University of West Alabama vs. Columbus State

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

University of West Alabama Columbus State
Location Livingston, AL Columbus, GA
Setting Remote Rural Midsize City
Enrollment 5,860 7,479
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #1007 #995
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website uwa.edu columbusstate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

University of West Alabama Columbus State
Tuition (In State) $9,100 $4,371
Tuition (Out of State) $18,200 $15,425
Room & Board $7,820 $12,080
Avg Net Price $13,786 $12,902
Avg Grant Aid $9,291 $9,147
% Receiving Grant Aid 89% 98%

Admission

University of West Alabama Columbus State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,131 3,870
Admitted 2,156 3,398
Acceptance Rate 68.9% 87.8%
Enrolled % 14.4% 30.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.16 3.07
Typical High School Grades B B
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 17/21 16/23
SAT Range 880/980 900/1130
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 10, 2025 Jun 30, 2025

Academics

University of West Alabama Columbus State
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (27%)
  • Health Professions (24%)
  • Business (14%)
  • English and Literature (6%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (24%)
  • Business (19%)
  • Education (14%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • English and Literature (4%)

Outcomes

University of West Alabama Columbus State
Graduation Rate 28% 31%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $38,500 $37,400
Making Student Loan Payments 36% 37%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,489 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $273 $268

Diversity

University of West Alabama Columbus State
% Men 25% 40%
% Women 75% 60%
Racial Diversity Very High High
HBCU No No
% White 45% 51%
% Black 40% 37%
% Hispanic 2% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 6% 1%
% Unknown Race 4% 0%

Students

University of West Alabama Columbus State
% In-State 81% 92%
% Out-of-State 13% 5%

Campus

University of West Alabama Columbus State
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Columbus State University is larger than than University of West Alabama based on total student enrollment (7,479 students vs. 5,860 students)

University of West Alabama vs. Columbus State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of West Alabama or Columbus State?

  • University of West Alabama is 108.2% more expensive to attend than Columbus State for in-state tuition ($9,100.00 vs. $4,371.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 18% higher at University of West Alabama than Columbus State University ($18,200.00 vs. $15,425.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Columbus State University than University of West Alabama ($12,902 vs. $13,786)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of West Alabama are 54.5% lower than costs at Columbus State University ($7,820 vs. $12,080)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Columbus State University than University of West Alabama (98% vs. 89%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of West Alabama students is 1.6% larger than aid received Columbus State University ($9,291 vs. $9,147)

University of West Alabama vs. Columbus State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Columbus State University (961) is 31 points higher than at University of West Alabama (930)
  • Incoming University of West Alabama students have at the same average ACT score (20) as students at Columbus State (20)
  • Accepted freshman University of West Alabama students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.16) than students at Columbus State (3.07)
  • Columbus State has a higher acceptance rate (87.8%) than University of West Alabama (68.9%)

University of West Alabama vs. Columbus State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, University of West Alabama 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 University of West Alabama.

  • The graduation rate at Columbus State is higher than University of West Alabama (31% vs. 28%)
  • Graduates from University of West Alabama earn on average $1,100 more per year than Columbus State graduates after ten years. ($38,500 vs. $37,400)
  • Columbus State University students graduate with a $489 lower median federal student loan debt than University of West Alabama graduates. ($26,000 vs. $26,489)
  • Columbus State graduates are paying $5 less per month on federal student loans than University of West Alabama graduates. ($268 vs. $273)
  • More Columbus State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of West Alabama students, three years after graduation. (37% vs. 36%)

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