Columbia College vs. Bethel

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

 Columbia College Bethel
Location Columbia, MO McKenzie, TN
Setting Midsize City Distant Town
Enrollment 6,046 4,686
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #1002
Religious Affiliation Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Cumberland Presbyterian - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website ccis.edu bethelu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Columbia College Bethel
Tuition (In State) $24,326 $16,222
Tuition (Out of State) $24,326 $16,222
Room & Board $8,670 $13,446
Avg Net Price $22,824 $13,858
Avg Grant Aid $13,725 $13,396
% Receiving Grant Aid 90% 96%

Admission

 Columbia College Bethel
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied - 2,489
Admitted - 2,210
Acceptance Rate Open 88.8%
Enrolled % Open 20.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.59 3.6
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Unavailable Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 16/22
SAT Range 928/1130
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline

Academics

 Columbia College Bethel
Student to Faculty Ratio 20:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (42%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (29%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Human Services (4%)
  • Business (78%)
  • Education (5%)
  • Biology (3%)
  • Health Professions (3%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (2%)

Outcomes

 Columbia College Bethel
Graduation Rate 39% 32%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,800 $42,700
Making Student Loan Payments 40% 33%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,034 $28,250
Median Loan Payment $227 $292

Diversity

 Columbia College Bethel
% Men 40% 46%
% Women 60% 54%
Racial Diversity High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 55% 46%
% Black 25% 40%
% Hispanic 8% 1%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 5%
% Two or More Races 3% 1%
% International 2% 1%
% Unknown Race 5% 5%

Students

 Columbia College Bethel
% In-State 56% 80%
% Out-of-State 42% 19%

Campus

 Columbia College Bethel
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 Bethel based on total student enrollment (6,046 students vs. 4,686 students)

Columbia College vs. Bethel Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbia College or Bethel?

  • Columbia College is 50% more expensive to attend than Bethel for in-state tuition ($24,326.00 vs. $16,222.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 50% higher at Columbia College than Bethel University ($24,326.00 vs. $16,222.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bethel University than Columbia College ($13,858 vs. $22,824)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia College are 55.1% lower than costs at Bethel University ($8,670 vs. $13,446)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Bethel University than Columbia College (96% vs. 90%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia College students is 2.5% larger than aid received Bethel University ($13,725 vs. $13,396)

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

  • Accepted freshman Bethel students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at Columbia College (3.59)

Columbia College vs. Bethel Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Columbia College is higher than Bethel University (39% vs. 32%)
  • Graduates from Bethel University earn on average $900 more per year than Columbia College graduates after ten years. ($42,700 vs. $41,800)
  • Columbia College students graduate with a $6,216 lower median federal student loan debt than Bethel graduates. ($22,034 vs. $28,250)
  • Columbia College graduates are paying $65 less per month on federal student loans than Bethel graduates. ($227 vs. $292)
  • More Columbia College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bethel students, three years after graduation. (40% vs. 33%)

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