Columbus State vs. Southern State Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Columbus State Community College in Columbus, OH with Southern State Community College in Hillsboro, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Columbus State Community College is larger than Southern State Community College based on total student enrollment (28,081 students vs. 2,227 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Columbus State Community College is located in Columbus, OH (Large City setting); Southern State Community College is in Hillsboro, OH (Rural Fringe setting).
• Columbus State Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Southern State Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Columbus State Community College 18:1; Southern State Community College 20:1.

Columbus State vs. Southern State Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbus State or Southern State Community College? 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 Columbus State Community College than Southern State Community College ($8,108 vs. $9,431).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southern State Community College are 19.8% lower than at Columbus State Community College ($6,928 vs. $8,640).
• Southern State Community College is 7.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Columbus State (about $424 more per year; $5,912.00 vs. $5,488.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 3.8% higher at Columbus State than at Southern State Community College (about $406 more per year; $11,224.00 vs. $10,818.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southern State Community College than at Columbus State Community College (77% vs. 67%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Southern State Community College students is 4.6% larger than aid received by Columbus State Community College students ($5,513 vs. $5,271).

Columbus State vs. Southern State Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Columbus State or Southern State Community College? 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 Southern State Community College and Columbus State.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Columbus State - Open admission; Southern State Community College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Columbus State Aug 21, 2027.

Columbus State vs. Southern State Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Columbus State and Southern State Community College? 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).

• Graduates from Columbus State Community College earn a median of about $3,500 more per year than Southern State Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($34,600 vs. $31,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Columbus State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Southern State Community College students, three years after graduation. (31% vs. 29%)

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.