Columbia College Demographics & Diversity

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Columbia, SC
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#9 Best Private Colleges in South Carolina

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Racial Demographics & Diversity

Racial Diversity

High

Racial Diversity Index: 58%

Racial diversity is the chance that two students chosen at random are from different racial or ethnic groups, using the U.S. Census Bureau Diversity Index. Students at Columbia College are mainly White with a significant Black population. The school has high racial diversity. 45% percent of students are minorities or people of color (BIPOC). The ethnic breakdown is detailed in the following table.

Racial demographics of Columbia College students
Race	Percent of Students
White	55%
Black	34%
Hispanic	4%
Asian	1%
American Indian / Alaskan	1%
Hawaiian / Pacific Islander	0%
Two or more races	3%
International	2%
Race Unknown	1%

Gender Demographics & Diversity

Gender Diversity

Medium

Gender Diversity Index: 31%

Columbia College is a women's college. There are more female students than male students enrolled at Columbia College with a gender ratio of 81% women to 19% men. Though it is a women's college, 19.36% of the student body is male. Compared to the US average of 56% female students, Columbia College has a moderate gender diversity compared with other US colleges.

Male to female gender ratio for Columbia College students
Gender	Percent of Students
Men	19%
Women	81%

Enrollment by gender for Columbia College students
Gender	Number of Students
Men	334
Women	1,391

Geographic Diversity

Extremely Low

Geographic Diversity Index: 16%

Columbia College draws 83 percent of students from South Carolina, 14 percent from other states, and 2 percent from other countries. Geographic diversity is the share of students from outside South Carolina, including other U.S. states and other countries.

Enrollment by geographic location for Columbia College students
Origin	Percent of Students
In State	83%
Out of State	14%
Foreign	2%
Unknown Location	1%

Economic Diversity

Median Household Income

$56,463 per year

67% of students can be considered low-income as indicated by their receipt of Federal Pell Grant Aid.

Total Enrollment

Total enrollment

1,725

Share of undergraduates by age and part-time status
Segment	Percent of Students
Students Over 25 Years Old	50.3%
Part-time undergraduates	25.3%

Data source: NCES / IPEDS https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=217934.

Racial and gender diversity ratings use the U.S. Census Bureau Diversity Index (Gini-Simpson): the probability that two students chosen at random belong to different groups. See the Census method note, Measuring Racial and Ethnic Diversity for the 2020 Census. Geographic diversity is the share of students from outside the college's home state (other U.S. states plus international). IPEDS does not publish enrollment by individual state of residence.

Last updated: August 2026