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Columbia College

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 comprehensive higher education institution. This academic institution uses a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 96%. The freshman retention rate at Columbia College, SC is 53% and the six-year graduation rate is 55%.

To find out more about what Columbia College, SC has to offer to its students, read on for the latest data reported by this school.

Quick Facts

1,268

Total Number of Undergraduate Students

$23,556

Tuition

11:1

Student to Faculty Ratio

55%

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, SC?

According to the newest information reported, this school uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 2,041 in 2023. 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

7% of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students submitted their SAT scores for admission, and 6% submitted ACT scores, out of the total number of those who submitted test scores. 16% of the freshmen submitted SAT composite scores between between 1,200 and 1,399, 38% between 1,000 and 1,199, 38% between 800 and 999, and 8% between 600 and 799. The percent of incoming 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 average ACT score for all the admitted students in 2023 was 15 while the average GPA was 2.97. The SAT Critical Reading average score was 520 for the admitted students, while the average SAT Math score was 510.

Average Test Scores

Retention Rate

What is the freshman retention rate? The freshman retention rate is the percentage of full-time students who entered the institution as freshmen in the previous academic year and returned for the fall term of the current academic year. Why is that information important? Because it tells you if the majority of freshmen enjoyed their first year at a school enough to come back.

The freshman retention rate for Columbia College, SC was 53% in 2023.

Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. At this school, the rate of students graduating within six years is 55%.

Student Body

Making the choice of which school is the best fit for you is not simple. Knowing more about the student population can help you get a better idea of the school's culture and life.

Main Student Body

The overall number of students enrolled at Columbia College, SC in 2023 was 1,572.

The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 15% for that year. There was a total of 1,268 students working towards bachelor's degrees, including 9 international students. The school admitted a total of 185 transfer students.

Student Population Gender Ratio

The student body is coeducational, with 203 male and 872 female full-time students in 2023. 29 full-time graduate men and 138 full-time graduate women attended this school.

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. Diversity promotes critical thinking, challenges preconceived notions, and encourages intellectual growth, so it helps students develop empathy and a broader understanding of the world. Discover more about the many ethnic communities that go to this school.

In 2023, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of Asian students was 29, while the number of Afro-American students was 467. 137 undergraduates at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 6 identified with more than one race. The school also had 1 student who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 13 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 108 students whose ethnicity is unknown.

Cost

Financial planning for school is one of the most important things to think about before you apply. Here are some details you should know about the expenses at Columbia College, SC that the majority of students face.

Tuition and Fees

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

As a full-time domestic student, you were required to pay tuition of $23,556 in 2023. Since Columbia College, SC is a private institution, tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Full-time students in 2023 were mandated to pay additional fees in the amount of $880.

Books and Supplies

The approximate cost of books and supplies for a college or university should also be taken into consideration as another significant expense. Most students have to spend 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 is the typical amount colleges and universities charge for room and board?

The cost of room and board (on campus) per academic year at Columbia College, SC was $10,330 in 2023. If you only needed a dormitory room, it cost $5,500 for the 2023 academic year.

Tuition $ 23,556
Room and Board $ 10,330
Book and Supplies $ 1,200
Total Expense $ 35,086

Financial Aid

There are different types of financial aid: grants, loans, scholarships, and work-study programs. Check out some recent data to get informed about need-based and non-need-based monetary aid you might get at Columbia College, SC.

The most recent figures show that financial help was given to 149 freshmen. Students of this school received an average of $15,145 in financial help.

Need-based

If you need help with paying for your studies and you meet other eligibility requirements, you may be eligible for need-based aid.

There were 640 students who received 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 total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need amounted to 688. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution totaled $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

Non-need-based aid is any type of financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for 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, received institutional non-need-based financial aid at this school in 2023. 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

11:1

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 11:1: that means 11 students per one teacher, which is considered a good ratio. The total number of faculty teaching at the institution is 317. Out of that number, there were 105 male and 212 female faculty members. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school is telling of the importance gender equality has at Columbia College, SC.

Student Population Diversity Graph

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100
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100

Campus Life

It is not all about learning and grades at Columbia College, SC: campus life is a crucial component of your educational experience. Check out some info about social life at Columbia College, SC.

Its campus spans 59 acres.

Student Organizations

A student organization is run by students at a university or a college institution, whose membership typically 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. Interested in media and communication? Columbia College, SC publishes its own newspaper.

Student Services

Columbia College, SC has a number of services crucial for a comfortable and safe life on campus.

There are 24-hour emergency phone and alarm devices. The dormitory entrances are electronically operated. There is a security patrol that operates around the clock. The late-night transport/escort service is available.

This school has a health 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. There is campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be a great asset for your future career. Individual job placement is available to full-time undergraduates only at this school.

FAQ

Columbia College, SC is located in Columbia, SC.

Columbia College, SC offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.

According to the latest information, the tuition for Columbia College, SC is 23,556 USD a year.

This school uses standardized test scores for admission.

According to the latest information, the acceptance rate for Columbia College, SC is 96%.

The most recent data indicate that the freshman retention rate for Columbia College, SC is 53%.

Contact Information

Columbia College

1301 Columbia College Drive

Columbia , SC

29203

800 277-1301

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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