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USC Beaufort GS ASU Georgia State University of West Georgia KSU VSU Clayton State University TROY Albany State University Lander University LSUS| Columbus State University | University of South Carolina Aiken | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Columbus State | USC Aiken | ||
| Location | Columbus, GA | Aiken, SC | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Rural Fringe | ||
| Enrollment | 7,479 | 3,840 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #995 | #888 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | columbusstate.edu | usca.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Columbus State | USC Aiken | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $4,371 | $10,398 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $15,425 | $20,856 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,080 | $8,376 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $12,902 | $11,872 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $9,147 | $9,891 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 98% | 100% |
Admission |
Columbus State | USC Aiken | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 3,870 | 2,453 | ||
| Admitted | 3,398 | 1,855 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 87.8% | 75.6% | ||
| Enrolled % | 30.4% | 29.8% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.07 | 3.19 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B | B | ||
| Admissions Standards | Extremely Easy | Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 16/23 | 18/24 | ||
| SAT Range | 900/1130 | 950/1180 | ||
| 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 | Aug 1, 2025 |
Academics |
Columbus State | USC Aiken | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 15:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Columbus State | USC Aiken | ||
| Graduation Rate | 31% | 41% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $37,400 | $39,600 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 37% | 54% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $26,000 | $26,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $268 | $268 |
Diversity |
Columbus State | USC Aiken | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 40% | 36% | ||
| % Women | 60% | 64% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 51% | 58% | ||
| % Black | 37% | 27% | ||
| % Hispanic | 6% | 4% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 4% | ||
| % International | 1% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 2% |
Students |
Columbus State | USC Aiken | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 92% | 87% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 5% | 11% | ||
Campus |
Columbus State | USC Aiken | ||
| 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 USC Aiken based on total student enrollment (7,479 students vs. 3,840 students)
Columbus State vs. USC Aiken Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Columbus State or USC Aiken?
- University of South Carolina Aiken is 137.9% more expensive to attend than Columbus State for in-state tuition ($10,398.00 vs. $4,371.00)
- Out of state tuition is 35.2% higher at USC Aiken than Columbus State University ($20,856.00 vs. $15,425.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of South Carolina Aiken than Columbus State ($11,872 vs. $12,902)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of South Carolina Aiken are 44.2% lower than costs at Columbus State University ($8,376 vs. $12,080)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of South Carolina Aiken than Columbus State University (100% vs. 98%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of South Carolina Aiken students is 8.1% larger than aid received Columbus State University ($9,891 vs. $9,147)
Columbus State vs. USC Aiken Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Columbus State or USC Aiken? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between USC Aiken or Columbus State .
- The average SAT score at University of South Carolina Aiken (976) is 15 points higher than at Columbus State (961)
- Incoming USC Aiken students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (21) than students at Columbus State (20)
- Accepted freshman USC Aiken students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.19) than students at Columbus State (3.07)
- Columbus State has a higher acceptance rate (87.8%) than USC Aiken (75.6%)
Columbus State vs. USC Aiken Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Columbus State or USC Aiken? 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 USC Aiken and Columbus State.
- The graduation rate at USC Aiken is higher than Columbus State University (41% vs. 31%)
- Graduates from University of South Carolina Aiken earn on average $2,200 more per year than Columbus State graduates after ten years. ($39,600 vs. $37,400)
- University of South Carolina Aiken and Columbus State graduates both have the same median student loan debt upon graduation ($26,000 vs. $26,000)
- University of South Carolina Aiken and Columbus State graduates both have a median monthly student loan payment upon graduation ($268 vs. $268)
- More USC Aiken graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbus State students, three years after graduation. (54% vs. 37%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/