WPI vs. Columbia College

Deciding between Worcester Polytechnic Institute 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.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • WPI Worcester, MA
  • Columbia College Columbia, MO
  • Setting
  • WPI Midsize City
  • Columbia College Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • WPI 7,584
  • Columbia College 5,689
  • Type
  • WPI Private 4 Year
  • Columbia College Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • WPI
  • Columbia College
  • Religious Affiliation
  • WPI -
  • Columbia College Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
  • Status
  • WPI Non-profit
  • Columbia College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • WPI
  • Columbia College

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • WPI $60,965
  • Columbia College $25,826
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • WPI $60,965
  • Columbia College $25,826
  • Room & Board
  • WPI $18,386
  • Columbia College $9,552
  • Average Net Price
  • WPI $47,372
  • Columbia College $21,530
  • Average Grant Aid
  • WPI $31,545
  • Columbia College $15,882
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • WPI 100%
  • Columbia College 91%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • WPI 12,559
  • Columbia College -
  • Admitted
  • WPI 7,555
  • Columbia College -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • WPI 60.2%
  • Columbia College Open
  • Enrolled
  • WPI 18.1%
  • Columbia College Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • WPI
  • Columbia College
  • Typical ACT score
  • WPI
  • Columbia College
  • Average High School GPA
  • WPI 3.9
  • Columbia College 3.59
  • Typical High School Grades
  • WPI A
  • Columbia College A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • WPI Unavailable
  • Columbia College Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • WPI Low
  • Columbia College
  • ACT Range
  • WPI
  • Columbia College
  • SAT Range
  • WPI
  • Columbia College
  • Submit Test Scores
  • WPI Test-free
  • Columbia College Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • WPI Feb 15, 2027
  • Columbia College

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • WPI 13:1
  • Columbia College 20:1
  • Popular Majors
  • WPI
    • Engineering (61%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (9%)
    • General Studies (5%)
    • Business (4%)
  • Columbia College
    • Business (42%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (29%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (9%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • Human Services (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • WPI 76%
  • Columbia College 39%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • WPI $82,700
  • Columbia College $41,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • WPI 92%
  • Columbia College 40%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • WPI $27,000
  • Columbia College $22,034
  • Median Loan Payment
  • WPI $279
  • Columbia College $227

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • WPI 68%
  • Columbia College 41%
  • % Women
  • WPI 32%
  • Columbia College 59%
  • Racial Diversity
  • WPI Medium
  • Columbia College High
  • HBCU
  • WPI No
  • Columbia College No
  • % White
  • WPI 63%
  • Columbia College 55%
  • % Asian
  • WPI 5%
  • Columbia College 1%
  • % Black
  • WPI 2%
  • Columbia College 25%
  • % Hispanic
  • WPI 8%
  • Columbia College 8%
  • % Native American
  • WPI 0%
  • Columbia College 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • WPI 0%
  • Columbia College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • WPI 3%
  • Columbia College 3%
  • % International
  • WPI 12%
  • Columbia College 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • WPI 6%
  • Columbia College 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • WPI 48%
  • Columbia College 63%
  • % Out-of-State
  • WPI 48%
  • Columbia College 37%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, MA with Columbia College in Columbia, MO on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute is larger than Columbia College based on total student enrollment (7,584 students vs. 5,689 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Worcester Polytechnic Institute is located in Worcester, MA (Midsize City setting); Columbia College is in Columbia, MO (Midsize City setting).
  • Worcester Polytechnic Institute is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Columbia College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Worcester Polytechnic Institute 13:1; Columbia College 20:1.

WPI vs. Columbia College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WPI 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 Columbia College than WPI ($21,530 vs. $47,372).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia College are 48% lower than at Worcester Polytechnic Institute ($9,552 vs. $18,386).
  • Worcester Polytechnic Institute is 136.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Columbia College (about $35,139 more per year; $60,965.00 vs. $25,826.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 136.1% higher at WPI than at Columbia College (about $35,139 more per year; $60,965.00 vs. $25,826.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Worcester Polytechnic Institute than at Columbia College (100% vs. 91%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Worcester Polytechnic Institute students is 98.6% larger than aid received by Columbia College students ($31,545 vs. $15,882).

WPI vs. Columbia College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, WPI 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 WPI.

  • Columbia College reports an open admissions policy.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: WPI - Test-free; Columbia College - Open admission.
  • Typical fall application deadline: WPI Feb 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman WPI students have a 0.31 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Columbia College (3.59).

WPI vs. Columbia College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for WPI 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).

  • Worcester Polytechnic Institute's six-year graduation rate (76%) is higher than Columbia College's (39%).
  • Graduates from Worcester Polytechnic Institute earn a median of about $40,900 more per year than Columbia College graduates about ten years after starting college ($82,700 vs. $41,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Columbia College graduates have a $4,966 lower median loan debt than WPI graduates ($22,034 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Columbia College graduates have an estimated $52 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than WPI graduates ($227 vs. $279).
  • More WPI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia College students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 40%)

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.