Columbia College vs. AU

Should I go to Columbia College or Anderson University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Columbia College or AU 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 vs. Anderson University comparison
Columbia College Anderson University College 3 College 4
Anderson University
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Overview

 Columbia College AU
Location Columbia, MO Anderson, SC
Setting Midsize City Small City
Enrollment 6,046 4,121
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Baptist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website ccis.edu andersonuniversity.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Columbia College AU
Tuition (In State) $24,326 $30,860
Tuition (Out of State) $24,326 $30,860
Room & Board $8,670 $11,230
Avg Net Price $22,824 $21,633
Avg Grant Aid $13,725 $24,409
% Receiving Grant Aid 90% 100%

Admission

 Columbia College AU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied - 5,043
Admitted - 2,289
Acceptance Rate Open 45.4%
Enrolled % Open 34.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.59 3.72
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Unavailable Unavailable
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range
SAT Range
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline

Academics

 Columbia College AU
Student to Faculty Ratio 20:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (42%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (29%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Human Services (4%)
  • Education (37%)
  • Business (36%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Psychology (4%)
  • Communication (3%)

Outcomes

 Columbia College AU
Graduation Rate 39% 48%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,800 $37,500
Making Student Loan Payments 40% 60%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,034 $26,862
Median Loan Payment $227 $277

Diversity

 Columbia College AU
% Men 40% 35%
% Women 60% 65%
Racial Diversity High Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 55% 83%
% Black 25% 8%
% Hispanic 8% 3%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 2% 1%
% Unknown Race 5% 2%

Students

 Columbia College AU
% In-State 56% 68%
% Out-of-State 42% 31%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Columbia College is larger than than AU based on total student enrollment (6,046 students vs. 4,121 students)

Columbia College vs. AU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbia College or AU?

  • Anderson University is 26.9% more expensive to attend than Columbia College for in-state tuition ($30,860.00 vs. $24,326.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 26.9% higher at AU than Columbia College ($30,860.00 vs. $24,326.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Anderson University than Columbia College ($21,633 vs. $22,824)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia College are 29.5% lower than costs at Anderson University ($8,670 vs. $11,230)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Anderson University than Columbia College (100% vs. 90%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Anderson University students is 77.8% larger than aid received Columbia College ($24,409 vs. $13,725)

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

  • Accepted freshman AU students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at Columbia College (3.59)

Columbia College vs. AU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at AU is higher than Columbia College (48% vs. 39%)
  • Graduates from Columbia College earn on average $4,300 more per year than AU graduates after ten years. ($41,800 vs. $37,500)
  • Columbia College students graduate with a $4,828 lower median federal student loan debt than AU graduates. ($22,034 vs. $26,862)
  • Columbia College graduates are paying $50 less per month on federal student loans than AU graduates. ($227 vs. $277)
  • More AU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia College students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 40%)

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