Santa Fe College vs. Columbia College

Comparable Facts

Compare Santa Fe College in Gainesville, FL with Columbia College in Columbia, SC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Santa Fe College is larger than Columbia College based on total student enrollment (12,758 students vs. 1,725 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Santa Fe College is located in Gainesville, FL (Midsize Suburban setting); Columbia College is in Columbia, SC (Midsize City setting).
• Santa Fe College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Columbia College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Santa Fe College 18:1; Columbia College 12:1.

Santa Fe College vs. Columbia College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Santa Fe College or Columbia College? 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 Santa Fe College than Columbia College ($11,903 vs. $18,790).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia College are 9.4% lower than at Santa Fe College ($9,390 vs. $10,367).
• Columbia College is 766.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Santa Fe College (about $19,651 more per year; $22,214.00 vs. $2,563.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 141.7% higher at Columbia College than at Santa Fe College (about $13,025 more per year; $22,214.00 vs. $9,189.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Columbia College than at Santa Fe College (97% vs. 64%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia College students is 532.2% larger than aid received by Santa Fe College students ($16,451 vs. $2,602).

Santa Fe College vs. Columbia College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Santa Fe College or Columbia College? 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 Columbia College and Santa Fe College.

• Santa Fe College reports an open admissions policy.
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsColumbia College 850/1140.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsColumbia College 14/18.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Santa Fe College - Open admission; Columbia College - Test-free.

Santa Fe College vs. Columbia College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Santa Fe College and Columbia College? 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 Santa Fe College earn a median of about $2,800 more per year than Columbia College graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,500 vs. $34,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Santa Fe College graduates have a $14,239 lower median loan debt than Columbia College graduates ($11,025 vs. $25,264).
• Among borrowers, Santa Fe College graduates have an estimated $148 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Columbia College graduates ($113 vs. $261).
• More Columbia College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Santa Fe College students, three years after graduation. (43% vs. 34%)

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.