Columbia College vs. Marshall University

Should I go to Columbia College or Marshall University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Columbia College or Marshall University is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Columbia College vs. Marshall University comparison
Columbia College Marshall University College 3 College 4
Marshall University
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Overview

 Columbia College Marshall University
Location Columbia, SC Huntington, WV
Setting Midsize City Small City
Enrollment 1,572 11,027
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #914 #825
Religious Affiliation United Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website columbiasc.edu marshall.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Columbia College Marshall University
Tuition (In State) $20,650 $7,372
Tuition (Out of State) $20,650 $18,724
Room & Board $8,550 $12,852
Avg Net Price $23,920 $9,734
Avg Grant Aid $13,961 $12,024
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 96%

Admission

 Columbia College Marshall University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,163 6,499
Admitted 2,072 6,269
Acceptance Rate 95.8% 96.5%
Enrolled % 9.8% 27.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.56 3.68
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 14/18 18/24
SAT Range 850/1140 890/1130
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 10, 2026

Academics

 Columbia College Marshall University
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (20%)
  • Psychology (12%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Human Services (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Health Professions (17%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (16%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Biology (7%)

Outcomes

 Columbia College Marshall University
Graduation Rate 50% 44%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $34,700 $40,200
Making Student Loan Payments 43% 43%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,264 $23,134
Median Loan Payment $261 $239

Diversity

 Columbia College Marshall University
% Men 2% 9%
% Women 17% 17%
Racial Diversity High Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 55% 84%
% Black 34% 7%
% Hispanic 4% 2%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 2% 1%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

 Columbia College Marshall University
% In-State 79% 78%
% Out-of-State 16% 22%

Campus

 Columbia College Marshall University
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Marshall University is larger than than Columbia College based on total student enrollment (11,027 students vs. 1,572 students)

Columbia College vs. Marshall University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbia College or Marshall University?

  • Columbia College is 180.1% more expensive to attend than Marshall University for in-state tuition ($20,650.00 vs. $7,372.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 10.3% higher at Columbia College than Marshall University ($20,650.00 vs. $18,724.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Marshall University than Columbia College ($9,734 vs. $23,920)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia College are 50.3% lower than costs at Marshall University ($8,550 vs. $12,852)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Columbia College than Marshall University (98% vs. 96%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia College students is 16.1% larger than aid received Marshall University ($13,961 vs. $12,024)

Columbia College vs. Marshall University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Columbia College or Marshall University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Marshall University or Columbia College .

  • The average SAT score at Marshall University (1028) is 57 points higher than at Columbia College (971)
  • Incoming Marshall University students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Columbia College (21)
  • Accepted freshman Marshall University students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at Columbia College (3.56)
  • Marshall University has a higher acceptance rate (96.5%) than Columbia College (95.8%)

Columbia College vs. Marshall University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Columbia College or Marshall University? 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 Marshall University and Columbia College.

  • The graduation rate at Columbia College is higher than Marshall University (50% vs. 44%)
  • Graduates from Marshall University earn on average $5,500 more per year than Columbia College graduates after ten years. ($40,200 vs. $34,700)
  • Marshall University students graduate with a $2,130 lower median federal student loan debt than Columbia College graduates. ($23,134 vs. $25,264)
  • Marshall University graduates are paying $22 less per month on federal student loans than Columbia College graduates. ($239 vs. $261)
  • More Columbia College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Marshall University students, three years after graduation. (43% vs. 43%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/