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Columbia , SC
Columbia College is a private liberal arts college located in Columbia, South Carolina. It was founded in 1854 and has since become one of the oldest and most prestigious institutions in the state. The college offers a comprehensive range of programs and degrees in various fields including arts and sciences, business administration, education, and more. With a commitment to providing a personalized education experience, Columbia College emphasizes small class sizes and individual attention from faculty members.
At Columbia College, students are immersed in a vibrant and intellectually stimulating environment that fosters critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration. The college offers a diverse range of academic programs, allowing students to explore and pursue their interests across disciplines. The faculty at Columbia College are accomplished scholars who are passionate about their subjects and committed to helping students succeed. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 10:1, students benefit from close interaction with professors, who act as mentors and provide guidance throughout their academic journey.
The college also offers various extracurricular activities, including clubs, organizations, and sports teams, which provide students with opportunities to engage in social activities, develop leadership skills, and enhance their personal growth. Columbia College is known for its commitment to service and community engagement. The college encourages students to become active citizens and contribute to the wider community through volunteer work and service-learning opportunities.
Overall, Columbia College provides a welcoming and student-centered environment where individuals can thrive academically, socially, and personally. With its strong reputation, comprehensive academic programs, and commitment to personalized education, Columbia College is an excellent choice for students seeking a well-rounded and transformational college experience.
Located in Columbia, SC and set in an urban environment, Columbia College, SC is a private ive-year college. This school uses a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 94%. The freshman retention rate at Columbia College, SC is 60% and the six-year graduation rate is 37%.
Here are some updated information on important things to consider about Columbia College, SC.
Quick Facts
1,391
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$23,556
Tuition
12:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
37%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
You need to learn as much as you can about the entrance requirements of the university in order to increase your chances of being accepted. What are the admission requirements for Columbia College, SC?
In 2025, the school accepted 2,391 new students. Columbia College, SC has an official test-optional admission policy but takes into consideration standardized test scores for the candidates who choose to submit them. Looking at entrance difficulty level for all or most incoming freshmen, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is relatively easy to get into.
Test Scores
16% of the first-year students submitted SAT composite scores between between 1,200 and 1,399, 38% between 1,000 and 1,199, 38% of the students between 800 and 999, and 8% of the students between 600 and 799. The percent of freshmen who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 8, 25 in the range between 18-23 and 67 between 12-17.
The ACT composite average score for all the admitted students in 2025 was 15 and the average GPA was 2.97. The new students had an average SAT Critical Reading score of 520 and an average SAT Math score of 510.
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. When creating your list of possible schools to attend, don't forget to consider the freshmen retention rate.
The freshman retention rate for Columbia College, SC was 60% in 2025.
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 completion rate at this institution is 37%.
Student Body
Picking a school that is the right match for you is not a simple task. You can get a better insight into a school's culture and life by finding out more about its student body.
Main Student Body
In 2025, the school had an enrollment of 1,725 students.
That year, the institution had an out-of-state student body percentage of 15. There was a total of 1,391 undergrad students, including 14 international students. The number of transfer students at this school was 185.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 263 male and 868 female full-time students in 2025. 29 full-time graduate men and 138 full-time graduate women attended this school.
Student Population Diversity
In order to enhance a sense of inclusion and belonging among its students, higher education is dedicated to increasing 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, SC.
In 2025, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of students of Asian origin was 32, while the number of African American students was 543. 135 undergraduates at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 8 identified with more than one race. The school also had 3 students who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 23 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 87 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
The financial aspect is one of the most important things to think about before applying to any college or university. Here are some important facts on Columbia College, SC costs that most students encounter at this school.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some facts that can be useful if you were curious about Columbia College, SC estimated tuition price.
In 2025, tuition amounted to $23,556 for all full-time domestic students. Columbia College, SC is a private institution, so tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Full-time students in 2025 needed to pay additional fees in the amount of $880.
Books and Supplies
Another important expense to consider is the approximate cost of books and supplies for a college or university. Most students have to give about $1,200 for books and supplies during their time at Columbia College, SC.
Boarding
Besides tuition, another cost to consider is the price of housing in the dorms and eating at the school cafeteria. What do colleges and universities typically charge for accommodation and meals?
In 2025, the price of room and board at Columbia College, SC was $10,330 per academic year. If you only wanted a dormitory room, you had to pay $5,165 for the 2025 academic year. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was $12,856.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 23,556 |
| Room and Board | $ 10,330 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,200 |
| Total Expense | $ 35,086 |
Financial Aid
Grants, loans, scholarships, work-study programs: these are all types of financial aid for students. Check out some recent data to get the info about need-based and non-need-based monetary aid at Columbia College, SC.
According to the most recent data, 149 freshmen were awarded financial aid. The average financial aid package awarded to students came to $15,145.
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.
There were 640 students who secured need-based financial aid of any kind. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Columbia College, SC is available to international students. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was estimated to be 688. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution was $2,795,137, and state $2,784,106. The students of Columbia College, SC received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $2,704,688, and external in the amount of $124,065.
$6,885
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Any financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid is considered non-need-based aid. Most students get non-need-based financial aid as Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the TEACH Grant.
87 students, including freshmen, got institutional non-need-based financial aid at this school in 2025. Institutional help in the form of non-need-based scholarships or grants was given to 22 full-time freshmen. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $471,287. 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 $32,037 USD.
Majors
Faculty
12:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Getting information about the faculty at a school can help you estimate the quality of education you will receive there.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at Columbia College, SC was 12:1: that means 12 students per one teacher, which is considered a good ratio. The total number of faculty teaching at the institution is 175. This number included 51 men and 124 women. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school speaks volumes for gender equality at Columbia College, SC.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
It is not all about learning and grades at Columbia College, SC: campus life is a crucial component of your educational experience. Find out some information about campus life at Columbia College, SC.
It has a campus size of 59 acres.
Student Organizations
Student organizations are run by students of an institution, and its membership usually consists only of current students and/or alumni.
This school has 55 open-membership student organizations you can participate in. For students with a talent for acting, there is a drama club. For students looking to explore media and communication, Columbia College, SC publishes its own newspaper.
Student Services
At Columbia College, SC, there are many amenities required for a pleasant and safe life on campus.
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. The after-hours transportation/escort service is available.
There is a medical clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Veteran's Affairs and Women's Center are available to the students of Columbia College, SC.
All in all, campus life at Columbia College, SC 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, SC.
Career Counselling
At Columbia College, SC, 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 school has campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be highly beneficial for your future career. Individual job placement is available to full-time undergraduates only at this school.
FAQ
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Columbia College, SC is located in Columbia, SC.
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Columbia College, SC offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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The overall full-time tuition per academic year for Columbia College, SC is 23,556 USD, based on the most recent data.
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This school has an official test-optional admission policy but makes use of SAT, SAT Subject Tests, ACT, or other standardized test scores in admission decisions for the candidates who choose to submit them.
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The most recent data indicate that the acceptance rate for Columbia College, SC is 94%.
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The most recent reported freshman retention rate for Columbia College, SC is 60%.
Contact Information
Columbia College, SC
1301 Columbia College Drive
Columbia , SC
29203-5998
803 786-3012
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.
