Columbia College vs. Bluefield University

Deciding between Columbia College and Bluefield 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.

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Columbia College Columbia, SC
  • Bluefield University Bluefield, VA
  • Setting
  • Columbia College Midsize City
  • Bluefield University Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Columbia College 1,725
  • Bluefield University 959
  • Type
  • Columbia College Private 4 Year
  • Bluefield University Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Columbia College #937
  • Bluefield University
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Columbia College United Methodist
  • Bluefield University Baptist
  • Status
  • Columbia College Non-profit
  • Bluefield University Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Columbia College
  • Bluefield University

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Columbia College $22,214
  • Bluefield University $26,770
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Columbia College $22,214
  • Bluefield University $26,770
  • Room & Board
  • Columbia College $9,390
  • Bluefield University $9,480
  • Average Net Price
  • Columbia College $18,790
  • Bluefield University $22,216
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Columbia College $16,451
  • Bluefield University $20,341
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Columbia College 97%
  • Bluefield University 94%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Columbia College 2,634
  • Bluefield University 1,386
  • Admitted
  • Columbia College 2,474
  • Bluefield University 822
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Columbia College 93.9%
  • Bluefield University 59.3%
  • Enrolled
  • Columbia College 8.5%
  • Bluefield University 18.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Columbia College 1000
  • Bluefield University
  • Typical ACT score
  • Columbia College 16
  • Bluefield University
  • Average High School GPA
  • Columbia College 3.56
  • Bluefield University 3.31
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Columbia College A-
  • Bluefield University B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Columbia College Extremely Easy
  • Bluefield University Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • Columbia College
  • Bluefield University Low
  • ACT Range
  • Columbia College 14/18
  • Bluefield University
  • SAT Range
  • Columbia College 850/1140
  • Bluefield University
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Columbia College Test-free
  • Bluefield University Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • Columbia College
  • Bluefield University

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Columbia College 12:1
  • Bluefield University 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Columbia College
    • Education (20%)
    • Psychology (12%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Human Services (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Bluefield University
    • Business (42%)
    • Psychology (21%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (17%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
    • General Studies (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Columbia College 50%
  • Bluefield University 36%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Columbia College $34,700
  • Bluefield University $45,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Columbia College 43%
  • Bluefield University 51%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Columbia College $25,264
  • Bluefield University $20,834
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Columbia College $261
  • Bluefield University $215

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Columbia College 19%
  • Bluefield University 48%
  • % Women
  • Columbia College 81%
  • Bluefield University 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Columbia College High
  • Bluefield University Medium
  • HBCU
  • Columbia College No
  • Bluefield University No
  • % White
  • Columbia College 55%
  • Bluefield University 65%
  • % Asian
  • Columbia College 1%
  • Bluefield University 1%
  • % Black
  • Columbia College 34%
  • Bluefield University 22%
  • % Hispanic
  • Columbia College 4%
  • Bluefield University 4%
  • % Native American
  • Columbia College 1%
  • Bluefield University 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Columbia College 0%
  • Bluefield University 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Columbia College 3%
  • Bluefield University 2%
  • % International
  • Columbia College 2%
  • Bluefield University 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Columbia College 1%
  • Bluefield University 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Columbia College 83%
  • Bluefield University 52%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Columbia College 14%
  • Bluefield University 26%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Columbia College Yes
  • Bluefield University Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Columbia College No
  • Bluefield University No
  • Meal Plan
  • Columbia College Yes
  • Bluefield University Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Columbia College Yes
  • Bluefield University No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Columbia College No
  • Bluefield University No

Comparable Facts

Compare Columbia College in Columbia, SC with Bluefield University in Bluefield, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Columbia College is larger than Bluefield University based on total student enrollment (1,725 students vs. 959 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Columbia College is located in Columbia, SC (Midsize City setting); Bluefield University is in Bluefield, VA (Remote Town setting).
  • Columbia College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Bluefield University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Columbia College 12:1; Bluefield University 14:1.

Columbia College vs. Bluefield University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbia College or Bluefield University? 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 Columbia College than Bluefield University ($18,790 vs. $22,216).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia College are 0.9% lower than at Bluefield University ($9,390 vs. $9,480).
  • Bluefield University is 20.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Columbia College (about $4,556 more per year; $26,770.00 vs. $22,214.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 20.5% higher at Bluefield University than at Columbia College (about $4,556 more per year; $26,770.00 vs. $22,214.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Columbia College than at Bluefield University (97% vs. 94%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bluefield University students is 23.6% larger than aid received by Columbia College students ($20,341 vs. $16,451).

Columbia College vs. Bluefield University Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Columbia College or Bluefield University? 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 Bluefield University and Columbia College.

  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Columbia College 850/1140.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Columbia College 14/18.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Columbia College - Test-free; Bluefield University - Test-free.
  • Accepted freshman Columbia College students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (3.56) than students at Bluefield University (3.31).
  • Columbia College has a higher acceptance rate (93.9%) than Bluefield University (59.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 8.5% at Columbia College vs. 18.5% at Bluefield University.

Columbia College vs. Bluefield University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Columbia College and Bluefield University? 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).

  • Columbia College's six-year graduation rate (50%) is higher than Bluefield University's (36%).
  • Graduates from Bluefield University earn a median of about $11,000 more per year than Columbia College graduates about ten years after starting college ($45,700 vs. $34,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Bluefield University graduates have a $4,430 lower median loan debt than Columbia College graduates ($20,834 vs. $25,264).
  • Among borrowers, Bluefield University graduates have an estimated $46 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Columbia College graduates ($215 vs. $261).
  • More Bluefield University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia College students, three years after graduation. (51% vs. 43%)

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.