Columbia College Chicago vs University of the Incarnate Word

Columbia College Chicago and University of the Incarnate Word are both well-regarded institutions, but they differ in important ways. Here's how they compare across key dimensions.

Admissions: Columbia College Chicago is more selective with a 91.2% acceptance rate compared to University of the Incarnate Word's 93.4%.

Cost: University of the Incarnate Word offers a lower average net price at $20,498, which is $6,290 less than Columbia College Chicago ($26,788). After financial aid, this can make a significant difference over 4 years.

Career Outcomes: Graduates from University of the Incarnate Word earn a median salary of $56,733 ten years after enrollment, which is $14,538 more than Columbia College Chicago graduates ($42,195).

Graduation: University of the Incarnate Word leads with a 52.5% graduation rate, and freshman retention rates are 64.0% vs 72.4%.

Campus Size: Columbia College Chicago is the larger campus with 6,294 total students, while University of the Incarnate Word has 4,545.

Bottom Line: University of the Incarnate Word stands out as both more affordable and producing higher-earning graduates — making it the stronger value proposition overall.