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Columbia, MO · St. Louis, MO
| Columbia College | Washington University in St Louis | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $22,715/yr | $21,786/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $23,967/yr | $1,716/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $23,879 | $17,500 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $21,168/yr | $1,928/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $21,550/yr | $5,578/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $23,015/yr | $12,603/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $21,545/yr | $42,170/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $253/mo | $186/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $9,552/yr | $21,854/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $9,552/yr | $21,854/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $480/yr | $1,304/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $5,248/yr | $3,575/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $37,207/yr | $88,488/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $25,826/yr | $65,790/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $25,826/yr | $65,790/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 45% | 18% |
| Students taking federal loans | 41% | 12% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | No data reported | 12% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | No data reported | 1500–1570 |
| SAT average | No data reported | 1530 |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | No data reported | 33–35 |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | No data reported | English 34–35 · Math 31–35 |
| Admissions data from | No data reported | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | No data reported | 32,240 |
| Students accepted | No data reported | 3,855 |
| Students who enrolled | No data reported | 1,828 |
| Accepted students who enroll | No data reported | 47% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | No data reported | 29% |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | No data reported | 28% |
| High-school GPA | No data reported | Optional (considered if sent) |
| High-school transcript | No data reported | Required |
| Essay | No data reported | Required |
| Recommendation letters | No data reported | Required |
| Class rank | No data reported | Optional (considered if sent) |
| College-prep program | No data reported | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Demonstrated competencies | No data reported | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Work experience | No data reported | Optional (considered if sent) |
| English proficiency test | No data reported | Required |
| Other admission tests | No data reported | Not considered |
| Legacy considered | No data reported | Optional (considered if sent) |
| SAT/ACT policy | Open admission (everyone qualified gets in) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 42% | 94% |
| Freshmen who come back | 75% | 95% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $45,378/yr | $86,182/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $26,967–$67,837 | $60,733–$137,446 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 36% | 93% |
| White students graduating | 48% | 95% |
| Black students graduating | 20% | 89% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 21% | 94% |
| Asian students graduating | 25% | 97% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $40,747/yr | $78,073/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 69% | 90% |
| Graduate on time | 33% | 85% |
| Pell students who graduate | 30% | 92% |
| First-gen students who finish | 25% | 85% |
| Low-income students who finish | 20% | 85% |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $41,679/yr | $81,347/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Business, Management & Marketing 33% · Liberal Arts & General Studies 25% · Health Professions 9% | Engineering 14% · Biological & Biomedical Sciences 13% · Social Sciences 13% |
| Most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 33% of degrees | Engineering — 14% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Liberal Arts & General Studies — 25% of degrees | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 13% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Health Professions — 9% of degrees | Social Sciences — 13% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Homeland Security & Protective Services — 7% of degrees | Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies — 10% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Computer & Information Sciences — 6% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 10% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $71,271/yr | Business Administration, Management and Operations — $130,529/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 7.8% | 41% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 4,950 | 7,857 |
| Students per professor | 20 : 1 | 7 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 482 | 8,137 |
| Average professor pay | $8,205/mo | $16,945/mo |
| Full-time professors | 100% | 73% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
| Median family income | $25,623 | $88,696 |
| Setting | City (midsize) | Suburb (large) |
| Location | Columbia, MO | St. Louis, MO |
| Region | Plains | Plains |
| Founded | 1851 | 1853 |
| Public or private | Private (nonprofit) | Private (nonprofit) |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 3.4% | 9% |
| Men | 41% | 46% |
| Women | 59% | 54% |
| White students | 53% | 40% |
| Black students | 21% | 8.7% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 12% | 13% |
| Asian students | 1.9% | 21% |
| Two or more races | 6.2% | 6.2% |
| Other / not reported | 2.4% | 2.3% |
| Special type | Religiously affiliated | None |
| First-generation students | 49% | 11% |
| Part-time students | 50% | 4.4% |
| Students age 25+ | 65% | 8% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $8,042/yr | $181,929/yr |
| Endowment | $159.2M | $12.0B |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 412 | 7,088 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | $5,202/yr | $13,188/yr |
| Meal plan charge | $3,672/yr | $7,590/yr |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | Varies by week | Varies by week |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Semester |
| Religious affiliation | Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) | No data reported |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | No | Yes |
| ROTC | Yes — Army, Navy, Air Force | Yes — Army, Air Force |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | No | Yes |
| Credit for life experience | Yes | No |
| Online classes | Yes | Yes |
| Whole degrees online | Yes | Yes |
| Weekend & evening classes | Yes | Yes |
| Teacher certification | Yes | Yes |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | Yes |
| Job placement for graduates | Yes | Yes |
| On-campus day care | No | Yes |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | No | No |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | Yes | Yes |
| Credit for military training | Yes | No |
| Student veteran organization | Yes | Yes |
| Tuition payment plan | Yes | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | No | No |
| Prepaid tuition plan | No | Yes |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NAIA Division I | NCAA Division III with football |
| Football team | No | Yes |
| Varsity teams | 14 | 15 |
| Student athletes | 340 | 519 |
| Athletic scholarships | $2.4M | $0 |
| Athletics budget | $5.8M | $10.7M |
| Athletics revenue | $5.8M | $11.2M |
| Recruiting spend | $13,729 | $112,333 |
Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.