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VSU Old Dominion Hampton University Bowie State University ECSU GS Georgia State Delaware State University University of West Georgia KSU VSU Clayton State University| Columbus State University | Norfolk State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Columbus State | NSU | ||
| Location | Columbus, GA | Norfolk, VA | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 7,610 | 6,045 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #997 | #999 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | columbusstate.edu | nsu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Columbus State | NSU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $4,371 | $5,926 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $15,425 | $17,428 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,262 | $11,692 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $11,384 | $12,272 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $8,299 | $11,153 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 98% | 97% |
Admission |
Columbus State | NSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 3,550 | 10,211 | ||
| Admitted | 3,523 | 8,931 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 99.2% | 87.5% | ||
| Enrolled % | 30.7% | 16.8% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.07 | 2.9 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B | B- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very Easy | Extremely Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 17/24 | 16/21 | ||
| SAT Range | 860/1100 | 840/1100 | ||
| 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 | May 31, 2026 |
Academics |
Columbus State | NSU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 18:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Columbus State | NSU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 31% | 33% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $37,400 | $36,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 37% | 27% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $26,000 | $31,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $268 | $320 |
Diversity |
Columbus State | NSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 7% | 3% | ||
| % Women | 14% | 5% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | Yes | ||
| % White | 51% | 5% | ||
| % Black | 37% | 84% | ||
| % Hispanic | 6% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 4% | ||
| % International | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 3% |
Students |
Columbus State | NSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 91% | 65% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 7% | 31% | ||
Campus |
Columbus State | NSU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Columbus State University is larger than than NSU based on total student enrollment (7,610 students vs. 6,045 students)
Columbus State vs. NSU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Columbus State or NSU?
- Norfolk State University is 35.6% more expensive to attend than Columbus State for in-state tuition ($5,926.00 vs. $4,371.00)
- Out of state tuition is 13% higher at NSU than Columbus State University ($17,428.00 vs. $15,425.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Columbus State University than NSU ($11,384 vs. $12,272)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbus State University are 3.8% lower than costs at Norfolk State University ($11,262 vs. $11,692)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Columbus State University than Norfolk State University (98% vs. 97%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Norfolk State University students is 34.4% larger than aid received Columbus State University ($11,153 vs. $8,299)
Columbus State vs. NSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Columbus State or NSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between NSU or Columbus State .
- The average SAT score at Columbus State University (961) is 153 points higher than at NSU (808)
- Incoming Columbus State students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (20) than students at NSU (17)
- Accepted freshman Columbus State students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.07) than students at NSU (2.9)
- Columbus State has a higher acceptance rate (99.2%) than NSU (87.5%)
Columbus State vs. NSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Columbus State or NSU? 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 NSU and Columbus State.
- The graduation rate at NSU is higher than Columbus State University (33% vs. 31%)
- Graduates from Columbus State University earn on average $700 more per year than NSU graduates after ten years. ($37,400 vs. $36,700)
- Columbus State University students graduate with a $5,000 lower median federal student loan debt than NSU graduates. ($26,000 vs. $31,000)
- Columbus State graduates are paying $52 less per month on federal student loans than NSU graduates. ($268 vs. $320)
- More Columbus State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation. (37% vs. 27%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/