Columbia, SC Overview
Columbia College is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in Columbia, South Carolina. There are currently 1,136 undergraduates at Columbia College and the school’s acceptance rate is 98%. The tuition at Columbia College is $22,050.
Columbia College is a United Methodist school. That means that the administration is affiliated with the United Methodist faith. Classes may be designed with religious principles in mind, or some schools may even incorporate prayer into their schedule. Other schools with a religious affiliation may not be as active in their incorporation of the faith. It's a good idea to ask an admissions officer or current student what role faith has at Columbia College to help you make an educated decision.
Liberal Arts
City
Student Body
Undergraduate Students
1,136
Pell Grant 53%
Undergrad Students Over 25 40%
Part-Time Undergrad Students 31%
Percent Male / Female 16% / 84%
Ethnic Diversity at Columbia College
39% White
38% Black
10% Hispanic
7% Unknown
2% Asian / Pacific Islander
1% Multiracial
1% International / Non-Citizen
1% American Indian / Alaska Native
Academics Snapshot
Student/Faculty Ratio
11:1
Graduation Rate
55%
Popular Majors
Percent of Students
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting & Related Protective Services
24%
24% of graduates
Health Professions & Related Programs
17%
17% of graduates
Education
11%
11% of graduates
Business, Management, & Marketing
11%
11% of graduates
Public Administration & Social Services
9%
9% of graduates
Psychology
8%
8% of graduates
Biological & Biomedical Sciences
4%
4% of graduates
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies.
3%
3% of graduates
Visual & Performing Arts
3%
3% of graduates
Computer & Information Sciences
2%
2% of graduates
Social Sciences
2%
2% of graduates
English Language & Literature
1%
1% of graduates
Communications & Journalism
1%
1% of graduates
Family & Consumer Sciences
1%
1% of graduates
Mathematics
1%
1% of graduates
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies
1%
1% of graduates
Scholarships & Financial Aid Snapshot
$38,732
$19,852
$18,880
Cost Breakdown
Estimated Cost:
$38,732for the 2023-2024 Academic Year
The sticker price at Columbia College is $38,732. This sticker price includes costs for tuition, books and supplies, room and board, and other miscellaneous expenses.
It’s also important to note that the cost of attendance can vary from year to year and typically it will rise over your four years in college. With that said, your financial aid will also be recalculated every year to take any price increases, as well as any changes in your financial situation, into account.
College costs can look different for every student based on their financial situation. To get a more accurate picture of what tuition at Columbia College would look like for you, try entering your financial information into their Net Price Calculator.
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Columbia College Financial Aid
Students who are applying for financial aid at Columbia College need to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (or FAFSA). The FAFSA uses financial information from the prior, prior year which means that you don’t need to wait for the year to end and can use last year’s financial information.
The FAFSA code for Columbia College is 003430.
If you are looking for more information on how to complete the FAFSA, check out our How to Complete the FAFSA Guide.
Pell Grants at Columbia College
67% of students at Columbia College receive Pell Grants, which are awarded to undergraduate students with demonstrated financial need (students who have a bachelor’s or professional degree are not eligible). Pell Grants are awarded by the federal government and do not need to be repaid. To apply for a Pell Grant, students will need to submit their FAFSA. If you are awarded a Pell Grant, you’ll see it listed in your financial aid award letter if you are accepted to Columbia College.
You can learn more about Pell Grant eligibility here.
Outside Scholarships
Columbia College students can also apply for outside scholarships to fund their education. Outside scholarships are awards that are offered by private and non-profit organizations. If you want to see what outside scholarships you are eligible for, check out these resources:
Admissions Snapshot
98%
Is Columbia College test-optional?
Columbia College is test-optional, which means that it does not require applicants to submit their SAT or ACT scores. That means that some students will submit their test scores and others will not. If you choose not to submit your ACT or SAT score, the admissions officers will weigh your grades, extracurricular activities, essays, and interviews more heavily. If you are not sure whether you should submit your standardized test scores, our guide on submitting scores to test-optional schools can help.
Rolling deadline at Columbia College
Columbia College accepts applications on a rolling basis. That means that the earlier you submit your application, the better chance you have of gaining admission and strong financial aid. Many schools with rolling admissions have priority deadlines, which means that students that submit their application before these dates have a better chance of receiving financial aid. Be sure to check Columbia College's website to become familiar with their admissions dates.
Student Outcomes Snapshot
Graduate Income
$41,338
Median Debt $22,750
Debt 10 years after graduation $241
Graduation Rate 55%
What is the graduation rate at Columbia College?
55% of students who start at Columbia College end up finishing their degree within six years of enrolling. This is 3% less than the national median. A higher graduation rate indicates that students have better experiences at an institution.
How much do graduates of Columbia College go on to earn?
10 years after starting school at Columbia College, the median earnings among students who received federal financial aid was $41,338. This is $9,053 less than the national median.
Earnings can vary widely based on many factors other than school choice. Your major and career path can cause substantial changes in your income down the line. For more information, check out our article on the average starting salary out of college.
How much do students at Columbia College take out in loans?
Graduates of Columbia College have to take out a median of $22,750 in federal student loans. This is $9,250 more than the national median. As you make decisions about your college loans, it’s important to inform yourself on the advantages and disadvantages of each loan option. Our guide to navigating these different options is a great place to start.
Data Sources
We strive to provide users with the most up-to-date information and source data from publicly available sources, including the College Scorecard and directly from the colleges. College statistics can change throughout the year, but we do our best to update them as quickly as possible. If you see an error, feel free to contact us.
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