Columbia College vs. University of Saint Francis

Deciding between Columbia College Chicago and University of Saint Francis Fort Wayne? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Columbia College Chicago

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Columbia College Chicago, IL
  • University of Saint Francis Fort Wayne, IN
  • Setting
  • Columbia College Large City
  • University of Saint Francis Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Columbia College 5,570
  • University of Saint Francis 1,763
  • Type
  • Columbia College Private 4 Year
  • University of Saint Francis Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Columbia College
  • University of Saint Francis #676
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Columbia College -
  • University of Saint Francis Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • Columbia College Non-profit
  • University of Saint Francis Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Columbia College
  • University of Saint Francis

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Columbia College $34,088
  • University of Saint Francis $36,460
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Columbia College $34,088
  • University of Saint Francis $36,460
  • Room & Board
  • Columbia College $20,629
  • University of Saint Francis $11,872
  • Average Net Price
  • Columbia College $29,473
  • University of Saint Francis $18,654
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Columbia College $22,780
  • University of Saint Francis $28,063
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Columbia College 100%
  • University of Saint Francis 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Columbia College 7,079
  • University of Saint Francis 2,008
  • Admitted
  • Columbia College 6,333
  • University of Saint Francis 1,927
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Columbia College 89.5% Open
  • University of Saint Francis 96%
  • Enrolled
  • Columbia College 15.1% Open
  • University of Saint Francis 21.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Columbia College
  • University of Saint Francis 970
  • Typical ACT score
  • Columbia College
  • University of Saint Francis 20
  • Average High School GPA
  • Columbia College 3.41
  • University of Saint Francis 3.37
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Columbia College B+
  • University of Saint Francis B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Columbia College Unavailable
  • University of Saint Francis Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • Columbia College
  • University of Saint Francis
  • ACT Range
  • Columbia College
  • University of Saint Francis 17/24
  • SAT Range
  • Columbia College
  • University of Saint Francis 870/1070
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Columbia College Open admission
  • University of Saint Francis Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Columbia College Aug 1, 2027
  • University of Saint Francis

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Columbia College 15:1
  • University of Saint Francis 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Columbia College
    • Visual and Performing Arts (63%)
    • Communication (12%)
    • Business (9%)
    • Communications Technology (6%)
    • English and Literature (5%)
  • University of Saint Francis
    • Health Professions (59%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Business (5%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Columbia College 41%
  • University of Saint Francis 54%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Columbia College $37,300
  • University of Saint Francis $42,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Columbia College 46%
  • University of Saint Francis 58%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Columbia College $26,000
  • University of Saint Francis $25,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Columbia College $268
  • University of Saint Francis $261

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Columbia College 40%
  • University of Saint Francis 32%
  • % Women
  • Columbia College 60%
  • University of Saint Francis 68%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Columbia College High
  • University of Saint Francis Low
  • HBCU
  • Columbia College No
  • University of Saint Francis No
  • % White
  • Columbia College 55%
  • University of Saint Francis 81%
  • % Asian
  • Columbia College 3%
  • University of Saint Francis 1%
  • % Black
  • Columbia College 15%
  • University of Saint Francis 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Columbia College 11%
  • University of Saint Francis 6%
  • % Native American
  • Columbia College 0%
  • University of Saint Francis 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Columbia College 0%
  • University of Saint Francis 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Columbia College 5%
  • University of Saint Francis 2%
  • % International
  • Columbia College 3%
  • University of Saint Francis 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Columbia College 7%
  • University of Saint Francis 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Columbia College 54%
  • University of Saint Francis 87%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Columbia College 44%
  • University of Saint Francis 8%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Columbia College Yes
  • University of Saint Francis Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Columbia College No
  • University of Saint Francis No
  • Meal Plan
  • Columbia College Yes
  • University of Saint Francis Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Columbia College No
  • University of Saint Francis Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Columbia College No
  • University of Saint Francis No
  • Learn More
  • Columbia College Details
  • University of Saint Francis Details

Comparable Facts

Compare Columbia College Chicago in Chicago, IL with University of Saint Francis Fort Wayne in Fort Wayne, IN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Columbia College Chicago is larger than University of Saint Francis based on total student enrollment (5,570 students vs. 1,763 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Columbia College Chicago is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); University of Saint Francis Fort Wayne is in Fort Wayne, IN (Large City setting).
  • Columbia College Chicago is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Saint Francis Fort Wayne is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Columbia College Chicago 15:1; University of Saint Francis Fort Wayne 11:1.

Columbia College vs. University of Saint Francis Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbia College or University of Saint Francis? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Saint Francis Fort Wayne than Columbia College ($18,654 vs. $29,473).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Saint Francis Fort Wayne are 42.4% lower than at Columbia College Chicago ($11,872 vs. $20,629).
  • University of Saint Francis Fort Wayne is 7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Columbia College (about $2,372 more per year; $36,460.00 vs. $34,088.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 7% higher at University of Saint Francis than at Columbia College Chicago (about $2,372 more per year; $36,460.00 vs. $34,088.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Columbia College Chicago as at University of Saint Francis Fort Wayne (100% vs. 100%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Saint Francis Fort Wayne students is 23.2% larger than aid received by Columbia College Chicago students ($28,063 vs. $22,780).

Columbia College vs. University of Saint Francis Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Columbia College or University of Saint Francis? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between University of Saint Francis and Columbia College.

  • Columbia College Chicago reports an open admissions policy.
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUniversity of Saint Francis Fort Wayne 870/1070.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUniversity of Saint Francis Fort Wayne 17/24.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Columbia College - Open admission; University of Saint Francis - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Columbia College Aug 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Columbia College students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.41) than students at University of Saint Francis (3.37).
  • University of Saint Francis has a higher acceptance rate (96%) than Columbia College (89.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.1% at Columbia College vs. 21.5% at University of Saint Francis.

Columbia College vs. University of Saint Francis Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Columbia College and University of Saint Francis? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • University of Saint Francis Fort Wayne's six-year graduation rate (54%) is higher than Columbia College Chicago's (41%).
  • Graduates from University of Saint Francis Fort Wayne earn a median of about $4,700 more per year than Columbia College graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,000 vs. $37,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Saint Francis Fort Wayne graduates have a $750 lower median loan debt than Columbia College graduates ($25,250 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, University of Saint Francis graduates have an estimated $7 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Columbia College graduates ($261 vs. $268).
  • More University of Saint Francis graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia College students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 46%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.