SAU vs. Columbia College

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

 SAU Columbia College
Location Spring Arbor, MI Columbia, SC
Setting Small Suburban Midsize City
Enrollment 2,396 1,514
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #501 #913
Religious Affiliation Free Methodist United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website arbor.edu columbiasc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 SAU Columbia College
Tuition (In State) $31,020 $21,250
Tuition (Out of State) $31,020 $21,250
Room & Board $10,652 $8,400
Avg Net Price $22,375 $18,779
Avg Grant Aid $20,677 $16,089
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 97%

Admission

 SAU Columbia College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,312 2,176
Admitted 1,094 2,135
Acceptance Rate 47.3% 98.1%
Enrolled % 20.8% 8.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.61 3.56
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 20/26 14/18
SAT Range 970/1135 850/1140
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline

Academics

 SAU Columbia College
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (31%)
  • Work and Family Studies (14%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Human Services (9%)
  • Education (20%)
  • Psychology (12%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Human Services (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)

Outcomes

 SAU Columbia College
Graduation Rate 56% 50%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $42,600 $34,700
Making Student Loan Payments 58% 43%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,043 $25,264
Median Loan Payment $248 $261

Diversity

 SAU Columbia College
% Men 23% 15%
% Women 77% 85%
Racial Diversity Low High
HBCU No No
% White 77% 55%
% Black 10% 34%
% Hispanic 3% 4%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 1% 2%
% Unknown Race 5% 1%

Students

 SAU Columbia College
% In-State 83% 76%
% Out-of-State 13% 22%

Campus

 SAU Columbia College
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

  • Spring Arbor University is larger than than Columbia College based on total student enrollment (2,396 students vs. 1,514 students)

SAU vs. Columbia College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SAU or Columbia College?

  • Spring Arbor University is 46% more expensive to attend than Columbia College for in-state tuition ($31,020.00 vs. $21,250.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 46% higher at SAU than Columbia College ($31,020.00 vs. $21,250.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Columbia College than SAU ($18,779 vs. $22,375)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia College are 26.8% lower than costs at Spring Arbor University ($8,400 vs. $10,652)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Spring Arbor University than Columbia College (99% vs. 97%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Spring Arbor University students is 28.5% larger than aid received Columbia College ($20,677 vs. $16,089)

SAU vs. Columbia College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Spring Arbor University (1073) is 102 points higher than at Columbia College (971)
  • Incoming SAU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Columbia College (21)
  • Accepted freshman SAU students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.61) than students at Columbia College (3.56)
  • Columbia College has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than SAU (47.3%)

SAU vs. Columbia College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at SAU is higher than Columbia College (56% vs. 50%)
  • Graduates from Spring Arbor University earn on average $7,900 more per year than Columbia College graduates after ten years. ($42,600 vs. $34,700)
  • Spring Arbor University students graduate with a $1,221 lower median federal student loan debt than Columbia College graduates. ($24,043 vs. $25,264)
  • SAU graduates are paying $13 less per month on federal student loans than Columbia College graduates. ($248 vs. $261)
  • More SAU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia College students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 43%)

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