Columbia College vs NorthWestern

Columbia College and Northwestern University, both esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Columbia College, nestled in the heart of New York City, boasts a lower acceptance rate, a more diverse student body, and a higher graduation rate. Northwestern University, situated in the vibrant city of Evanston, Illinois, offers a wider range of undergraduate majors, a larger student body, and a strong emphasis on research. To help you make an informed decision about your academic journey, we have compiled a comprehensive comparison table highlighting the key differences between these two prestigious universities. Explore the table to discover which institution aligns best with your aspirations and goals.
Columbia College logo

Columbia College

Northwestern University logo

Northwestern University

Overview

Location Columbia, Missouri Evanston, Illinois
Campus setting City: Midsize City: Small
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system Semester Quarter
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 65.0% 99.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation Protestant

Admission

Acceptance rate Open Admission 7.0%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $75

Graduate: $95
SAT range N/A 1470 - 1570
ACT range N/A 34 - 35
Students submitting SAT score 43.0%
Students submitting ACT score 39.0%
Total number of applicants 47,636
Total number of admissions given out 3,321
Admitted students who chose to enroll 2,086
Yield rate 62.8%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) Not required N/A
High school GPA N/A Not required
Recommendation letters N/A Required
High school transcript N/A Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) N/A Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $37,364 $83,838
Average net price $24,559 $29,999
Tuition $23,840 $60,276
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $5,100

Meal plan: $3,400
Room/dormitory: $11,271

Meal plan: $6,993
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

91.0%
Average amount $13,178
57.0%
Average amount $51,087
Students receiving federal student loan 63.0%
Average amount $5,846
23.0%
Average amount $4,625
Students taking out private loans 4.0%
Average amount $15,055
2.0%
Average amount $38,595

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 6,351
Men 40.1% Women 59.9%
8,847
Men 46.1% Women 53.9%
Graduate students 414
Men 37.0% Women 63.0%
14,562
Men 47.3% Women 52.7%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Moderate
Out-of-state students 40.9% N/A
International students 2.5% 17.8%
Campus local/setting City: Midsize City: Small
Dormitory capacity 545 4,409
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from Missouri Washington Illinois Florida Georgia N/A

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Liberal Arts
  • Business
  • Law Enforcement and Firefighting
  • Public Administration and Social Service
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Communication and Journalism
  • Engineering
  • Health Professions
  • Legal Profession
Students to faculty ratio 20:1 6:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 32.5% 95.2%
Dropout rate 63.0% 4.2%
Transferred out N/A N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Business/Commerce, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $62,664
  • Year 2: $68,079
  • Year 3: $72,141
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $50,570
  • Year 2: $53,894
  • Year 3: $62,904
International Business (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $43,369
  • Year 2: $57,318
  • Year 3: $56,061
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $56,488
  • Year 2: $54,382
  • Year 3: $55,619
Management Information Systems and Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $50,859
  • Year 2: $49,937
  • Year 3: $54,418
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $44,904
  • Year 2: $44,970
  • Year 3: $50,412
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $46,410
  • Year 2: $44,817
  • Year 3: $48,171
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $44,432
  • Year 2: $42,682
  • Year 3: $46,968
Human Resources Management and Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $42,929
  • Year 2: $41,651
  • Year 3: $46,183
Business/Commerce, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $44,380
  • Year 2: $42,235
  • Year 3: $45,012
Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $150,242
  • Year 2: $188,472
  • Year 3: $221,242
Business/Commerce, General (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $188,472
  • Year 3: $216,176
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $187,194
  • Year 2: $170,971
  • Year 3: $206,288
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $120,709
  • Year 2: $189,565
  • Year 3: $194,961
Business/Commerce, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $162,478
  • Year 2: $163,561
  • Year 3: $177,652
Engineering-Related Fields (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $111,200
  • Year 2: $157,779
  • Year 3: $159,304
Engineering, Other (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $140,321
  • Year 2: $141,586
  • Year 3: $154,556
Medical Illustration and Informatics (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $88,288
  • Year 2: $118,465
  • Year 3: $132,325
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $118,780
  • Year 2: $111,323
  • Year 3: $130,124
Community Organization and Advocacy (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $115,760
  • Year 2: $113,668
  • Year 3: $128,046

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