VSU vs. Columbia Southern University

Should I go to Valdosta State University or Columbia Southern University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if VSU or Columbia Southern University 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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Valdosta State University vs. Columbia Southern University comparison
Valdosta State University Columbia Southern University College 3 College 4
Valdosta State University
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Overview

VSU Columbia Southern University
Location Valdosta, GA Orange Beach, AL
Setting Small City Distant Rural
Enrollment 10,209 15,948
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #982
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit For-profit
Website valdosta.edu columbiasouthern.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

VSU Columbia Southern University
Tuition (In State) $4,371 $5,880
Tuition (Out of State) $15,426 $5,880
Room & Board $8,922 $8,136
Avg Net Price $12,836 $12,366
Avg Grant Aid $9,875 $4,154
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 42%

Admission

VSU Columbia Southern University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,975 -
Admitted 4,451 -
Acceptance Rate 89.5% Open
Enrolled % 25.3% Open
Avg High School GPA 3.23 -
Typical High School Grades B -
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Unavailable
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 17/21
SAT Range 950/1130
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline Jun 15, 2025

Academics

VSU Columbia Southern University
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 28:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (21%)
  • Education (17%)
  • Health Professions (10%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (35%)
  • Business (32%)
  • Engineering Technology (17%)
  • Natural Resources Conservation (4%)
  • Health Professions (3%)

Outcomes

VSU Columbia Southern University
Graduation Rate 43% 22%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $40,300 N/A
Making Student Loan Payments 41% 46%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $16,404
Median Loan Payment $258 $169

Diversity

VSU Columbia Southern University
% Men 31% 62%
% Women 69% 38%
Racial Diversity High High
HBCU No No
% White 51% 58%
% Black 36% 23%
% Hispanic 5% 7%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 3% 0%
% Unknown Race 0% 7%

Students

VSU Columbia Southern University
% In-State 69% 8%
% Out-of-State 30% 90%

Campus

VSU Columbia Southern University
Campus Housing Yes No
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes No
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Columbia Southern University is larger than than VSU based on total student enrollment (15,948 students vs. 10,209 students)

VSU vs. Columbia Southern University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, VSU or Columbia Southern University?

  • Columbia Southern University is 34.5% more expensive to attend than VSU for in-state tuition ($5,880.00 vs. $4,371.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 162.3% higher at VSU than Columbia Southern University ($15,426.00 vs. $5,880.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Columbia Southern University than VSU ($12,366 vs. $12,836)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia Southern University are 9.7% lower than costs at Valdosta State University ($8,136 vs. $8,922)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Valdosta State University than Columbia Southern University (99% vs. 42%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Valdosta State University students is 137.7% larger than aid received Columbia Southern University ($9,875 vs. $4,154)

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

VSU vs. Columbia Southern University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, VSU or Columbia Southern University? 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 Southern University and VSU.

  • The graduation rate at VSU is higher than Columbia Southern University (43% vs. 22%)
  • Columbia Southern University students graduate with a $8,596 lower median federal student loan debt than VSU graduates. ($16,404 vs. $25,000)
  • Columbia Southern University graduates are paying $89 less per month on federal student loans than VSU graduates. ($169 vs. $258)
  • More Columbia Southern University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former VSU students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 41%)

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