Wesleyan College vs. Columbia College

Deciding between Wesleyan College and Columbia College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Wesleyan College Macon, GA
  • Columbia College Columbia, SC
  • Setting
  • Wesleyan College Small City
  • Columbia College Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Wesleyan College 531
  • Columbia College 1,725
  • Type
  • Wesleyan College Private 4 Year
  • Columbia College Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Wesleyan College
  • Columbia College #937
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Wesleyan College United Methodist
  • Columbia College United Methodist
  • Status
  • Wesleyan College Non-profit
  • Columbia College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Wesleyan College
  • Columbia College
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Wesleyan College $27,650
  • Columbia College $22,214
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Wesleyan College $27,650
  • Columbia College $22,214
  • Room & Board
  • Wesleyan College $11,660
  • Columbia College $9,390
  • Average Net Price
  • Wesleyan College $12,837
  • Columbia College $18,790
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Wesleyan College $27,846
  • Columbia College $16,451
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Wesleyan College 100%
  • Columbia College 97%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Wesleyan College 1,352
  • Columbia College 2,634
  • Admitted
  • Wesleyan College 799
  • Columbia College 2,474
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Wesleyan College 59.1%
  • Columbia College 93.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Wesleyan College 13.4%
  • Columbia College 8.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Wesleyan College 1040
  • Columbia College 1000
  • Typical ACT score
  • Wesleyan College 22
  • Columbia College 16
  • Average High School GPA
  • Wesleyan College 3.28
  • Columbia College 3.56
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Wesleyan College B+
  • Columbia College A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Wesleyan College Very Easy
  • Columbia College Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • Wesleyan College Low
  • Columbia College
  • ACT Range
  • Wesleyan College 20/24
  • Columbia College 14/18
  • SAT Range
  • Wesleyan College 968/1116
  • Columbia College 850/1140
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Wesleyan College Test optional
  • Columbia College Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • Wesleyan College
  • Columbia College
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Wesleyan College 8:1
  • Columbia College 12:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Wesleyan College
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • Columbia College
    • Education (20%)
    • Psychology (12%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Human Services (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Wesleyan College 52%
  • Columbia College 50%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Wesleyan College $36,100
  • Columbia College $34,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Wesleyan College 38%
  • Columbia College 43%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Wesleyan College $25,500
  • Columbia College $25,264
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Wesleyan College $263
  • Columbia College $261
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Wesleyan College 6%
  • Columbia College 19%
  • % Women
  • Wesleyan College 94%
  • Columbia College 81%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Wesleyan College Very High
  • Columbia College High
  • HBCU
  • Wesleyan College No
  • Columbia College No
  • % White
  • Wesleyan College 36%
  • Columbia College 55%
  • % Asian
  • Wesleyan College 2%
  • Columbia College 1%
  • % Black
  • Wesleyan College 28%
  • Columbia College 34%
  • % Hispanic
  • Wesleyan College 4%
  • Columbia College 4%
  • % Native American
  • Wesleyan College 0%
  • Columbia College 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Wesleyan College 0%
  • Columbia College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Wesleyan College 3%
  • Columbia College 3%
  • % International
  • Wesleyan College 25%
  • Columbia College 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Wesleyan College 1%
  • Columbia College 1%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Wesleyan College 68%
  • Columbia College 83%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Wesleyan College 16%
  • Columbia College 14%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Wesleyan College Yes
  • Columbia College Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Wesleyan College No
  • Columbia College No
  • Meal Plan
  • Wesleyan College Yes
  • Columbia College Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Wesleyan College Yes
  • Columbia College Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Wesleyan College No
  • Columbia College No

Comparable Facts

Compare Wesleyan College in Macon, GA with Columbia College in Columbia, SC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Columbia College is larger than Wesleyan College based on total student enrollment (1,725 students vs. 531 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Wesleyan College is located in Macon, GA (Small City setting); Columbia College is in Columbia, SC (Midsize City setting).
  • Wesleyan College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Columbia College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Wesleyan College 8:1; Columbia College 12:1.

Wesleyan College vs. Columbia College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Wesleyan College or Columbia College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Wesleyan College than Columbia College ($12,837 vs. $18,790).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia College are 19.5% lower than at Wesleyan College ($9,390 vs. $11,660).
  • Wesleyan College is 24.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Columbia College (about $5,436 more per year; $27,650.00 vs. $22,214.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 24.5% higher at Wesleyan College than at Columbia College (about $5,436 more per year; $27,650.00 vs. $22,214.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Wesleyan College than at Columbia College (100% vs. 97%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Wesleyan College students is 69.3% larger than aid received by Columbia College students ($27,846 vs. $16,451).

Wesleyan College vs. Columbia College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Wesleyan College or Columbia College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Columbia College and Wesleyan College.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Wesleyan College (1040) is 40 points higher than at Columbia College (1000).
  • Incoming Wesleyan College students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (22 vs. 16 at Columbia College).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wesleyan College 968/1116; Columbia College 850/1140.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wesleyan College 20/24; Columbia College 14/18.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Wesleyan College - Test optional; Columbia College - Test-free.
  • Accepted freshman Columbia College students have a 0.28 point higher average high school GPA (3.56) than students at Wesleyan College (3.28).
  • Columbia College has a higher acceptance rate (93.9%) than Wesleyan College (59.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.4% at Wesleyan College vs. 8.5% at Columbia College.

Wesleyan College vs. Columbia College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Wesleyan College and Columbia College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Wesleyan College's six-year graduation rate (52%) is higher than Columbia College's (50%).
  • Graduates from Wesleyan College earn a median of about $1,400 more per year than Columbia College graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,100 vs. $34,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Columbia College graduates have a $236 lower median loan debt than Wesleyan College graduates ($25,264 vs. $25,500).
  • Among borrowers, Columbia College graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Wesleyan College graduates ($261 vs. $263).
  • More Columbia College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Wesleyan College students, three years after graduation. (43% vs. 38%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.