Columbia College vs. MBC

Should I go to Columbia College or Mary Baldwin College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Columbia College or MBC 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. Mary Baldwin College comparison
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Overview

Columbia College MBC
Location Columbia, SC Staunton, VA
Setting Midsize City Distant Town
Enrollment 1,514 1,957
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #913 #1040
Religious Affiliation United Methodist Presbyterian Church (USA) - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website columbiasc.edu mbc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Columbia College MBC
Tuition (In State) $21,250 $31,611
Tuition (Out of State) $21,250 $31,611
Room & Board $8,400 $10,320
Avg Net Price $18,779 $18,746
Avg Grant Aid $16,089 $24,389
% Receiving Grant Aid 97% 100%

Admission

Columbia College MBC
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,176 -
Admitted 2,135 -
Acceptance Rate 98.1%
Enrolled % 8.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.56 3.57
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 14/18 18/24
SAT Range 850/1140 940/1120
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline

Academics

Columbia College MBC
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (20%)
  • Psychology (12%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Human Services (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Social Sciences (18%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Psychology (15%)
  • History (14%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

Outcomes

Columbia College MBC
Graduation Rate 50% 49%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $34,700 $38,400
Making Student Loan Payments 43% 53%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,264 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $261 $279

Diversity

Columbia College MBC
% Men 15% 21%
% Women 85% 79%
Racial Diversity High High
HBCU No No
% White 55% 58%
% Black 34% 23%
% Hispanic 4% 6%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 2% 1%
% Unknown Race 1% 5%

Students

Columbia College MBC
% In-State 76% 75%
% Out-of-State 22% 22%

Campus

Columbia College MBC
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

  • Mary Baldwin College is larger than than Columbia College based on total student enrollment (1,957 students vs. 1,514 students)

Columbia College vs. MBC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbia College or MBC?

  • Mary Baldwin College is 48.8% more expensive to attend than Columbia College for in-state tuition ($31,611.00 vs. $21,250.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 48.8% higher at MBC than Columbia College ($31,611.00 vs. $21,250.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Mary Baldwin College than Columbia College ($18,746 vs. $18,779)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia College are 22.9% lower than costs at Mary Baldwin College ($8,400 vs. $10,320)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Mary Baldwin College than Columbia College (100% vs. 97%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Mary Baldwin College students is 51.6% larger than aid received Columbia College ($24,389 vs. $16,089)

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

  • The average SAT score at Mary Baldwin College (1009) is 38 points higher than at Columbia College (971)
  • Incoming MBC students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at Columbia College (21)
  • Accepted freshman MBC students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.57) than students at Columbia College (3.56)

Columbia College vs. MBC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Columbia College is higher than Mary Baldwin College (50% vs. 49%)
  • Graduates from Mary Baldwin College earn on average $3,700 more per year than Columbia College graduates after ten years. ($38,400 vs. $34,700)
  • Columbia College students graduate with a $1,736 lower median federal student loan debt than MBC graduates. ($25,264 vs. $27,000)
  • Columbia College graduates are paying $18 less per month on federal student loans than MBC graduates. ($261 vs. $279)
  • More MBC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia College students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 43%)

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