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Columbia College

Columbia , MO

Columbia College is a private liberal arts college located in Columbia, Missouri. Founded in 1851, it is one of the oldest colleges in the state and is affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). The college offers a comprehensive range of undergraduate and graduate degree programs in various fields of study, including arts and sciences, business administration, education, and nursing. Columbia College is known for its commitment to providing a personalized education experience and fostering a tight-knit community among its diverse student body.

At Columbia College, students benefit from a supportive learning environment that encourages intellectual growth and personal development. The college takes pride in its small class sizes, allowing for more individual attention and meaningful interactions between students and professors. Faculty members are renowned experts in their respective fields and are dedicated to the success of their students both inside and outside the classroom. Additionally, Columbia College offers various resources and support services, such as academic advising, career counseling, and tutoring, to ensure students have the necessary tools to excel academically.

Beyond academics, Columbia College offers a vibrant campus life filled with extracurricular activities and organizations. Students have the opportunity to engage in numerous clubs and associations, including performing arts groups, sports teams, and community service initiatives. The college also hosts a range of events and programs that promote cultural diversity and intellectual discourse, creating a stimulating and enriching campus atmosphere. With its picturesque campus, strong academic programs, and tight community, Columbia College provides a comprehensive educational experience that prepares students for a successful future.

Columbia College is a private upper-level higher education institution with graduate programs located in Columbia, MO and set in an urban environment. This school follows a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 88%. The freshman retention rate at Columbia College is 79.29% and the six-year graduation rate is 65%.

Here are some recent data on important things to consider about Columbia College.

Quick Facts

876

Total Number of Undergraduate Students

$27,405

Tuition

11:1

Student to Faculty Ratio

65%

Graduation Rate

Admissions

If you know as much as possible about the institution's criteria for admission, you can make a better judgment about your eligibility and boost your chances of getting accepted. What are the admission requirements for Columbia College?

According to the most recent information reported, this school uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 926 in 2025. Looking at entrance difficulty level for all or most incoming freshmen, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is moderately difficult to get into.

Test Scores

3% of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students submitted their SAT scores for admission, and 97% submitted ACT scores, out of the total number of those who submitted test scores. 67% of the first-year students submitted SAT composite scores between between 1,200 and 1,399 and 33% between 800 and 999. The percent of freshman students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 8, 24 between 24-29, 47 in the range between 18-23, and 21 between 12-17.

The average ACT score for all the accepted students in 2025 was 22 while the average GPA was 3.6. Accordingly, you'll probably need an above-average GPA in order to be granted acceptance, as well as an above-average ACT score.

The SAT Critical Reading average score was 590 for the admitted students, while the average SAT Math score was 590.

Average Test Scores

Retention Rate

The percentage of first-year students at a college or university who stay on for their second year is known as the freshman retention rate. This piece of data is important as it can reveal to the prospective students how many freshmen liked the school enough to return to it as sophomores.

The freshman retention rate for Columbia College was 79.29% in 2025, indicative of the exceptional educational experience and supportive environment at this school.

The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. This metric measures how efficiently students complete their degrees within a specific time period. The six-year graduation rate at this school is 65%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.

Student Body

Deciding if a school is the right fit for you is not an easy task. You can have a better understanding of the school's culture and way of life by finding out more about the student body.

Main Student Body

In 2025, the school had an enrollment of 985 students.

That year, the institution had 10% of students coming from another state. There was a total of 876 students working towards bachelor's degrees, including 50 international students. The number of transfer students at this school was 84.

Student Population Gender Ratio

With a coeducational student body, the school had 363 male and 469 female full-time students in 2025.

Student Population Diversity

When it comes to improving a sense of inclusion and belonging among students, there is no denying the importance of student diversity. In a diverse learning space, you will be exposed to people from different backgrounds, which promotes the feeling of inclusion and acceptance. Find out more about different ethnic groups you can meet at Columbia College.

In 2025, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of students of Asian origin was 11, and the number of African American students was 52. 42 undergraduate students at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 53 as multirace. The school also had 1 student who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 4 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 11 students whose ethnicity is unknown.

Cost

Before sending an application to any college or university, the financial component should be taken into account. Here are some data on the expenses that most students at this school have.

Tuition and Fees

If you were wondering how much the tuition cost for Columbia College is, here are some recent data that will come in handy.

Tuition fees per academic year for full-time domestic students were $27,405 in 2025. Since this is a private institution, tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Full-time students in 2025 had to pay additional fees in the amount of $32.

Books and Supplies

Another important expense to take into consideration is the approximate price of books and supplies for a college or university. The estimated cost of books and supplies for a full-time student of this school is $480.

Boarding

Besides tuition, another cost to consider is the price of housing in the dorms and eating at the school cafeteria. How much do room and board fees average around at schools?

At Columbia College, the 2025 annual cost of room and board (on campus) was $10,105. Room-only (on campus) cost per academic year at this school cost $5,980, according to the data from 2025.

Tuition $ 27,405
Room and Board $ 10,105
Book and Supplies $ 480
Total Expense $ 37,990

Financial Aid

Be it a grant, loan, scholarship, or work-study program, any type of financial aid can be a great deal for most students. If you are interested in finding out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at Columbia College, here are some recent data you should consider.

The most recent figures show that financial help was given to 141 freshmen. The average financial aid package awarded to students amounted to $21,722.

Need-based

Financial aid that a student can receive if they are determined to have financial need and meet other eligibility requirements is known as need-based aid.

380 students obtained some form of need-based financial aid. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need ended up being 486. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution reached $1,866,139, and state $597,991.

$9,992

Average Amount of Aid Received

Non-Need Based

Non-need-based financial aid is any type of financial aid provided to a student who does not meet the criteria for need-based aid. Non-need-based student aid typicaly comes in a form of Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.

Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 458 students overall (including freshmen) at Columbia College in 2025. Institutional grants or scholarships that are not based on financial need were given to 141 full-time freshman. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $7,114,234. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $359,906 USD.

Majors

Faculty

11:1

Student to Faculty Ratio

The student-to-faculty ratio can tell you a lot about the teaching resources a school provides for its students.

In 2025, this ratio at Columbia College was 11:1. That means that there were 11 times more students than teachers at this school. According to the most recent information, there are 92 faculty members at this school. Out of that number, there were 44 men and 48 women. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school is telling of the importance gender equality has at Columbia College.

Student Population Diversity Graph

0
100
0
100

Campus Life

Knowing what to expect out of campus life at a college or university can set you up for success. Check out some info about students' life at Columbia College.

It has a campus size of 33 acres.

Student Organizations

Student organizations are run by students of an institution, and its membership usually consists exclusively of current students and/or alumni.

The number of student organizations and groups with open membership at this school is 23. At this school, 60% of male students are members of social organizations, while that percentage is 40 for female students. The most popular student organization is TEACH Club, followed by eSports Club and SGA. Other popular organizations among the students at Columbia College are Forensic Science and CAB.

If drama is your thing, there is a club dedicated to acting that you can join.

Student Services

Columbia College offers a number of services important for a pleasant and secure life on campus.

There are 24-hour emergency phone and alarm devices. The dormitory entrances are electronically operated. There is a round-the-clock security patrol. In addition, other services like Veteran's Affairs are available to the students of Columbia College.

All in all, campus life at Columbia College is rich and vibrant and provides all you need for a comfortable stay.

Career Services

Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Columbia College.

Career Counselling

At Columbia College, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. The school has campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be excellent for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.

Job Placement

Having an understanding of the anticipated earnings after completing your education can be important in evaluating if a certain institution is compatible with your professional goals.

The average base annual starting salary of the students who were employed within six months of graduation at this institution is 70,000 USD.

$70,000

Average Starting Salary After 6 Months of Graduation

FAQ

Columbia College is located in Columbia, MO.

According to the latest information, the tuition for Columbia College is 27,405 USD a year.

This school uses standardized test scores for admission.

The most recent reported acceptance rate for Columbia College is 88%.

The most recent reported freshman retention rate for Columbia College is 79.29%.

Contact Information

Columbia College

1001 Rogers St

Columbia , MO

65216-0002

573 875-8700

School Website

Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.

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