Columbia College vs. Coastal Carolina

Comparable Facts

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

Coastal Carolina University is larger than Columbia College based on total student enrollment (11,348 students vs. 1,725 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Columbia College is located in Columbia, SC (Midsize City setting); Coastal Carolina University is in Conway, SC (Small City setting).
• Columbia College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Coastal Carolina University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Columbia College 12:1; Coastal Carolina University 17:1.

Columbia College vs. Coastal Carolina Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbia College or Coastal Carolina? 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 Coastal Carolina University than Columbia College ($14,379 vs. $18,790).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia College are 22.7% lower than at Coastal Carolina University ($9,390 vs. $12,146).
• Columbia College is 90.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Coastal Carolina (about $10,574 more per year; $22,214.00 vs. $11,640.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 33.4% higher at Coastal Carolina than at Columbia College (about $7,414 more per year; $29,628.00 vs. $22,214.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Columbia College than at Coastal Carolina University (97% vs. 94%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia College students is 63.1% larger than aid received by Coastal Carolina University students ($16,451 vs. $10,087).

Columbia College vs. Coastal Carolina Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Columbia College or Coastal Carolina? 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 Coastal Carolina and Columbia College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Coastal Carolina University (1140) is 140 points higher than at Columbia College (1000).
• Incoming Coastal Carolina students have a 7 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (23 vs. 16 at Columbia College).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Columbia College 850/1140; Coastal Carolina University 1050/1220.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Columbia College 14/18; Coastal Carolina University 21/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Columbia College - Test-free; Coastal Carolina - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Coastal Carolina students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at Columbia College (3.56).
• Columbia College has a higher acceptance rate (93.9%) than Coastal Carolina (75.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 8.5% at Columbia College vs. 16.9% at Coastal Carolina.

Columbia College vs. Coastal Carolina Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Columbia College and Coastal Carolina? 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 Coastal Carolina University's (46%).
• Graduates from Coastal Carolina University earn a median of about $7,500 more per year than Columbia College graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,200 vs. $34,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Coastal Carolina University graduates have a $334 lower median loan debt than Columbia College graduates ($24,930 vs. $25,264).
• Among borrowers, Coastal Carolina graduates have an estimated $4 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Columbia College graduates ($257 vs. $261).
• More Coastal Carolina graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia College students, three years after graduation. (54% 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.