Fort Valley State University vs. Columbia Southern University

Should I go to Fort Valley State University or Columbia Southern University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Fort Valley State University or Columbia Southern 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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Fort Valley State University vs. Columbia Southern University comparison
Fort Valley State University Columbia Southern University College 3 College 4
Fort Valley State University
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Overview

Fort Valley State University Columbia Southern University
Location Fort Valley, GA Orange Beach, AL
Setting Rural Fringe Distant Rural
Enrollment 2,605 15,948
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #1018
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit For-profit
Website fvsu.edu columbiasouthern.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Fort Valley State University Columbia Southern University
Tuition (In State) $4,064 $5,880
Tuition (Out of State) $14,786 $5,880
Room & Board $8,372 $8,136
Avg Net Price $13,016 $12,366
Avg Grant Aid $9,499 $4,154
% Receiving Grant Aid 94% 42%

Admission

Fort Valley State University Columbia Southern University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,247 -
Admitted 2,692 -
Acceptance Rate 43.1% Open
Enrolled % 20.5% Open
Avg High School GPA 2.87 -
Typical High School Grades B- -
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Unavailable
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 16/19
SAT Range 810/950
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline Jun 15, 2025

Academics

Fort Valley State University Columbia Southern University
Student to Faculty Ratio 20:1 28:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (18%)
  • Biology (14%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (11%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Education (7%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (35%)
  • Business (32%)
  • Engineering Technology (17%)
  • Natural Resources Conservation (4%)
  • Health Professions (3%)

Outcomes

Fort Valley State University Columbia Southern University
Graduation Rate 33% 22%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $32,000 N/A
Making Student Loan Payments 19% 46%
Median Student Loan Debt $36,500 $16,404
Median Loan Payment $377 $169

Diversity

Fort Valley State University Columbia Southern University
% Men 35% 62%
% Women 65% 38%
Racial Diversity Extremely Low High
HBCU Yes No
% White 2% 58%
% Black 94% 23%
% Hispanic 0% 7%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 3%
% International 0% 0%
% Unknown Race 2% 7%

Students

Fort Valley State University Columbia Southern University
% In-State 93% 8%
% Out-of-State 7% 90%

Campus

Fort Valley State University Columbia Southern University
Campus Housing Yes No
Freshman Dorm Required Yes No
Meal Plan Yes No
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Columbia Southern University is larger than than Fort Valley State University based on total student enrollment (15,948 students vs. 2,605 students)

Fort Valley State University vs. Columbia Southern University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Fort Valley State University or Columbia Southern University?

  • Columbia Southern University is 44.7% more expensive to attend than Fort Valley State University for in-state tuition ($5,880.00 vs. $4,064.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 151.5% higher at Fort Valley State University than Columbia Southern University ($14,786.00 vs. $5,880.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Columbia Southern University than Fort Valley State University ($12,366 vs. $13,016)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia Southern University are 2.9% lower than costs at Fort Valley State University ($8,136 vs. $8,372)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Fort Valley State University than Columbia Southern University (94% vs. 42%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Fort Valley State University students is 128.7% larger than aid received Columbia Southern University ($9,499 vs. $4,154)

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

Fort Valley State University vs. Columbia Southern University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Fort Valley State University or Columbia Southern 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 Columbia Southern University and Fort Valley State University.

  • The graduation rate at Fort Valley State University is higher than Columbia Southern University (33% vs. 22%)
  • Columbia Southern University students graduate with a $20,096 lower median federal student loan debt than Fort Valley State University graduates. ($16,404 vs. $36,500)
  • Columbia Southern University graduates are paying $208 less per month on federal student loans than Fort Valley State University graduates. ($169 vs. $377)
  • More Columbia Southern University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fort Valley State University students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 19%)

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