Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Campbellsville University Middle Tennessee State University Tennessee State University Belmont Vanderbilt Martin Methodist College Tusculum College| Columbia College | Cumberland University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
||||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Columbia College | CU | ||
| Location | Columbia, SC | Lebanon, TN | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 1,514 | 2,588 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #913 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | United Methodist | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | columbiasc.edu | cumberland.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Columbia College | CU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $21,250 | $25,200 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $21,250 | $25,200 | ||
| Room & Board | $8,400 | $8,990 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $18,779 | $18,528 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $16,089 | $22,145 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 97% | 100% |
Admission |
Columbia College | CU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 2,176 | 2,137 | ||
| Admitted | 2,135 | 1,415 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 98.1% | 66.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 8.9% | 44.5% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.56 | 3.3 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Extremely Easy | Unavailable | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 14/18 | |||
| SAT Range | 850/1140 | |||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | ||
| Application Deadline |
Academics |
Columbia College | CU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 11:1 | 16:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
Columbia College | CU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 50% | 34% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $34,700 | $39,900 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 43% | 60% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,264 | $21,729 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $261 | $224 |
Diversity |
Columbia College | CU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 15% | 42% | ||
| % Women | 85% | 58% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 55% | 63% | ||
| % Black | 34% | 12% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 0% | ||
| % International | 2% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 16% |
Students |
Columbia College | CU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 76% | 88% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 22% | 8% | ||
Campus |
Columbia College | CU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Cumberland University is larger than than Columbia College based on total student enrollment (2,588 students vs. 1,514 students)
Columbia College vs. CU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Columbia College or CU?
- Cumberland University is 18.6% more expensive to attend than Columbia College for in-state tuition ($25,200.00 vs. $21,250.00)
- Out of state tuition is 18.6% higher at CU than Columbia College ($25,200.00 vs. $21,250.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Cumberland University than Columbia College ($18,528 vs. $18,779)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia College are 7% lower than costs at Cumberland University ($8,400 vs. $8,990)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Cumberland University than Columbia College (100% vs. 97%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Cumberland University students is 37.6% larger than aid received Columbia College ($22,145 vs. $16,089)
Columbia College vs. CU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Columbia College or CU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between CU or Columbia College .
- The average SAT score at Cumberland University (989) is 18 points higher than at Columbia College (971)
- Incoming Columbia College students have at the same average ACT score (21) as students at CU (21)
- Accepted freshman Columbia College students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.56) than students at CU (3.3)
- Columbia College has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than CU (66.2%)
Columbia College vs. CU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Columbia College or CU? 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 CU and Columbia College.
- The graduation rate at Columbia College is higher than Cumberland University (50% vs. 34%)
- Graduates from Cumberland University earn on average $5,200 more per year than Columbia College graduates after ten years. ($39,900 vs. $34,700)
- Cumberland University students graduate with a $3,535 lower median federal student loan debt than Columbia College graduates. ($21,729 vs. $25,264)
- CU graduates are paying $37 less per month on federal student loans than Columbia College graduates. ($224 vs. $261)
- More CU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia College students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 43%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/