Columbus State vs. University of Wisconsin-River Falls

Deciding between Columbus State University and University of Wisconsin River Falls? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Columbus State University
University of Wisconsin River Falls

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Columbus State Columbus, GA
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls River Falls, WI
  • Setting
  • Columbus State Midsize City
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Columbus State 7,913
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 5,243
  • Type
  • Columbus State Public 4 Year
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Columbus State #1007
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls #768
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Columbus State -
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls -
  • Status
  • Columbus State Non-profit
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Columbus State
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Columbus State $5,898
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls $9,008
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Columbus State $17,610
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls $17,470
  • Room & Board
  • Columbus State $11,720
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls $7,982
  • Average Net Price
  • Columbus State $12,420
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls $14,769
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Columbus State $9,003
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls $4,176
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Columbus State 89%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 81%

  • Admissions

  • Admission Chances
  • Columbus State Calculate
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls Calculate
  • Applied
  • Columbus State 3,648
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 5,519
  • Admitted
  • Columbus State 3,616
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 4,510
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Columbus State 99.1%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 81.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Columbus State 31.8%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 25.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Columbus State 930
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls
  • Typical ACT score
  • Columbus State 19
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 22
  • Average High School GPA
  • Columbus State 3.07
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 3.44
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Columbus State B
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Columbus State Extremely Easy
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • Columbus State
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls
  • ACT Range
  • Columbus State 16/22
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 19/25
  • SAT Range
  • Columbus State 800/1060
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Columbus State Test optional
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Columbus State Jun 30, 2027
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Columbus State 16:1
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Columbus State
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (24%)
    • Business (19%)
    • Education (14%)
    • Health Professions (14%)
    • English and Literature (4%)
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls
    • Agriculture (17%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Education (13%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Columbus State 31%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 51%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Columbus State $37,400
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls $44,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Columbus State 37%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 75%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Columbus State $26,000
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls $22,725
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Columbus State $268
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls $234

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Columbus State 41%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 37%
  • % Women
  • Columbus State 59%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 63%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Columbus State High
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls Very Low
  • HBCU
  • Columbus State No
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls No
  • % White
  • Columbus State 51%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 89%
  • % Asian
  • Columbus State 2%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 3%
  • % Black
  • Columbus State 37%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • Columbus State 6%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 3%
  • % Native American
  • Columbus State 0%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Columbus State 0%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Columbus State 2%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 2%
  • % International
  • Columbus State 1%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Columbus State 0%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Columbus State 92%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 47%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Columbus State 7%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 52%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Columbus State Yes
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Columbus State No
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls No
  • Meal Plan
  • Columbus State Yes
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Columbus State No
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Columbus State No
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls Yes
  • Learn More
  • Columbus State Details
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls Details

Comparable Facts

Compare Columbus State University in Columbus, GA with University of Wisconsin River Falls in River Falls, WI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Columbus State University is larger than University of Wisconsin-River Falls based on total student enrollment (7,913 students vs. 5,243 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Columbus State University is located in Columbus, GA (Midsize City setting); University of Wisconsin River Falls is in River Falls, WI (Distant Town setting).
  • Columbus State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Wisconsin River Falls is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Columbus State University 16:1; University of Wisconsin River Falls 19:1.

Columbus State vs. University of Wisconsin-River Falls Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbus State or University of Wisconsin-River Falls? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Columbus State University than University of Wisconsin-River Falls ($12,420 vs. $14,769).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Wisconsin River Falls are 31.9% lower than at Columbus State University ($7,982 vs. $11,720).
  • University of Wisconsin River Falls is 52.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Columbus State (about $3,110 more per year; $9,008.00 vs. $5,898.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 0.8% higher at Columbus State than at University of Wisconsin River Falls (about $140 more per year; $17,610.00 vs. $17,470.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Columbus State University than at University of Wisconsin River Falls (89% vs. 81%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Columbus State University students is 115.6% larger than aid received by University of Wisconsin River Falls students ($9,003 vs. $4,176).

Columbus State vs. University of Wisconsin-River Falls Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Columbus State or University of Wisconsin-River Falls? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between University of Wisconsin-River Falls and Columbus State.

  • Incoming University of Wisconsin-River Falls students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (22 vs. 19 at Columbus State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Columbus State University 800/1060.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Columbus State University 16/22; University of Wisconsin River Falls 19/25.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Columbus State - Test optional; University of Wisconsin-River Falls - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Columbus State Jun 30, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman University of Wisconsin-River Falls students have a 0.37 point higher average high school GPA (3.44) than students at Columbus State (3.07).
  • Columbus State has a higher acceptance rate (99.1%) than University of Wisconsin-River Falls (81.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 31.8% at Columbus State vs. 25.1% at University of Wisconsin-River Falls.

Columbus State vs. University of Wisconsin-River Falls Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Columbus State and University of Wisconsin-River Falls? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • University of Wisconsin River Falls's six-year graduation rate (51%) is higher than Columbus State University's (31%).
  • Graduates from University of Wisconsin River Falls earn a median of about $6,700 more per year than Columbus State graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,100 vs. $37,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Wisconsin River Falls graduates have a $3,275 lower median loan debt than Columbus State graduates ($22,725 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, University of Wisconsin-River Falls graduates have an estimated $34 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Columbus State graduates ($234 vs. $268).
  • More University of Wisconsin-River Falls graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbus State students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 37%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.