Columbia International vs Naropa University

Columbia International University and Naropa University, two distinct institutions of higher learning, offer unique educational experiences to their students. Columbia International University, located in Columbia, South Carolina, is a private Christian university with a strong emphasis on liberal arts and sciences. Naropa University, on the other hand, is a private Buddhist-inspired university in Boulder, Colorado, renowned for its programs in contemplative education and mindfulness. While both universities share a commitment to academic excellence, they differ in several key aspects, including acceptance rates, popular majors, student body demographics, and graduation rates. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to discover the nuances that set these two universities apart and make an informed decision about which one aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.

	Columbia International University	Naropa University
Overview
Location	Columbia, South Carolina	Boulder, Colorado
Campus setting	City: Midsize	City: Midsize
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 and Graduate
Students retention rate	64.0%	54.0%
Common app member	No	Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission
Acceptance rate	45.6%	100.0%
Application fees	Undergraduate: $25 Graduate: $25	Undergraduate: $25 Graduate: $60
SAT range	940 - 1135	N/A
ACT range	17 - 24	N/A
Students submitting SAT score	39.0%
Students submitting ACT score	21.0%
Total number of applicants	526	148
Total number of admissions given out	240	148
Admitted students who chose to enroll	176	29
Yield rate	73.3%	19.6%
Test scores (SAT/ACT)	N/A	N/A
High school GPA	Required	Required
Recommendation letters	Not required	Not required
High school transcript	Not required	Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL)	Required	Required

Tuition and Fees
Sticker price	$38,700	$53,858
Average net price	$20,088	$29,924
Tuition	$24,490	$34,600
Room & board	$8,950
Available payment plans	Tuition payment plan	Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid
Students receiving financial aid (Grants & scholarships)	96.0% Average amount $17,706	92.0% Average amount $22,372
Students receiving federal student loan	66.0% Average amount $5,128	50.0% Average amount $11,330
Students taking out private loans	7.0% Average amount $9,004	0.0% Average amount $0

Students and Campus
Undergraduate students	905 Men 46.2% Women 53.8%	325 Men 26.5% Women 73.5%
Graduate students	1,433 Men 47.6% Women 52.4%	639 Men 25.2% Women 74.8%
Racial/ethnic diversity	Moderate	Low
Out-of-state students	47.6%	40.7%
International students	14.2%	2.4%
Campus local/setting	City: Midsize	City: Midsize
Dormitory capacity	400	104
First year students are required to live on campus?	No	No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from	South Carolina Florida North Carolina Georgia Texas	Colorado California New York Arizona Georgia

Academics
Popular study areas	Theology Education Business Psychology Liberal Arts	Psychology English Language and Literature Multidisciplinary Studies Health Professions Philosophy and Religious Studies
Students to faculty ratio	16:1	9:1
Institutional accreditation	Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges	Higher Learning Commission

Outcome
Graduation rate	62.1%	34.2%
Dropout rate	16.8%	23.7%
Transferred out	19.0%	42.1%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)	Theology and Religious Vocations, Other (First Professional Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $28,960 Year 3: $43,723 Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (First Professional Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $30,119 Year 3: $33,137 Bible/Biblical Studies (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $27,420 Year 2: $24,421 Year 3: $25,579 Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: N/A Year 3: $23,982 Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $21,964 Year 3: $23,347 Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $24,035 Year 3: N/A Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (First Professional Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $33,993 Year 3: N/A Intercultural/Multicultural and Diversity Studies (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $24,421 Year 3: N/A Theological and Ministerial Studies (First Professional Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $35,420 Year 3: N/A Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $23,351 Year 3: N/A	Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $33,475 Year 2: $31,133 Year 3: $31,734 Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $19,802 Year 2: $21,052 Year 3: $20,185 Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $23,019 Year 2: $28,598 Year 3: N/A Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (Master's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $18,154 Year 3: N/A

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Columbia International vs Naropa University

Columbia International University

Naropa University

Overview

Admission

Tuition and Fees

Financial Aid

Students and Campus

Academics

Outcome

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