Columbus State vs. Life University

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

Columbus State Life University
Location Columbus, GA Marietta, GA
Setting Midsize City Small City
Enrollment 7,610 2,711
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #997 #752
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website columbusstate.edu life.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Columbus State Life University
Tuition (In State) $4,371 $13,545
Tuition (Out of State) $15,425 $13,545
Room & Board $11,262 $13,959
Avg Net Price $11,384 $30,403
Avg Grant Aid $8,299 $10,926
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 90%

Admission

Columbus State Life University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,550 404
Admitted 3,523 379
Acceptance Rate 99.2% 93.8%
Enrolled % 30.7% 54.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.07 3.11
Typical High School Grades B B
Admissions Standards Very Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 17/24 15/19
SAT Range 860/1100 900/1120
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, 2026

Academics

Columbus State Life University
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (24%)
  • Business (19%)
  • Education (14%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • English and Literature (4%)
  • Biology (58%)
  • General Studies (12%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Business (6%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (5%)

Outcomes

Columbus State Life University
Graduation Rate 31% 52%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,400 $46,900
Making Student Loan Payments 37% 33%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $8,334
Median Loan Payment $268 $86

Diversity

Columbus State Life University
% Men 7% 33%
% Women 14% 35%
Racial Diversity High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 51% 48%
% Black 37% 26%
% Hispanic 6% 13%
% Native American 0% 2%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 0%
% International 1% 2%
% Unknown Race 0% 6%

Students

Columbus State Life University
% In-State 91% 51%
% Out-of-State 7% 35%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Columbus State University is larger than than Life University based on total student enrollment (7,610 students vs. 2,711 students)

Columbus State vs. Life University Cost Comparison

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

  • Life University is 209.9% more expensive to attend than Columbus State for in-state tuition ($13,545.00 vs. $4,371.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 13.9% higher at Columbus State than Life University ($15,425.00 vs. $13,545.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Columbus State University than Life University ($11,384 vs. $30,403)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbus State University are 23.9% lower than costs at Life University ($11,262 vs. $13,959)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Columbus State University than Life University (98% vs. 90%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Life University students is 31.7% larger than aid received Columbus State University ($10,926 vs. $8,299)

Columbus State vs. Life University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Life University students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.11) than students at Columbus State (3.07)
  • Columbus State has a higher acceptance rate (99.2%) than Life University (93.8%)

Columbus State vs. Life University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Life University is higher than Columbus State University (52% vs. 31%)
  • Graduates from Life University earn on average $9,500 more per year than Columbus State graduates after ten years. ($46,900 vs. $37,400)
  • Life University students graduate with a $17,666 lower median federal student loan debt than Columbus State graduates. ($8,334 vs. $26,000)
  • Life University graduates are paying $182 less per month on federal student loans than Columbus State graduates. ($86 vs. $268)
  • More Columbus State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Life University students, three years after graduation. (37% vs. 33%)

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