Columbus State vs. Livingstone College

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

Columbus State Livingstone College
Location Columbus, GA Salisbury, NC
Setting Midsize City Distant Town
Enrollment 7,479 839
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #995
Religious Affiliation - African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website columbusstate.edu livingstone.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Columbus State Livingstone College
Tuition (In State) $4,371 $15,917
Tuition (Out of State) $15,425 $15,917
Room & Board $12,080 $6,794
Avg Net Price $12,902 $15,914
Avg Grant Aid $9,147 $12,500
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 98%

Admission

Columbus State Livingstone College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,870 4,074
Admitted 3,398 2,598
Acceptance Rate 87.8% 63.8%
Enrolled % 30.4% 8.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.07 2.64
Typical High School Grades B C+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 16/23 14/21
SAT Range 900/1130 800/960
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 Livingstone College
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%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (19%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Human Services (13%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)

Outcomes

Columbus State Livingstone College
Graduation Rate 31% 28%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,400 $24,200
Making Student Loan Payments 37% 13%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $42,000
Median Loan Payment $268 $434

Diversity

Columbus State Livingstone College
% Men 40% 59%
% Women 60% 41%
Racial Diversity High Very Low
HBCU No Yes
% White 51% 0%
% Black 37% 81%
% Hispanic 6% 1%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 0%
% International 1% 0%
% Unknown Race 0% 17%

Students

Columbus State Livingstone College
% In-State 92% 55%
% Out-of-State 5% 44%

Campus

Columbus State Livingstone College
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No Yes
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 Livingstone College based on total student enrollment (7,479 students vs. 839 students)

Columbus State vs. Livingstone College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbus State or Livingstone College?

  • Livingstone College is 264.2% more expensive to attend than Columbus State for in-state tuition ($15,917.00 vs. $4,371.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 3.2% higher at Livingstone College than Columbus State University ($15,917.00 vs. $15,425.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Columbus State University than Livingstone College ($12,902 vs. $15,914)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Livingstone College are 77.8% lower than costs at Columbus State University ($6,794 vs. $12,080)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Columbus State University as Livingstone College (98% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Livingstone College students is 36.7% larger than aid received Columbus State University ($12,500 vs. $9,147)

Columbus State vs. Livingstone College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Columbus State University (961) is 253 points higher than at Livingstone College (708)
  • Incoming Columbus State students have a 6 point higher average ACT score (20) than students at Livingstone College (14)
  • Accepted freshman Columbus State students have a 0.43 point higher average high school GPA (3.07) than students at Livingstone College (2.64)
  • Columbus State has a higher acceptance rate (87.8%) than Livingstone College (63.8%)

Columbus State vs. Livingstone College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Columbus State or Livingstone College? 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 Livingstone College and Columbus State.

  • The graduation rate at Columbus State is higher than Livingstone College (31% vs. 28%)
  • Graduates from Columbus State University earn on average $13,200 more per year than Livingstone College graduates after ten years. ($37,400 vs. $24,200)
  • Columbus State University students graduate with a $16,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Livingstone College graduates. ($26,000 vs. $42,000)
  • Columbus State graduates are paying $166 less per month on federal student loans than Livingstone College graduates. ($268 vs. $434)
  • More Columbus State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Livingstone College students, three years after graduation. (37% vs. 13%)

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