Georgia Southwestern vs. Columbia College

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

Georgia Southwestern Columbia College
Location Americus, GA Columbia, SC
Setting Distant Town Midsize City
Enrollment 3,070 1,514
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #908 #913
Religious Affiliation - United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website gsw.edu columbiasc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Georgia Southwestern Columbia College
Tuition (In State) $4,064 $21,250
Tuition (Out of State) $14,786 $21,250
Room & Board $8,978 $8,400
Avg Net Price $12,186 $18,779
Avg Grant Aid $9,472 $16,089
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 97%

Admission

Georgia Southwestern Columbia College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,939 2,176
Admitted 1,419 2,135
Acceptance Rate 73.2% 98.1%
Enrolled % 34.2% 8.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.17 3.56
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 19/25 14/18
SAT Range 1010/1160 850/1140
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jul 21, 2025

Academics

Georgia Southwestern Columbia College
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (37%)
  • Education (25%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Social Sciences (3%)
  • Education (20%)
  • Psychology (12%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Human Services (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)

Outcomes

Georgia Southwestern Columbia College
Graduation Rate 30% 50%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $38,100 $34,700
Making Student Loan Payments 45% 43%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,000 $25,264
Median Loan Payment $227 $261

Diversity

Georgia Southwestern Columbia College
% Men 33% 15%
% Women 67% 85%
Racial Diversity Medium High
HBCU No No
% White 62% 55%
% Black 29% 34%
% Hispanic 3% 4%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 2% 2%
% Unknown Race 0% 1%

Students

Georgia Southwestern Columbia College
% In-State 95% 76%
% Out-of-State 4% 22%

Campus

Georgia Southwestern Columbia College
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Georgia Southwestern State University is larger than than Columbia College based on total student enrollment (3,070 students vs. 1,514 students)

Georgia Southwestern vs. Columbia College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Georgia Southwestern or Columbia College?

  • Columbia College is 422.9% more expensive to attend than Georgia Southwestern for in-state tuition ($21,250.00 vs. $4,064.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 43.7% higher at Columbia College than Georgia Southwestern State University ($21,250.00 vs. $14,786.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Georgia Southwestern State University than Columbia College ($12,186 vs. $18,779)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia College are 6.9% lower than costs at Georgia Southwestern State University ($8,400 vs. $8,978)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Georgia Southwestern State University than Columbia College (100% vs. 97%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia College students is 69.9% larger than aid received Georgia Southwestern State University ($16,089 vs. $9,472)

Georgia Southwestern vs. Columbia College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Columbia College (971) is 4 points higher than at Georgia Southwestern (967)
  • Incoming Georgia Southwestern students have at the same average ACT score (21) as students at Columbia College (21)
  • Accepted freshman Columbia College students have a 0.39 point higher average high school GPA (3.56) than students at Georgia Southwestern (3.17)
  • Columbia College has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than Georgia Southwestern (73.2%)

Georgia Southwestern vs. Columbia College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Georgia Southwestern or Columbia 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 Columbia College and Georgia Southwestern.

  • The graduation rate at Columbia College is higher than Georgia Southwestern State University (50% vs. 30%)
  • Graduates from Georgia Southwestern State University earn on average $3,400 more per year than Columbia College graduates after ten years. ($38,100 vs. $34,700)
  • Georgia Southwestern State University students graduate with a $3,264 lower median federal student loan debt than Columbia College graduates. ($22,000 vs. $25,264)
  • Georgia Southwestern graduates are paying $34 less per month on federal student loans than Columbia College graduates. ($227 vs. $261)
  • More Georgia Southwestern graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia College students, three years after graduation. (45% vs. 43%)

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