Albany State University vs. Columbus State

Deciding between Albany State University and Columbus State University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Albany State University
Columbus State University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Albany State University Albany, GA
  • Columbus State Columbus, GA
  • Setting
  • Albany State University Small City
  • Columbus State Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Albany State University 6,768
  • Columbus State 7,913
  • Type
  • Albany State University Public 4 Year
  • Columbus State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Albany State University #1028
  • Columbus State #1007
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Albany State University -
  • Columbus State -
  • Status
  • Albany State University Non-profit
  • Columbus State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Albany State University
  • Columbus State
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Albany State University $5,656
  • Columbus State $5,898
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Albany State University $17,008
  • Columbus State $17,610
  • Room & Board
  • Albany State University $11,899
  • Columbus State $11,720
  • Average Net Price
  • Albany State University $11,484
  • Columbus State $12,420
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Albany State University $8,503
  • Columbus State $9,003
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Albany State University 90%
  • Columbus State 89%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Albany State University -
  • Columbus State 3,648
  • Admitted
  • Albany State University -
  • Columbus State 3,616
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Albany State University
  • Columbus State 99.1%
  • Enrolled
  • Albany State University
  • Columbus State 31.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Albany State University 820
  • Columbus State 930
  • Typical ACT score
  • Albany State University 16
  • Columbus State 19
  • Average High School GPA
  • Albany State University 2.77
  • Columbus State 3.07
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Albany State University B-
  • Columbus State B
  • Admissions Standards
  • Albany State University Extremely Easy
  • Columbus State Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • Albany State University
  • Columbus State
  • ACT Range
  • Albany State University 15/18
  • Columbus State 16/22
  • SAT Range
  • Albany State University 740/900
  • Columbus State 800/1060
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Albany State University Not reported
  • Columbus State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Albany State University
  • Columbus State Jun 30, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Albany State University 21:1
  • Columbus State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Albany State University
    • Education (26%)
    • Business (23%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • Columbus State
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (24%)
    • Business (19%)
    • Education (14%)
    • Health Professions (14%)
    • English and Literature (4%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Albany State University 41%
  • Columbus State 31%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Albany State University $34,800
  • Columbus State $37,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Albany State University 19%
  • Columbus State 37%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Albany State University $33,250
  • Columbus State $26,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Albany State University $343
  • Columbus State $268
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Albany State University 26%
  • Columbus State 41%
  • % Women
  • Albany State University 74%
  • Columbus State 59%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Albany State University Extremely Low
  • Columbus State High
  • HBCU
  • Albany State University Yes
  • Columbus State No
  • % White
  • Albany State University 4%
  • Columbus State 51%
  • % Asian
  • Albany State University 0%
  • Columbus State 2%
  • % Black
  • Albany State University 90%
  • Columbus State 37%
  • % Hispanic
  • Albany State University 2%
  • Columbus State 6%
  • % Native American
  • Albany State University 0%
  • Columbus State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Albany State University 0%
  • Columbus State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Albany State University 1%
  • Columbus State 2%
  • % International
  • Albany State University 0%
  • Columbus State 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Albany State University 2%
  • Columbus State 0%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Albany State University 87%
  • Columbus State 92%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Albany State University 13%
  • Columbus State 7%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Albany State University Yes
  • Columbus State Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Albany State University No
  • Columbus State No
  • Meal Plan
  • Albany State University Yes
  • Columbus State Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Albany State University Yes
  • Columbus State No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Albany State University No
  • Columbus State No

Comparable Facts

Compare Albany State University in Albany, GA with Columbus State University in Columbus, GA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Columbus State University is larger than Albany State University based on total student enrollment (7,913 students vs. 6,768 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Albany State University is located in Albany, GA (Small City setting); Columbus State University is in Columbus, GA (Midsize City setting).
  • Albany State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Columbus State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Albany State University 21:1; Columbus State University 16:1.

Albany State University vs. Columbus State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Albany State University or Columbus State? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Albany State University than Columbus State ($11,484 vs. $12,420).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbus State University are 1.5% lower than at Albany State University ($11,720 vs. $11,899).
  • Columbus State University is 4.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Albany State University (about $242 more per year; $5,898.00 vs. $5,656.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 3.5% higher at Columbus State than at Albany State University (about $602 more per year; $17,610.00 vs. $17,008.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Albany State University than at Columbus State University (90% vs. 89%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Columbus State University students is 5.9% larger than aid received by Albany State University students ($9,003 vs. $8,503).

Albany State University vs. Columbus State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Albany State University or Columbus State? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Columbus State and Albany State University.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Columbus State University (930) is 110 points higher than at Albany State University (820).
  • Incoming Columbus State students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (19 vs. 16 at Albany State University).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Albany State University 740/900; Columbus State University 800/1060.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Albany State University 15/18; Columbus State University 16/22.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Albany State University - Not reported; Columbus State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Columbus State Jun 30, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Columbus State students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (3.07) than students at Albany State University (2.77).

Albany State University vs. Columbus State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Albany State University and Columbus State? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Albany State University's six-year graduation rate (41%) is higher than Columbus State University's (31%).
  • Graduates from Columbus State University earn a median of about $2,600 more per year than Albany State University graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,400 vs. $34,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Columbus State University graduates have a $7,250 lower median loan debt than Albany State University graduates ($26,000 vs. $33,250).
  • Among borrowers, Columbus State graduates have an estimated $75 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Albany State University graduates ($268 vs. $343).
  • More Columbus State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Albany State University students, three years after graduation. (37% vs. 19%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.