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UofSC Clemson Coastal Carolina CSU Elon USC Beaufort Furman Winthrop University Citadel Military College of South Carolina Auburn ASU UNCW| College of Charleston | Columbia College | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
CofC | Columbia College | ||
| Location | Charleston, SC | Columbia, SC | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 11,729 | 1,572 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #435 | #914 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | United Methodist | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | cofc.edu | columbiasc.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
CofC | Columbia College | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $12,518 | $20,650 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $36,398 | $20,650 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,032 | $8,550 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $20,806 | $23,920 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $9,811 | $13,961 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 81% | 98% |
Admission |
CofC | Columbia College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 26,683 | 2,163 | ||
| Admitted | 19,212 | 2,072 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 72% | 95.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 13.7% | 9.8% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.94 | 3.56 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Extremely Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 24/29 | 14/18 | ||
| SAT Range | 1130/1300 | 850/1140 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jan 15, 2026 |
Academics |
CofC | Columbia College | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 16:1 | 11:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
CofC | Columbia College | ||
| Graduation Rate | 63% | 50% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $46,200 | $34,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 60% | 43% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $21,500 | $25,264 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $222 | $261 |
Diversity |
CofC | Columbia College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 2% | 2% | ||
| % Women | 7% | 17% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 80% | 55% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 34% | ||
| % Hispanic | 5% | 4% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 3% | ||
| % International | 1% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 1% |
Students |
CofC | Columbia College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 38% | 79% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 61% | 16% | ||
Campus |
CofC | Columbia College | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- College of Charleston is larger than than Columbia College based on total student enrollment (11,729 students vs. 1,572 students)
CofC vs. Columbia College Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, CofC or Columbia College?
- Columbia College is 65% more expensive to attend than CofC for in-state tuition ($20,650.00 vs. $12,518.00)
- Out of state tuition is 76.3% higher at CofC than Columbia College ($36,398.00 vs. $20,650.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at College of Charleston than Columbia College ($20,806 vs. $23,920)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia College are 64.1% lower than costs at College of Charleston ($8,550 vs. $14,032)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Columbia College than College of Charleston (98% vs. 81%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia College students is 42.3% larger than aid received College of Charleston ($13,961 vs. $9,811)
CofC vs. Columbia College Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, CofC or Columbia College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Columbia College or CofC .
- The average SAT score at College of Charleston (1141) is 170 points higher than at Columbia College (971)
- Incoming CofC students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at Columbia College (21)
- Accepted freshman CofC students have a 0.38 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at Columbia College (3.56)
- Columbia College has a higher acceptance rate (95.8%) than CofC (72%)
CofC vs. Columbia College Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, CofC or Columbia College? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Columbia College and CofC.
- The graduation rate at CofC is higher than Columbia College (63% vs. 50%)
- Graduates from College of Charleston earn on average $11,500 more per year than Columbia College graduates after ten years. ($46,200 vs. $34,700)
- College of Charleston students graduate with a $3,764 lower median federal student loan debt than Columbia College graduates. ($21,500 vs. $25,264)
- CofC graduates are paying $39 less per month on federal student loans than Columbia College graduates. ($222 vs. $261)
- More CofC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia College students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 43%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/