St. Leo University vs. Columbus State

Should I go to Saint Leo University or Columbus State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if St. Leo University 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.
Add a college to compare up to four schools

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

University of South Florida St. Petersburg Southeastern University GS Georgia State University of West Georgia Tiffin University KSU VSU Clayton State University FGCU FAU St. Thomas University
Saint Leo University vs. Columbus State University comparison
Saint Leo University Columbus State University College 3 College 4
Saint Leo University Columbus State University
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

 St. Leo University Columbus State
Location Saint Leo, FL Columbus, GA
Setting Rural Fringe Midsize City
Enrollment 10,242 7,479
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #704 #995
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website saintleo.edu columbusstate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 St. Leo University Columbus State
Tuition (In State) $24,990 $4,371
Tuition (Out of State) $24,990 $15,425
Room & Board $15,400 $12,080
Avg Net Price $20,390 $12,902
Avg Grant Aid $21,053 $9,147
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 98%

Admission

 St. Leo University Columbus State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,928 3,870
Admitted 5,549 3,398
Acceptance Rate 80.1% 87.8%
Enrolled % 15.9% 30.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.1 3.07
Typical High School Grades B B
Admissions Standards Moderate Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 20/27 16/23
SAT Range 980/1190 900/1130
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jun 30, 2025

Academics

 St. Leo University Columbus State
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (34%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (23%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (16%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Education (5%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (24%)
  • Business (19%)
  • Education (14%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • English and Literature (4%)

Outcomes

 St. Leo University Columbus State
Graduation Rate 46% 31%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $49,300 $37,400
Making Student Loan Payments 35% 37%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,750 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $255 $268

Diversity

 St. Leo University Columbus State
% Men 39% 40%
% Women 61% 60%
Racial Diversity Very High High
HBCU No No
% White 37% 51%
% Black 38% 37%
% Hispanic 12% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 3% 1%
% Unknown Race 7% 0%

Students

 St. Leo University Columbus State
% In-State 65% 92%
% Out-of-State 23% 5%

Campus

 St. Leo University Columbus State
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Saint Leo University is larger than than Columbus State based on total student enrollment (10,242 students vs. 7,479 students)

St. Leo University vs. Columbus State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, St. Leo University or Columbus State?

  • Saint Leo University is 471.7% more expensive to attend than Columbus State for in-state tuition ($24,990.00 vs. $4,371.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 62% higher at St. Leo University than Columbus State University ($24,990.00 vs. $15,425.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Columbus State University than St. Leo University ($12,902 vs. $20,390)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbus State University are 27.5% lower than costs at Saint Leo University ($12,080 vs. $15,400)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Saint Leo University than Columbus State University (99% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Saint Leo University students is 130.2% larger than aid received Columbus State University ($21,053 vs. $9,147)

St. Leo University vs. Columbus State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman St. Leo University students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.1) than students at Columbus State (3.07)
  • Columbus State has a higher acceptance rate (87.8%) than St. Leo University (80.1%)

St. Leo University vs. Columbus State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, St. Leo University 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 St. Leo University.

  • The graduation rate at St. Leo University is higher than Columbus State University (46% vs. 31%)
  • Graduates from Saint Leo University earn on average $11,900 more per year than Columbus State graduates after ten years. ($49,300 vs. $37,400)
  • Saint Leo University students graduate with a $1,250 lower median federal student loan debt than Columbus State graduates. ($24,750 vs. $26,000)
  • St. Leo University graduates are paying $13 less per month on federal student loans than Columbus State graduates. ($255 vs. $268)
  • More Columbus State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former St. Leo University students, three years after graduation. (37% vs. 35%)

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