Northwest Florida State College vs. Columbus State

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

 Northwest Florida State College Columbus State
Location Niceville, FL Columbus, GA
Setting Midsize Suburban Midsize City
Enrollment 4,898 7,479
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #995
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website nwfsc.edu columbusstate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Northwest Florida State College Columbus State
Tuition (In State) $2,496 $4,371
Tuition (Out of State) $9,425 $15,425
Room & Board $8,930 $12,080
Avg Net Price $7,082 $12,902
Avg Grant Aid $5,406 $9,147
% Receiving Grant Aid 74% 98%

Admission

 Northwest Florida State College Columbus State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied - 3,870
Admitted - 3,398
Acceptance Rate Open 87.8%
Enrolled % Open 30.4%
Avg High School GPA - 3.07
Typical High School Grades - B
Admissions Standards Unavailable Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 16/23
SAT Range 900/1130
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jun 30, 2025

Academics

 Northwest Florida State College Columbus State
Student to Faculty Ratio 21:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (59%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Health Professions (12%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
  • Work and Family Studies (3%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (24%)
  • Business (19%)
  • Education (14%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • English and Literature (4%)

Outcomes

 Northwest Florida State College Columbus State
Graduation Rate - 31%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $32,400 $37,400
Making Student Loan Payments 46% 37%
Median Student Loan Debt $4,370 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $45 $268

Diversity

 Northwest Florida State College Columbus State
% Men 40% 40%
% Women 60% 60%
Racial Diversity Medium High
HBCU No No
% White 69% 51%
% Black 8% 37%
% Hispanic 9% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 6% 2%
% International 1% 1%
% Unknown Race 4% 0%

Students

 Northwest Florida State College Columbus State
% In-State 68% 92%
% Out-of-State 5% 5%

Campus

 Northwest Florida State College Columbus State
Campus Housing No Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan No Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Columbus State University is larger than than Northwest Florida State College based on total student enrollment (7,479 students vs. 4,898 students)

Northwest Florida State College vs. Columbus State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Northwest Florida State College or Columbus State?

  • Columbus State University is 75.1% more expensive to attend than Northwest Florida State College for in-state tuition ($4,371.00 vs. $2,496.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 63.7% higher at Columbus State than Northwest Florida State College ($15,425.00 vs. $9,425.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northwest Florida State College than Columbus State ($7,082 vs. $12,902)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northwest Florida State College are 35.3% lower than costs at Columbus State University ($8,930 vs. $12,080)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Columbus State University than Northwest Florida State College (98% vs. 74%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Columbus State University students is 69.2% larger than aid received Northwest Florida State College ($9,147 vs. $5,406)

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

Northwest Florida State College vs. Columbus State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Northwest Florida State College or Columbus State? 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 Columbus State and Northwest Florida State College.

  • Graduates from Columbus State University earn on average $5,000 more per year than Northwest Florida State College graduates after ten years. ($37,400 vs. $32,400)
  • Northwest Florida State College students graduate with a $21,630 lower median federal student loan debt than Columbus State graduates. ($4,370 vs. $26,000)
  • Northwest Florida State College graduates are paying $223 less per month on federal student loans than Columbus State graduates. ($45 vs. $268)
  • More Northwest Florida State College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbus State students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 37%)

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