Saint Johns River State College vs. Columbus State

Deciding between Saint Johns River State College and Columbus State University? 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.

Saint Johns River State College
Columbus State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Saint Johns River State College Palatka, FL
  • Columbus State Columbus, GA
  • Setting
  • Saint Johns River State College Distant Town
  • Columbus State Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Saint Johns River State College 7,927
  • Columbus State 7,913
  • Type
  • Saint Johns River State College Public 4 Year
  • Columbus State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Saint Johns River State College
  • Columbus State #1007
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Saint Johns River State College -
  • Columbus State -
  • Status
  • Saint Johns River State College Non-profit
  • Columbus State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Saint Johns River State College
  • Columbus State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Saint Johns River State College $2,591
  • Columbus State $5,898
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Saint Johns River State College $9,335
  • Columbus State $17,610
  • Room & Board
  • Saint Johns River State College $12,604
  • Columbus State $11,720
  • Average Net Price
  • Saint Johns River State College $6,712
  • Columbus State $12,420
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Saint Johns River State College $7,384
  • Columbus State $9,003
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Saint Johns River State College 47%
  • Columbus State 89%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Saint Johns River State College -
  • Columbus State 3,648
  • Admitted
  • Saint Johns River State College -
  • Columbus State 3,616
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Saint Johns River State College Open
  • Columbus State 99.1%
  • Enrolled
  • Saint Johns River State College Open
  • Columbus State 31.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Saint Johns River State College
  • Columbus State 930
  • Typical ACT score
  • Saint Johns River State College
  • Columbus State 19
  • Average High School GPA
  • Saint Johns River State College -
  • Columbus State 3.07
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Saint Johns River State College -
  • Columbus State B
  • Admissions Standards
  • Saint Johns River State College Unavailable
  • Columbus State Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • Saint Johns River State College
  • Columbus State
  • ACT Range
  • Saint Johns River State College
  • Columbus State 16/22
  • SAT Range
  • Saint Johns River State College
  • Columbus State 800/1060
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Saint Johns River State College Open admission
  • Columbus State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Saint Johns River State College Oct 10, 2026
  • Columbus State Jun 30, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Saint Johns River State College 19:1
  • Columbus State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Saint Johns River State College
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (55%)
    • Health Professions (17%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (16%)
    • Business (5%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (3%)
  • Columbus State
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (24%)
    • Business (19%)
    • Education (14%)
    • Health Professions (14%)
    • English and Literature (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Saint Johns River State College -
  • Columbus State 31%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Saint Johns River State College $32,300
  • Columbus State $37,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Saint Johns River State College 32%
  • Columbus State 37%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Saint Johns River State College $11,651
  • Columbus State $26,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Saint Johns River State College $120
  • Columbus State $268

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Saint Johns River State College 37%
  • Columbus State 41%
  • % Women
  • Saint Johns River State College 63%
  • Columbus State 59%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Saint Johns River State College Low
  • Columbus State High
  • HBCU
  • Saint Johns River State College No
  • Columbus State No
  • % White
  • Saint Johns River State College 71%
  • Columbus State 51%
  • % Asian
  • Saint Johns River State College 2%
  • Columbus State 2%
  • % Black
  • Saint Johns River State College 10%
  • Columbus State 37%
  • % Hispanic
  • Saint Johns River State College 8%
  • Columbus State 6%
  • % Native American
  • Saint Johns River State College 1%
  • Columbus State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Saint Johns River State College 0%
  • Columbus State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Saint Johns River State College 3%
  • Columbus State 2%
  • % International
  • Saint Johns River State College 0%
  • Columbus State 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Saint Johns River State College 4%
  • Columbus State 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Saint Johns River State College 98%
  • Columbus State 92%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Saint Johns River State College 0%
  • Columbus State 7%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Saint Johns River State College No
  • Columbus State Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Saint Johns River State College No
  • Columbus State No
  • Meal Plan
  • Saint Johns River State College No
  • Columbus State Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Saint Johns River State College No
  • Columbus State No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Saint Johns River State College No
  • Columbus State No
  • Learn More
  • Saint Johns River State College Details
  • Columbus State Details

Comparable Facts

Compare Saint Johns River State College in Palatka, FL with Columbus State University in Columbus, GA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Saint Johns River State College is larger than Columbus State based on total student enrollment (7,927 students vs. 7,913 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Saint Johns River State College is located in Palatka, FL (Distant Town setting); Columbus State University is in Columbus, GA (Midsize City setting).
  • Saint Johns River State College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Columbus State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Saint Johns River State College 19:1; Columbus State University 16:1.

Saint Johns River State College vs. Columbus State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Saint Johns River State College or Columbus State? 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 Saint Johns River State College than Columbus State ($6,712 vs. $12,420).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbus State University are 7% lower than at Saint Johns River State College ($11,720 vs. $12,604).
  • Columbus State University is 127.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Saint Johns River State College (about $3,307 more per year; $5,898.00 vs. $2,591.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 88.6% higher at Columbus State than at Saint Johns River State College (about $8,275 more per year; $17,610.00 vs. $9,335.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Columbus State University than at Saint Johns River State College (89% vs. 47%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Columbus State University students is 21.9% larger than aid received by Saint Johns River State College students ($9,003 vs. $7,384).

Saint Johns River State College vs. Columbus State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Saint Johns River State College or Columbus State? 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 Columbus State and Saint Johns River State College.

  • Saint Johns River State College reports an open admissions policy.
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsColumbus State University 800/1060.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsColumbus State University 16/22.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Saint Johns River State College - Open admission; Columbus State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Saint Johns River State College Oct 10, 2026; Columbus State Jun 30, 2027.

Saint Johns River State College vs. Columbus State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Saint Johns River State College and Columbus State? 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).

  • Graduates from Columbus State University earn a median of about $5,100 more per year than Saint Johns River State College graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,400 vs. $32,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Saint Johns River State College graduates have a $14,349 lower median loan debt than Columbus State graduates ($11,651 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, Saint Johns River State College graduates have an estimated $148 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Columbus State graduates ($120 vs. $268).
  • More Columbus State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Saint Johns River State College students, three years after graduation. (37% vs. 32%)

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.