Columbia College vs Principia College
Columbia College Chicago and Principia College, two distinct institutions with unique offerings, stand ready to shape your academic journey. Columbia, an urban oasis in the heart of Chicago, boasts a diverse student body and an acceptance rate of 85%, while Principia, nestled in the serene environs of Elsah, Illinois, maintains a selective admissions policy with an acceptance rate of 65%. Explore their contrasting strengths: Columbia's focus on the arts, media, and communication, reflected in its popular majors like Cinema and Television Arts, and Principia's emphasis on liberal arts and sciences, evident in its sought-after programs in Biology and Business Administration. Delve into the comparison table to uncover further distinctions, including student demographics, graduation rates, and more, and discover the institution that best aligns with your aspirations.
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![]() Columbia College Chicago |
![]() Principia College |
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Overview |
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Location | Chicago, Illinois | Elsah, Illinois |
Campus setting | City: Large | Rural: Fringe |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate |
Students retention rate | 62.0% | 81.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 95.6% | 84.1% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$50
Graduate:
$60
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SAT range | N/A | 1028 - 1193 |
ACT range | N/A | 21 - 28 |
Students submitting SAT score | 30.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 13.0% | |
Total number of applicants | 7,218 | 138 |
Total number of admissions given out | 6,903 | 116 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 1,696 | 79 |
Yield rate | 24.6% | 68.1% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Not required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Not required | Not required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $48,698 | $42,820 |
Average net price | $25,262 | $19,816 |
Tuition | $26,610 | $29,970 |
Room & board | $16,456 |
Room/dormitory:
$5,810
Meal plan:
$6,460
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
99.0%
Average amount $20,992 |
94.0%
Average amount $25,174 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
94.0%
Average amount $6,068 |
0.0%
Average amount $0 |
Students taking out private loans |
6.0%
Average amount $19,315 |
94.0%
Average amount $2,016 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
6,493
Men 40.0% Women 60.0% |
321
Men 53.0% Women 47.0% |
Graduate students |
243
Men 38.7% Women 61.3% |
N/A |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
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Low
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Out-of-state students | 46.1% | 92.7% |
International students | 4.0% | 24.3% |
Campus local/setting | City: Large | Rural: Fringe |
Dormitory capacity | 2,158 | 585 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Illinois Indiana Michigan Minnesota Ohio | Missouri California Texas Illinois Ohio |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 14:1 | 5:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 50.9% | 85.9% |
Dropout rate | 48.5% | 14.1% |
Transferred out | N/A | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Arts, Entertainment,and Media Management (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies (Master's Degrees)
Movement and Mind-Body Therapies and Education (Master's Degrees)
Marketing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Graphic Communications (Bachelor's Degrees)
American Sign Language (Bachelor's Degrees)
Journalism (Bachelor's Degrees)
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication (Bachelor's Degrees)
Design and Applied Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
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N/A |
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