Columbia Southern University vs DeVry-Illinois

Columbia Southern University and DeVry University-Illinois, while both offering diverse educational opportunities, present distinct characteristics that cater to different student preferences and aspirations. Columbia Southern University boasts an open admissions policy, welcoming a broader range of students, while DeVry University-Illinois maintains a more selective approach with an acceptance rate of 68%. In terms of student body composition, Columbia Southern University's student population is predominantly female (63%), while DeVry University-Illinois has a more balanced gender distribution. When it comes to popular majors, Columbia Southern University excels in business, healthcare, and criminal justice, whereas DeVry University-Illinois specializes in technology, engineering, and business. To help you make an informed decision, we have compiled a comprehensive comparison table that delves into these aspects and more, including graduation rates, tuition fees, and available programs. Explore the table to discover which university aligns best with your academic goals and personal preferences.
Columbia Southern University logo

Columbia Southern University

DeVry University-Illinois logo

DeVry University-Illinois

Overview

Location Orange Beach, Alabama Naperville, Illinois
Campus setting Town: Fringe City: Midsize
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (For Profit) Private (For Profit)
Calendar system Non Traditional Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 40.0% 62.0%
Common app member No No
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate Open Admission 45.5%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $30

Graduate: $30
SAT range N/A N/A
ACT range N/A N/A
Students submitting SAT score
Students submitting ACT score
Total number of applicants 5,661
Total number of admissions given out 2,577
Admitted students who chose to enroll 1,971
Yield rate 76.5%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) Not required N/A
High school GPA N/A Required
Recommendation letters N/A Not required
High school transcript N/A Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) N/A Not required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $19,177 $38,444
Average net price $12,474 $29,115
Tuition $5,640 $16,448
Room & board
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

56.0%
Average amount $3,123
98.0%
Average amount $6,866
Students receiving federal student loan 41.0%
Average amount $5,701
85.0%
Average amount $7,897
Students taking out private loans 0.0%
Average amount $0
0.0%
Average amount $0

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 11,672
Men 65.2% Women 34.8%
19,866
Men 34.4% Women 65.6%
Graduate students 4,740
Men 53.9% Women 46.1%
3,128
Men 38.2% Women 61.8%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Moderate
Out-of-state students N/A 93.6%
International students 0.0% 0.4%
Campus local/setting Town: Fringe City: Midsize
Dormitory capacity N/A N/A
First year students are required to live on campus? N/A N/A
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from N/A Texas Illinois Pennsylvania New York Ohio

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Business
  • Law Enforcement and Firefighting
  • Engineering Technologies
  • Health Professions
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Business
  • Health Professions
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Engineering Technologies
  • Law Enforcement and Firefighting
Students to faculty ratio 31:1 39:1
Institutional accreditation Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 33.4% 41.9%
Dropout rate 57.6% 37.4%
Transferred out 2.2% 20.1%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $79,983
  • Year 2: $68,880
  • Year 3: $78,451
Public Administration (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $57,300
  • Year 2: $61,516
  • Year 3: $75,520
Homeland Security (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $75,707
  • Year 2: $71,473
  • Year 3: $73,060
Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $68,385
  • Year 2: $67,304
  • Year 3: $72,485
Fire Protection (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $70,128
  • Year 2: $69,691
  • Year 3: $71,770
Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $71,839
  • Year 2: $69,785
  • Year 3: $67,888
Fire Protection (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $66,269
  • Year 2: $61,922
  • Year 3: $65,587
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $47,097
  • Year 2: $58,092
  • Year 3: $62,377
Natural Resources Conservation and Research (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $60,105
  • Year 2: $62,260
  • Year 3: $59,697
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $60,526
  • Year 2: $58,990
  • Year 3: $59,493
Management Information Systems and Services (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $69,338
  • Year 3: $78,577
Management Information Systems and Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $65,756
  • Year 2: $66,885
  • Year 3: $73,133
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $68,726
  • Year 2: $66,592
  • Year 3: $72,885
Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $60,951
  • Year 2: $61,702
  • Year 3: $67,529
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $61,144
  • Year 2: $64,686
  • Year 3: $66,091
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $60,308
  • Year 2: $58,673
  • Year 3: $66,013
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
  • Year 1: $67,937
  • Year 2: $59,350
  • Year 3: $63,661
Electromechanical Instrumentation and Maintenance Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $52,602
  • Year 2: $54,192
  • Year 3: $63,401
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $59,102
  • Year 2: $58,714
  • Year 3: $62,826
Accounting and Related Services (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
  • Year 1: $58,051
  • Year 2: $54,696
  • Year 3: $61,220

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