7% higher at KWC than at Columbia College Chicago (about $585 more per year; $34,673 vs. $34,088).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Columbia College Chicago as at Kentucky Wesleyan College (100% vs. 100%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Kentucky Wesleyan College students is 12.1% larger than aid received by Columbia College Chicago students ($25,538 vs. $22,780).

Admissions details

  • SAT or ACT scores are open admission at Columbia College, test optional at KWC.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Columbia College Aug 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Columbia College average a 3.41 high school GPA, 0.11 higher than at KWC (3.3).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.1% at Columbia College vs. 17.7% at KWC.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Kentucky Wesleyan College graduates have a $3,093 lower median loan debt than Columbia College graduates ($22,907 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, KWC graduates have an estimated $32 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Columbia College graduates ($236 vs. $268).
  • More KWC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia College students, three years after graduation (54% vs. 46%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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