Columbus State vs. KSU

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

Columbus State KSU
Location Columbus, GA Kennesaw, Georgia
Setting Midsize City Large Suburban
Enrollment 7,479
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #995
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website columbusstate.edu kennesaw.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Columbus State KSU
Tuition (In State) $4,371 $4,078
Tuition (Out of State) $15,425 $13,796
Room & Board $12,080 $11,467
Avg Net Price $12,902 $15,451
Avg Grant Aid $9,147 $5,161
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 81%

Admission

Columbus State KSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,870 8,773
Admitted 3,398 5,483
Acceptance Rate 87.8% 62.5%
Enrolled % 30.4% 54.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.07 3.33
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Moderate
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 16/23 21/24
SAT Range 900/1130 1070/1250
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Required
Application Deadline Jun 30, 2025

Academics

Columbus State KSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 0:1
Popular Majors
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (24%)
  • Business (19%)
  • Education (14%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • English and Literature (4%)
  • Business (27%)
  • Education (17%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Health Professions (6%)

Outcomes

Columbus State KSU
Graduation Rate 31% 41%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,400 N/A
Making Student Loan Payments 37% -
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 N/A
Median Loan Payment $268 N/A

Diversity

Columbus State KSU
% Men 40% NaN
% Women 60% NaN
Racial Diversity High -
HBCU No No
% White 51% 0%
% Black 37% 0%
% Hispanic 6% 0%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 0%
% International 1% 0%
% Unknown Race 0% 0%

Students

Columbus State KSU
% In-State 92% -
% Out-of-State 5% -

Campus

Columbus State KSU
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 KSU based on total student enrollment (7,479 students vs. 0 students)

Columbus State vs. KSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbus State or KSU?

  • Columbus State University is 7.2% more expensive to attend than KSU for in-state tuition ($4,371.00 vs. $4,078.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 11.8% higher at Columbus State than Kennesaw State University ($15,425.00 vs. $13,796.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Columbus State University than KSU ($12,902 vs. $15,451)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Kennesaw State University are 5.3% lower than costs at Columbus State University ($11,467 vs. $12,080)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Columbus State University than Kennesaw State University (98% vs. 81%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Columbus State University students is 77.2% larger than aid received Kennesaw State University ($9,147 vs. $5,161)

Columbus State vs. KSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman KSU students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.33) than students at Columbus State (3.07)
  • Columbus State has a higher acceptance rate (87.8%) than KSU (62.5%)

Columbus State vs. KSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Columbus State or KSU? 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 KSU and Columbus State.

  • The graduation rate at KSU is higher than Columbus State University (41% vs. 31%)

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