Columbus State vs. Fort Valley State University

Should I go to Columbus State University or Fort Valley State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Columbus State or Fort Valley State 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.

Add a college to compare up to four schools
Columbus State University vs. Fort Valley State University comparison
Columbus State University Fort Valley State University College 3 College 4
Columbus State University Fort Valley State University
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Columbus State Fort Valley State University
Location Columbus, GA Fort Valley, GA
Setting Midsize City Rural Fringe
Enrollment 7,479 2,605
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #995 #1018
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website columbusstate.edu fvsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Columbus State Fort Valley State University
Tuition (In State) $4,371 $4,064
Tuition (Out of State) $15,425 $14,786
Room & Board $12,080 $8,372
Avg Net Price $12,902 $13,016
Avg Grant Aid $9,147 $9,499
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 94%

Admission

Columbus State Fort Valley State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,870 6,247
Admitted 3,398 2,692
Acceptance Rate 87.8% 43.1%
Enrolled % 30.4% 20.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.07 2.87
Typical High School Grades B B-
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 16/23 16/19
SAT Range 900/1130 810/950
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline Jun 30, 2025 Jun 15, 2025

Academics

Columbus State Fort Valley State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 20:1
Popular Majors
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (24%)
  • Business (19%)
  • Education (14%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • English and Literature (4%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Biology (14%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (11%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Education (7%)

Outcomes

Columbus State Fort Valley State University
Graduation Rate 31% 33%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,400 $32,000
Making Student Loan Payments 37% 19%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $36,500
Median Loan Payment $268 $377

Diversity

Columbus State Fort Valley State University
% Men 40% 35%
% Women 60% 65%
Racial Diversity High Extremely Low
HBCU No Yes
% White 51% 2%
% Black 37% 94%
% Hispanic 6% 0%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 1%
% International 1% 0%
% Unknown Race 0% 2%

Students

Columbus State Fort Valley State University
% In-State 92% 93%
% Out-of-State 5% 7%

Campus

Columbus State Fort Valley State University
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No Yes
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Columbus State University is larger than than Fort Valley State University based on total student enrollment (7,479 students vs. 2,605 students)

Columbus State vs. Fort Valley State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbus State or Fort Valley State University?

  • Columbus State University is 7.6% more expensive to attend than Fort Valley State University for in-state tuition ($4,371.00 vs. $4,064.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 4.3% higher at Columbus State than Fort Valley State University ($15,425.00 vs. $14,786.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Columbus State University than Fort Valley State University ($12,902 vs. $13,016)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fort Valley State University are 44.3% lower than costs at Columbus State University ($8,372 vs. $12,080)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Columbus State University than Fort Valley State University (98% vs. 94%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Fort Valley State University students is 3.8% larger than aid received Columbus State University ($9,499 vs. $9,147)

Columbus State vs. Fort Valley State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Columbus State University (961) is 96 points higher than at Fort Valley State University (865)
  • Incoming Columbus State students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (20) than students at Fort Valley State University (18)
  • Accepted freshman Columbus State students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.07) than students at Fort Valley State University (2.87)
  • Columbus State has a higher acceptance rate (87.8%) than Fort Valley State University (43.1%)

Columbus State vs. Fort Valley State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Columbus State or Fort Valley State 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 Fort Valley State University and Columbus State.

  • The graduation rate at Fort Valley State University is higher than Columbus State University (33% vs. 31%)
  • Graduates from Columbus State University earn on average $5,400 more per year than Fort Valley State University graduates after ten years. ($37,400 vs. $32,000)
  • Columbus State University students graduate with a $10,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Fort Valley State University graduates. ($26,000 vs. $36,500)
  • Columbus State graduates are paying $109 less per month on federal student loans than Fort Valley State University graduates. ($268 vs. $377)
  • More Columbus State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fort Valley State University students, three years after graduation. (37% vs. 19%)

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