- The Inkwell
- South Carolina
- Columbia College
Columbia, SCCity: midsizeZIP 29203Founded 1854
- Sector
- Private nonprofit
- Founded
- 1854
- Carnegie class
- Master's: small programs
- Highest degree
- Graduate degree
- Federal aid since
- 1965
- Website
- www.columbiasc.edu
South CarolinaReligious affiliationPrivate nonprofit
Columbia College
Columbia College is a private nonprofit college in Columbia, South Carolina, with 1,343 undergraduates. It admits 94% of applicants, graduates 41% within six years and costs $21,611 a year after aid.
41%graduate
Admission rate94%
Retention60%
4-year graduation35%
Pell Grant share60%
Federal loans64%
$21,611net price / year
94%admission rate
—average SAT
41%graduate in 6 years
$46,266median earnings, 10 yrs
$21,944median debt
#1,421 of 1,704 for earnings#998 of 1,739 for lowest net price#1,331 of 1,738 for graduation rate#1,325 of 1,552 for selectivity
what it costs
Cost and net price
Net price is the average annual cost after grants and scholarships for full-time students who receive federal aid; it varies with family income.
Published cost
- Cost of attendance
- $38,048tuition, fees, housing, books, per year
- Tuition & fees, in-state
- $24,436
- Tuition & fees, out-of-state
- $24,436
- Average net price
- $21,611national median $19,980
Net price by family income
$0–30,000$21,039
$30,001–48,000$21,010
$48,001–75,000$19,525
$75,001–110,000$22,674
$110,001+$25,596
getting in
Admissions and test scores
Admission
- Admission rate
- 94%national median 77%
- Average SAT
- —
- SAT reading, middle 50%
- —
- SAT math, middle 50%
- —
- ACT composite, middle 50%
- —
Against the national median
Admission rate · this college94%
Admission rate · U.S. median77%
Retention · this college60%
Retention · U.S. median76%
Graduation · this college41%
Graduation · U.S. median55%
Pell share · this college60%
Pell share · U.S. median39%
after enrolling
Graduation, earnings and debt
Completion
- Graduation rate, 6 years
- 41%within 150% of normal time
- Graduation rate, 4 years
- 35%
- First-year retention
- 60%
- Award within 8 years, all students
- 62%
Earnings and debt
- Median earnings, 6 years after entry
- $49,117
- Median earnings, 10 years after entry
- $46,266middle 50%: $32,099–$65,621
- Median debt at graduation
- $21,944
- 3-year loan default rate
- 0%
Earnings ten years after entry
Upper quarter$65,621
Median, Columbia College$46,266
Lower quarter$32,099
U.S. median, all colleges$58,886
Former students working and not enrolled · College Scorecard
who studies here
Students and faculty
Undergraduates
- Degree-seeking undergraduates
- 1,343
- Part-time
- 29%
- Women / men
- 79% / 21%
- Average age at entry
- 29.2
- First-generation students
- 41%
- Pell Grant recipients
- 60%
Faculty and resources
- Student-to-faculty ratio
- 12 : 1
- Full-time faculty
- 34%
- Average faculty salary
- $5,937 / month
- Instructional spending per student
- $7,242
- Endowment, end of year
- $20,040,972
Race and ethnicity, undergraduates
White37%
Hispanic10%
Black40%
Asian2.4%
Two or more races0.6%
U.S. nonresident1.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native1.7%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.2%
Unknown6.5%
17 fields of study
Most popular fields
Share of bachelor’s degrees awarded, by broad field (CIP family).
Homeland security, law enforcement & firefighting16%
Business & management16%
Education16%
Health professions13%
Psychology12%
Biological & biomedical sciences4.8%
Public administration & social service4.2%
Parks, recreation & fitness4.0%
keep comparing
Similar colleges
Private nonprofit colleges in South Carolina
| College | Net price | Grad. | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newberry College Newberry, SC | $22,104 | 42% | $51,404 |
| Converse University Spartanburg, SC | $23,526 | 44% | $45,726 |
| Benedict College Columbia, SC | $17,734 | 43% | $36,562 |
| Claflin University Orangeburg, SC | $19,710 | 47% | $44,351 |
| Wofford College Spartanburg, SC | $23,144 | 80% | $76,744 |
| North Greenville University Tigerville, SC | $22,235 | 54% | $47,090 |
Same Carnegie class, similar price
| College | Net price | Grad. | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rocky Mountain College Billings, MT | $21,679 | 45% | $54,124 |
| Schreiner University Kerrville, TX | $21,252 | 45% | $54,990 |
| Louisiana Christian University Pineville, LA | $20,268 | 40% | $49,573 |
| Rockford University Rockford, IL | $22,581 | 44% | $58,999 |
| Washington Adventist University Takoma Park, MD | $23,303 | 42% | $61,426 |
| Grand View University Des Moines, IA | $21,705 | 49% | $58,718 |
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education — institution file, most recent cohorts. UNITID 217934. Founding year, motto and memberships: Wikidata Q5149659.