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YHC Georgia College KSU LaGrange College Emmanuel College Toccoa Falls College Reinhardt University UTC| Piedmont College | Columbia College | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Piedmont College | Columbia College | ||
| Location | Demorest, GA | Columbia, SC | ||
| Setting | Distant Town | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 1,840 | 1,572 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #718 | #914 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | United Church of Christ | United Methodist | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | piedmont.edu | columbiasc.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Piedmont College | Columbia College | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $30,200 | $20,650 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $30,200 | $20,650 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,300 | $8,550 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $21,599 | $23,920 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $23,701 | $13,961 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 98% |
Admission |
Piedmont College | Columbia College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 2,066 | 2,163 | ||
| Admitted | 1,918 | 2,072 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 92.8% | 95.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 14.9% | 9.8% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.54 | 3.56 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very Easy | Extremely Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 18/24 | 14/18 | ||
| SAT Range | 990/1170 | 850/1140 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jul 15, 2025 |
Academics |
Piedmont College | Columbia College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 12:1 | 11:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Piedmont College | Columbia College | ||
| Graduation Rate | 46% | 50% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $41,000 | $34,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 44% | 43% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $23,736 | $25,264 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $245 | $261 |
Diversity |
Piedmont College | Columbia College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 5% | 2% | ||
| % Women | 26% | 17% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 71% | 55% | ||
| % Black | 9% | 34% | ||
| % Hispanic | 5% | 4% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 3% | ||
| % International | 1% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 10% | 1% |
Students |
Piedmont College | Columbia College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 85% | 79% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 14% | 16% | ||
Campus |
Piedmont College | 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
- Piedmont College is larger than than Columbia College based on total student enrollment (1,840 students vs. 1,572 students)
Piedmont College vs. Columbia College Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Piedmont College or Columbia College?
- Piedmont College is 46.2% more expensive to attend than Columbia College for in-state tuition ($30,200.00 vs. $20,650.00)
- Out of state tuition is 46.2% higher at Piedmont College than Columbia College ($30,200.00 vs. $20,650.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Piedmont College than Columbia College ($21,599 vs. $23,920)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia College are 43.9% lower than costs at Piedmont College ($8,550 vs. $12,300)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Piedmont College than Columbia College (100% vs. 98%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Piedmont College students is 69.8% larger than aid received Columbia College ($23,701 vs. $13,961)
Piedmont College vs. Columbia College Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Piedmont College or Columbia College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Columbia College or Piedmont College .
- The average SAT score at Piedmont College (995) is 24 points higher than at Columbia College (971)
- Incoming Piedmont College students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at Columbia College (21)
- Accepted freshman Columbia College students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.56) than students at Piedmont College (3.54)
- Columbia College has a higher acceptance rate (95.8%) than Piedmont College (92.8%)
Piedmont College vs. Columbia College Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Piedmont College 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 Piedmont College.
- The graduation rate at Columbia College is higher than Piedmont College (50% vs. 46%)
- Graduates from Piedmont College earn on average $6,300 more per year than Columbia College graduates after ten years. ($41,000 vs. $34,700)
- Piedmont College students graduate with a $1,528 lower median federal student loan debt than Columbia College graduates. ($23,736 vs. $25,264)
- Piedmont College graduates are paying $16 less per month on federal student loans than Columbia College graduates. ($245 vs. $261)
- More Piedmont College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia College students, three years after graduation. (44% vs. 43%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/