Carroll College vs Columbus College of Art & Design

Side-by-side comparison across admissions, costs, outcomes, campus life, and more. Data from US Department of Education.

πŸ’°
Best Value
Carroll College
Lower Net Price
πŸ’Ό
High Earners
Carroll College
Higher 10yr Salary
πŸ†
Most Selective
Columbus College of Art & Design
Harder to get in
πŸŽ“
Graduation
Carroll College
Higher success
Admissions Difficulty
Acceptance Rate
72.6%
71.7%
Avg SAT Score
1,170
Not reported
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1080 – 1330
Not reported
Avg ACT Score
25
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
24 – 29
Not reported
Cost & Financial Aid
Avg Net Price
$24,842
$30,139
Tuition (In-State)
$40,352
$39,650
Tuition (Out-of-State)
$40,352
$39,650
Pell Grant Rate % students receiving Pell Grants
18.0%
39.8%
Federal Loan Rate
44.9%
68.6%
Career Outcomes
Median Salary (10yr)
$61,772
$40,664
Graduation Rate
68.4%
60.6%
Retention Rate Freshmen who return for 2nd year
81.1%
73.3%
Campus Life
Total Enrollment
1,052
891
Undergrad Enrollment
1,169
980
Type
Private
Private
Setting
Urban
Urban

πŸ“‹ Report Cards

Carroll College

Academics
B-
Value
C
Admissions
C
Diversity
C

Columbus College of Art & Design

Academics
C+
Value
C
Admissions
C
Diversity
C+

βš–οΈ Expert Analysis

Carroll College and Columbus College of Art & Design are both well-regarded institutions, but they differ in important ways. Here's how they compare across key dimensions.

Admissions: Columbus College of Art & Design is more selective with a 71.7% acceptance rate compared to Carroll College's 72.6%.

Cost: Carroll College offers a lower average net price at $24,842, which is $5,297 less than Columbus College of Art & Design ($30,139). After financial aid, this can make a significant difference over 4 years.

Career Outcomes: Graduates from Carroll College earn a median salary of $61,772 ten years after enrollment, which is $21,108 more than Columbus College of Art & Design graduates ($40,664).

Graduation: Carroll College leads with a 68.4% graduation rate, and freshman retention rates are 81.1% vs 73.3%.

Campus Size: Carroll College is the larger campus with 1,052 total students, while Columbus College of Art & Design has 891.

Bottom Line: Carroll College stands out as both more affordable and producing higher-earning graduates β€” making it the stronger value proposition overall.

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