Chestnut Hill 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.

💰
Best Value
Chestnut Hill College
Lower Net Price
💼
High Earners
Chestnut Hill College
Higher 10yr Salary
🏆
Most Selective
Columbus College of Art & Design
Harder to get in
🎓
Graduation
Columbus College of Art & Design
Higher success
Admissions Difficulty
Acceptance Rate
79.1%
71.7%
Avg SAT Score
995
Not reported
Cost & Financial Aid
Avg Net Price
$29,944
$30,139
Tuition (In-State)
$39,410
$39,650
Tuition (Out-of-State)
$39,410
$39,650
Pell Grant Rate % students receiving Pell Grants
47.3%
39.8%
Federal Loan Rate
73.8%
68.6%
Career Outcomes
Median Salary (10yr)
$52,015
$40,664
Graduation Rate
59.3%
60.6%
Retention Rate Freshmen who return for 2nd year
66.7%
73.3%
Campus Life
Total Enrollment
931
891
Undergrad Enrollment
1,142
980
Type
Private
Private
Setting
Urban
Urban

📋 Report Cards

Chestnut Hill College

Academics
C
Value
C
Admissions
C
Diversity
B

Columbus College of Art & Design

Academics
C+
Value
C
Admissions
C
Diversity
C

⚖️ Expert Analysis

Chestnut Hill 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 Chestnut Hill College's 79.1%.

Cost: Chestnut Hill College offers a lower average net price at $29,944, which is $195 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 Chestnut Hill College earn a median salary of $52,015 ten years after enrollment, which is $11,351 more than Columbus College of Art & Design graduates ($40,664).

Graduation: Columbus College of Art & Design leads with a 60.6% graduation rate, and freshman retention rates are 66.7% vs 73.3%.

Campus Size: Chestnut Hill College is the larger campus with 931 total students, while Columbus College of Art & Design has 891.

Bottom Line: Chestnut Hill College stands out as both more affordable and producing higher-earning graduates — making it the stronger value proposition overall.

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