Columbus State vs. Claflin University

Should I go to Columbus State University or Claflin University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Columbus State or Claflin 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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Columbus State University vs. Claflin University comparison
Columbus State University Claflin University College 3 College 4
Columbus State University Claflin University
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Overview

Columbus State Claflin University
Location Columbus, GA Orangeburg, SC
Setting Midsize City Distant Town
Enrollment 7,479 1,830
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #995 #1000
Religious Affiliation - United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website columbusstate.edu claflin.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Columbus State Claflin University
Tuition (In State) $4,371 $16,476
Tuition (Out of State) $15,425 $16,476
Room & Board $12,080 $9,480
Avg Net Price $12,902 $19,951
Avg Grant Aid $9,147 $13,707
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 93%

Admission

Columbus State Claflin University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,870 7,568
Admitted 3,398 5,903
Acceptance Rate 87.8% 78%
Enrolled % 30.4% 6.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.07 3.28
Typical High School Grades B B
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 16/23 16/18
SAT Range 900/1130 840/1040
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Jun 30, 2025

Academics

Columbus State Claflin University
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (24%)
  • Business (19%)
  • Education (14%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • English and Literature (4%)
  • Business (29%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (19%)
  • Social Sciences (14%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • Communication (6%)

Outcomes

Columbus State Claflin University
Graduation Rate 31% 40%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,400 $30,700
Making Student Loan Payments 37% 25%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $32,184
Median Loan Payment $268 $332

Diversity

Columbus State Claflin University
% Men 40% 31%
% Women 60% 69%
Racial Diversity High Extremely Low
HBCU No Yes
% White 51% 1%
% Black 37% 92%
% Hispanic 6% 2%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 0%
% International 1% 2%
% Unknown Race 0% 0%

Students

Columbus State Claflin University
% In-State 92% 82%
% Out-of-State 5% 15%

Campus

Columbus State Claflin University
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 Claflin University based on total student enrollment (7,479 students vs. 1,830 students)

Columbus State vs. Claflin University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbus State or Claflin University?

  • Claflin University is 276.9% more expensive to attend than Columbus State for in-state tuition ($16,476.00 vs. $4,371.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 6.8% higher at Claflin University than Columbus State University ($16,476.00 vs. $15,425.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Columbus State University than Claflin University ($12,902 vs. $19,951)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Claflin University are 27.4% lower than costs at Columbus State University ($9,480 vs. $12,080)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Columbus State University than Claflin University (98% vs. 93%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Claflin University students is 49.9% larger than aid received Columbus State University ($13,707 vs. $9,147)

Columbus State vs. Claflin University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Columbus State University (961) is 146 points higher than at Claflin University (815)
  • Incoming Columbus State students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (20) than students at Claflin University (17)
  • Accepted freshman Claflin University students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.28) than students at Columbus State (3.07)
  • Columbus State has a higher acceptance rate (87.8%) than Claflin University (78%)

Columbus State vs. Claflin University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Columbus State or Claflin 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 Claflin University and Columbus State.

  • The graduation rate at Claflin University is higher than Columbus State University (40% vs. 31%)
  • Graduates from Columbus State University earn on average $6,700 more per year than Claflin University graduates after ten years. ($37,400 vs. $30,700)
  • Columbus State University students graduate with a $6,184 lower median federal student loan debt than Claflin University graduates. ($26,000 vs. $32,184)
  • Columbus State graduates are paying $64 less per month on federal student loans than Claflin University graduates. ($268 vs. $332)
  • More Columbus State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Claflin University students, three years after graduation. (37% vs. 25%)

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