Columbia College vs Columbia International

Columbia College and Columbia International University, while sharing the "Columbia" name, are distinct institutions with unique characteristics. Columbia College, located in South Carolina, boasts a higher acceptance rate, making it a more accessible option for students. It offers a diverse range of undergraduate programs, with popular majors including Business, Education, and Nursing. Columbia International University, situated in Georgia, has a lower acceptance rate and a smaller student body, fostering a more intimate learning environment. It excels in Business and Biblical Studies programs, attracting students seeking a faith-based education. Both institutions offer competitive graduation rates, ensuring that students are well-prepared for their future careers. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more distinctions between these two institutions and make an informed decision about which one aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.

	Columbia College	Columbia International University
Overview
Location	Columbia, South Carolina	Columbia, South Carolina
Campus setting	City: Midsize	City: Midsize
College type	4 year	4 year
Control/business model	Private (Non Profit)	Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system	Semester	Semester
Degrees offered	Undergraduate and Graduate	Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate	54.0%	64.0%
Common app member	Yes	No
Religious affiliation	Methodism

Admission
Acceptance rate	98.6%	45.6%
Application fees		Undergraduate: $25 Graduate: $25
SAT range	N/A	940 - 1135
ACT range	N/A	17 - 24
Students submitting SAT score		39.0%
Students submitting ACT score		21.0%
Total number of applicants	1,278	526
Total number of admissions given out	1,260	240
Admitted students who chose to enroll	210	176
Yield rate	16.7%	73.3%
Test scores (SAT/ACT)	N/A	N/A
High school GPA	Required	Required
Recommendation letters	Not required	Not required
High school transcript	Required	Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL)	Required	Required

Tuition and Fees
Sticker price	$41,142	$38,700
Average net price	$20,520	$20,088
Tuition	$20,080	$24,490
Room & board	Room/dormitory: $4,120 Meal plan: $4,200	$8,950
Available payment plans	Tuition payment plan	Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid
Students receiving financial aid (Grants & scholarships)	98.0% Average amount $13,663	96.0% Average amount $17,706
Students receiving federal student loan	77.0% Average amount $6,081	66.0% Average amount $5,128
Students taking out private loans	3.0% Average amount $10,833	7.0% Average amount $9,004

Students and Campus
Undergraduate students	1,065 Men 15.2% Women 84.8%	905 Men 46.2% Women 53.8%
Graduate students	324 Men 12.7% Women 87.3%	1,433 Men 47.6% Women 52.4%
Racial/ethnic diversity	Moderate	Moderate
Out-of-state students	15.0%	47.6%
International students	0.6%	14.2%
Campus local/setting	City: Midsize	City: Midsize
Dormitory capacity	618	400
First year students are required to live on campus?	No	No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from	South Carolina Georgia Florida North Carolina Alabama	South Carolina Florida North Carolina Georgia Texas

Academics
Popular study areas	Education Law Enforcement and Firefighting Business Health Professions Liberal Arts	Theology Education Business Psychology Liberal Arts
Students to faculty ratio	11:1	16:1
Institutional accreditation	Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges	Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Outcome
Graduation rate	54.4%	62.1%
Dropout rate	16.3%	16.8%
Transferred out	29.4%	19.0%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)	Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services, Other (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $46,087 Year 3: $51,609 Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $44,941 Year 2: N/A Year 3: $48,181 Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $42,123 Year 3: $42,584 Education, Other (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $40,920 Year 2: $40,792 Year 3: $41,966 Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $31,802 Year 2: $33,993 Year 3: $40,157 Social Work (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $31,014 Year 2: $30,926 Year 3: $35,159 Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $28,598 Year 3: $33,769 Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $31,329 Year 2: $30,305 Year 3: $32,187 Behavioral Sciences (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $25,194 Year 3: $31,896 Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $27,946 Year 2: $22,192 Year 3: $27,013	Theology and Religious Vocations, Other (First Professional Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $28,960 Year 3: $43,723 Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (First Professional Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $30,119 Year 3: $33,137 Bible/Biblical Studies (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $27,420 Year 2: $24,421 Year 3: $25,579 Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: N/A Year 3: $23,982 Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $21,964 Year 3: $23,347 Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $24,035 Year 3: N/A Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (First Professional Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $33,993 Year 3: N/A Intercultural/Multicultural and Diversity Studies (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $24,421 Year 3: N/A Theological and Ministerial Studies (First Professional Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $35,420 Year 3: N/A Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $23,351 Year 3: N/A

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