Location
- Columbia College Chicago
- Chicago, IL
- American University
- Washington, DC
Columbia College Chicago vs American University
Chicago, IL · Washington, DC · largest Scorecard gap: median earnings (6 yr)
Scorecard match plate
Pair IL:DC
PRIVATE-NP-PAIR · CROSS-STATE · ACCEPT-OPEN · NET-SPLIT · EARN-SPLIT · DEBT-SPLIT · COMPLETE-GAP · GAP-EARN
- PRIVATE-NP-PAIR Private nonprofit pair
- CROSS-STATE IL × DC
- ACCEPT-OPEN Open admission
- NET-SPLIT Net-price split
- EARN-SPLIT Earnings split
- DEBT-SPLIT Debt split
- COMPLETE-GAP Completion gap
- GAP-EARN Largest gap · Median Earnings (6 yr)
Instrument codes from this pair's College Scorecard ownership, geography, acceptance, net price, earnings, debt, and completion, plus the RANGE-ONLY · 2013–2023 decade-path stamp below, not a ranking or recommendation.
Decade path · College Scorecard
No stable joint trend on the primary axis
RANGE-ONLY · 2013–2023
For Columbia College Chicago vs American University, the overlapping average net-price path series over 2013–2023 does not clear a directional claim on both sides. What follows is the measured range, not a rise/fall headline.
- American University: net price ranged $28,037–$43,451 across 11 years (2013–2023); endpoint change +25.4% is not a trend (r² 0.16).
- Columbia College Chicago: net price ranged $24,611–$31,597 across 11 years (2013–2023); endpoint change -8.1% is not a trend (r² 0.34).
College Scorecard institution series; dollars are nominal. Direction claims require r² ≥ 0.40 on the fitted annual slope, otherwise the page reports the observed range. Descriptive history, not a recommendation.
Scorecard metrics
Undergraduate Enrollment
- Columbia College Chicago
- 5,368
- American University
- 7,266
Median Earnings (6 yr)
- Columbia College Chicago
- $32,596
- American University
- $61,328
Median Earnings (10 yr)
- Columbia College Chicago
- $42,195
- American University
- $77,370
In-State Tuition
- Columbia College Chicago
- $34,088
- American University
- $58,771
Out-of-State Tuition
- Columbia College Chicago
- $34,088
- American University
- $58,771
Avg Net Price
- Columbia College Chicago
- $26,598
- American University
- $41,943
150%-Time Completion
- Columbia College Chicago
- 49.9%
- American University
- 77.0%
Loan Repayment Rate (Completers)
- Columbia College Chicago
- 57.3%
- American University
- 86.2%
Acceptance Rate
- Columbia College Chicago
- 89.5%
- American University
- 62.0%
Cards ordered by relative gap on this pair. Teal = better side.
| Metric | Columbia College Chicago Chicago, IL | American University Washington, DC |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Chicago, IL | Washington, DC |
| Undergraduate Enrollment | 5,368 | 7,266 |
| Median Earnings (6 yr) | $32,596 | $61,328 |
| Median Earnings (10 yr) | $42,195 | $77,370 |
| In-State Tuition | $34,088 | $58,771 |
| Out-of-State Tuition | $34,088 | $58,771 |
| Avg Net Price | $26,598 | $41,943 |
| 150%-Time Completion | 49.9% | 77.0% |
| Loan Repayment Rate (Completers) | 57.3% | 86.2% |
| Acceptance Rate | 89.5% | 62.0% |
Largest gaps: Columbia College Chicago vs American University
- MEDIAN-EARNINGS-(6 American University leads on median earnings (6 yr) ($61,328 vs $32,596 at Columbia College Chicago)
- MEDIAN-EARNINGS-(1 American University leads on median earnings (10 yr) ($77,370 vs $42,195 at Columbia College Chicago)
- IN-STATE-TUITION Columbia College Chicago leads on in-state tuition ($34,088 vs $58,771 at American University)
Columbia College Chicago profile · American University profile · Compare other colleges
Median Earnings (6 yr) and other Scorecard questions
On median earnings (6 yr), who leads between Columbia College Chicago and American University?▼
American University leads on median earnings (6 yr) at $61,328 versus $32,596 at Columbia College Chicago. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
On median earnings (10 yr), who leads between Columbia College Chicago and American University?▼
American University leads on median earnings (10 yr) at $77,370 versus $42,195 at Columbia College Chicago. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
On in-state tuition, who leads between Columbia College Chicago and American University?▼
Columbia College Chicago leads on in-state tuition at $34,088 versus $58,771 at American University. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard College Scorecard institution outcomes (earnings, completion, debt); median earnings (6 yr) focus for this pair · 2025