Quad

Head-to-head

National Louis
Columbia College Chicago

Key differences

The biggest gaps between these schools, largest first.

  1. 1

    National Louis has 25 pts more first-gen students than Columbia College Chicago (50% vs. 25%)

    First-generation students
  2. 2

    National Louis has 9 pts more Pell recipients than Columbia College Chicago (55% vs. 46%)

    Pell Grant recipients
  3. 3

    Columbia College Chicago graduates 8 pts more of its students than National Louis (55% vs. 47%)

    Graduation rate
  4. 4

    Columbia College Chicago is more diverse (index 0.72 vs. 0.68)

    Diversity index
  5. 5

    National Louis grads earn $3.6K more ten years out than Columbia College Chicago's ($45,799 vs. $42,195)

    Median earnings, 10 yrs
  6. 6

    National Louis's yield is 3 pts higher than Columbia College Chicago's

    Yield rate

The shape of each school

Each axis is a national rank among 4-year colleges; further out = more of it.

SelectivityTest scoresSizePell shareFirst-genDiversity

Hollow dots at the center mean that measure isn't reported.

Who's hardest to get into

Columbia College Chicago admits 89%, National Louis 95%; National Louis's yield is higher, at 18%.

Acceptance rate
National Louis95%
Columbia College Chicago89%
Quad's selectivity
  • National LouisOpen
  • Columbia College ChicagoOpen
SAT middle 50%
National LouisTest-blind
Columbia College ChicagoTest-blind
How they read a recordfirst-years at 3.75+
  • National LouisGPA and school record required
  • Columbia College ChicagoSchool record required

Who's on each campus

Columbia College Chicago is a bit larger than National Louis (5,368 vs. 4,406 undergrads); National Louis has the larger Pell share.

Undergrads
National Louis4.4K
Columbia College Chicago5.4K
Pell Grant share
National Louis55%
Columbia College Chicago46%

Majors and faculty

Early Childhood Education and Teaching leads at National Louis, and Cinematography and Film/Video Production at Columbia College Chicago.

Students per faculty member
National Louis17 to 1
Columbia College Chicago15 to 1
Most popular majorshare of graduates
  • National LouisEarly Childhood Education and Teaching28%
  • Columbia College ChicagoCinematography and Film/Video Production19%

What each costs

Only Columbia College Chicago reports an average cost ($31.6K).

Average cost, all students
National LouisNot reported
Columbia College Chicago$31.6K
Aid generosity
National LouisNot reported
Columbia College Chicago42%

What each pays off

National Louis's former students earn more, a median $45.8K ten years after enrolling.

Median earnings, 10 years
National Louis$45.8K
Columbia College Chicago$42.2K
Graduation rate
National Louis47%
Columbia College Chicago55%

How each has changed

Applications fell at Columbia College Chicago, whose selectivity held steady.

Applications, 10-year change
  • National LouisNot enough data
  • Columbia College ChicagoShrinking−15%
All the numbersEvery figure for these colleges in one table, with differences highlighted.
Sources for this comparisonEvery dataset and year behind the numbers in this comparison; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources:IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;College Scorecard, Fall 2024;College Scorecard, most recent release;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey, 2023–24;College Scorecard, Entered fall 2023;IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D), Fall 2024;IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field), 2024–25 graduates;College Scorecard, 2023–24;IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients), Entered fall 2018About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)

Figures are the newest each college has published; years can differ between colleges. Each value's ⓘ shows its source and year. Why