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Clemson GS North Greenville University Georgia State University of West Georgia KSU VSU Clayton State University Lander University Winthrop University TROY Furman| Columbus State University | Anderson University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Columbus State | AU | ||
| Location | Columbus, GA | Anderson, SC | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 7,479 | 4,121 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #995 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | - | Baptist | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | columbusstate.edu | andersonuniversity.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Columbus State | AU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $4,371 | $30,860 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $15,425 | $30,860 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,080 | $11,230 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $12,902 | $21,633 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $9,147 | $24,409 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 98% | 100% |
Admission |
Columbus State | AU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 3,870 | 5,043 | ||
| Admitted | 3,398 | 2,289 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 87.8% | 45.4% | ||
| Enrolled % | 30.4% | 34.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.07 | 3.72 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Extremely Easy | Unavailable | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 16/23 | |||
| SAT Range | 900/1130 | |||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jun 30, 2025 |
Academics |
Columbus State | AU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 14:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Columbus State | AU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 31% | 48% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $37,400 | $37,500 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 37% | 60% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $26,000 | $26,862 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $268 | $277 |
Diversity |
Columbus State | AU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 40% | 35% | ||
| % Women | 60% | 65% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 51% | 83% | ||
| % Black | 37% | 8% | ||
| % Hispanic | 6% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 2% | ||
| % International | 1% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 2% |
Students |
Columbus State | AU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 92% | 68% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 5% | 31% | ||
Campus |
Columbus State | AU | ||
| 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
- Columbus State University is larger than than AU based on total student enrollment (7,479 students vs. 4,121 students)
Columbus State vs. AU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Columbus State or AU?
- Anderson University is 606% more expensive to attend than Columbus State for in-state tuition ($30,860.00 vs. $4,371.00)
- Out of state tuition is 100.1% higher at AU than Columbus State University ($30,860.00 vs. $15,425.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Columbus State University than AU ($12,902 vs. $21,633)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Anderson University are 7.6% lower than costs at Columbus State University ($11,230 vs. $12,080)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Anderson University than Columbus State University (100% vs. 98%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Anderson University students is 166.9% larger than aid received Columbus State University ($24,409 vs. $9,147)
Columbus State vs. AU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Columbus State or AU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between AU or Columbus State .
- The average SAT score at Anderson University (1078) is 117 points higher than at Columbus State (961)
- Incoming AU students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at Columbus State (20)
- Accepted freshman AU students have a 0.65 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at Columbus State (3.07)
- Columbus State has a higher acceptance rate (87.8%) than AU (45.4%)
Columbus State vs. AU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Columbus State or AU? 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 AU and Columbus State.
- The graduation rate at AU is higher than Columbus State University (48% vs. 31%)
- Graduates from Anderson University earn on average $100 more per year than Columbus State graduates after ten years. ($37,500 vs. $37,400)
- Columbus State University students graduate with a $862 lower median federal student loan debt than AU graduates. ($26,000 vs. $26,862)
- Columbus State graduates are paying $9 less per month on federal student loans than AU graduates. ($268 vs. $277)
- More AU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbus State students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 37%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/