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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 academic institution uses 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 information 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, your chances of getting accepted will greatly increase. Here are the most important information you need to know about admission policy and requirements at Columbia College.
According to the most recent data, this institution uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 926 in 2025. As far as admission difficulty is considered, 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 overall number of those who submitted test scores. 67% of the freshmen 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 ACT composite average score for all the admitted students in 2025 was 22 and the average GPA was 3.6. That means that you need a GPA that's above average in order to get into Columbia College; the same goes for your ACT score.
The new students had an average SAT Critical Reading score of 590 and an average SAT Math score of 590.
Retention Rate
The freshman retention rate is defined as the percentage of first-year students who return for their sophomore year at a college or university. When you make your list of possible schools to attend, don't forget to consider the freshmen retention rate.
As reported in 2025, the freshman retention rate for Columbia College was 79.29%, reflecting the superb quality of the educational programs at this institution.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. This rate shows how many students complete their degrees in a certain number of years. The six-year graduation rate at this institution stands at 65%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Figuring out which school is the right fit for you is not a task you should take lightly. You can better comprehend the culture and life of the school by learning 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. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the school was 876, 50 of which were foreign students. 84 students enrolled as transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 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. Discover more about the many ethnic communities that go to this school.
This school had 11 Asian students and 52 Afro-American students in 2025. 42 undergrads at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 53 as multirace. The school also had 1 student who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 4 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 11 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before you send an application to any college or university, you should take into account the financial component. Here are some details you should know about the cost of attendance for Columbia College.
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.
As a full-time domestic student, you were required to pay tuition of $27,405 in 2025. Columbia College is a private institution, so tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Fees per academic year required of full-time students came to a total of $32 in 2025.
Books and Supplies
The approximate cost of books and supplies for a college or university should also be taken into account as another significant expense. Most students have to pay about $480 for books and supplies during their time at Columbia College.
Boarding
When choosing a college, you should factor in the price of a dorm room and meals at the school cafeteria. What is the typical amount colleges and universities charge for room and board?
In 2025, the price of room and board at Columbia College was $10,105 per academic year. If you only wanted a dormitory room, you had to pay $5,980 for the 2025 academic year.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 27,405 |
| Room and Board | $ 10,105 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 480 |
| Total Expense | $ 37,990 |
Financial Aid
Financial help for students comes in different forms: grants, loans, scholarships, or work-study programs. Check out some recent data to get the information about need-based and non-need-based monetary aid students could get at Columbia College.
According to the most recent data, 141 freshmen were awarded financial aid. The average amount of financial aid given to students was $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 were awarded some form of need-based financial aid. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need came to be 486. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution summed up to $1,866,139, and state $597,991.
$9,992
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based aid is any type of financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid. The most popular forms of non-need-based financial aid for students are loans and grants, like 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 help in the form of non-need-based scholarships or grants was given to 141 full-time freshmen. 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
Knowing more about a school's faculty can help you gauge the caliber of the education it can provide to you.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at Columbia College was 11:1: that means 11 students per one teacher, which is considered a good ratio. The faculty of this school consists of 92 members, according to the most recent data reported. This number included 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
Campus Life
Knowing what to expect out of campus life at a college or university can set you up for success. Find out some information 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 typically consists exclusively of current students and/or alumni.
According to recently gathered data, there are 23 open-membership organizations at Columbia College. 60 percent of male and 40 of female students participate in different organizations at Columbia College. The student organization that has the biggest membership is TEACH Club, followed by eSports Club and SGA. Other popular organizations among the students at Columbia College are Forensic Science and CAB.
There is a drama club you can join if acting is something that interests you.
Student Services
At Columbia College, there are many amenities that make life on campus pleasant and safe.
There are emergency phone and alarm devices available around the clock. There are electronically operated dormitory entrances. There is a security patrol available 24/7. 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
Finding out some information about the expected post-graduation salary can help you decide if a particular school suits your career objectives.
Within six months of graduation, this school's students can expect an average base annual starting salary of 70,000 USD.
$70,000
Average Starting Salary After 6 Months of Graduation
FAQ
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Columbia College is located in Columbia, MO.
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The overall full-time tuition per academic year for Columbia College is 27,405 USD, based on the most recent data.
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This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
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The most recent data indicate that the acceptance rate for Columbia College is 88%.
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The most recent reported freshman retention rate for Columbia College is 79.29%.
Contact Information
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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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.
