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Columbus State University

CSU

Columbus, Georgia 31907-5645

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Campus Vibe

Mid-SizeUrbanPublic

Known for health sciences — excellent value

Columbus State University is a public institution in Columbus with particular strength in health sciences and business. With an average SAT of 994, the school attracts a broad applicant pool.

A mid-sized campus of 5.5K undergraduates with a 18:1 student-faculty ratio. The urban location puts students at the center of city life.

42% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $44,544 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $11,889.

Established
1958
Motto
Primus inter pares
Mascot
Cody Cougar
Type
Public university
Conference
Ohio Valley Conference
Division
Division II

Plan Your Visit

99%Acceptance
994SAT Avg
5,537Students
18:1Student:Faculty
42%Grad Rate
$44,544Earnings 10yr
$11,889Net Price

News & Alerts

program2026-03-15

Columbus State University Launches New Data Science Minor

Starting Fall 2026, students can pursue an interdisciplinary data science minor combining CS, statistics, and domain courses.

tuition2026-02-28

Tuition Increase Announced for 2026-27

The board of trustees approved a 3.2% tuition increase for the upcoming academic year, in line with peer institutions.

Admissions

Acceptance Rate99.2%

SAT Score Ranges

Average: 994

Reading & WritingMid: 505
460570
MathMid: 495
400530

ACT Score Range

CompositeMid: 21
1724

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard / IPEDS.

Admissions Intel

Acceptance Rate

99.2%

Trend

SAT Avg

994

Yield Rate

35.0%

Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition (in-state)$5,751
Tuition (out-of-state)$16,805
Room & Board$11,262
Books & Supplies$1,600
Total Cost of Attendance$19,953
Average Net Price$11,889
Median Debt at Graduation$26,000
Monthly Payment (10yr)$276

Net Price by Family Income

$0–30K$10,370
$30–48K$10,797
$48–75K$13,287
$75–110K$15,598
$110K+$15,428

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Net price reflects most recent cohort of federally-aided undergraduates.

Debt & Aid Detail

Net Price Trend

Tuition Trend

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

58.3%

Avg Tuition Increase

3.2%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$15,000

Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

41

Peer Average

37

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

Campus police, emergency alert system, blue-light phones

Incident Breakdown (2024)

11

Burglary

2

Aggravated Assault

1

Robbery

4

Motor Vehicle Theft

4

Sex Offenses

0

Arson

11

Drug Arrests

8

Liquor Arrests

Source: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety & Security data (Clery Act, 2024 reporting year).

Programs (87)

Student Life

Student Satisfaction

Retention Rate

73%

Negative
  • 73% first-year retention rate
  • Active student organizations
  • Engaged campus community

Mental Health Services

Counselor Ratio

1:350

24/7 Crisis Line

Yes

Free Sessions

12 per year

Avg Wait

5 days

Walk-in hours available weekdays

Disability Services

Dedicated OfficeOffice of Disability Services
Extended test timeNote-taking assistanceHousing accommodationsAccessible transportation

ADA-compliant campus with ongoing accessibility improvements

Dining

Rating

★★★★☆

Score

4/5

Meal Plan

$6,200/yr

VegetarianVeganGluten-freeHalalKosher

Multiple dining halls with farm-to-table options

Student Body

Undergrads
5,537
Gender Split
58% / 42%
Women / Men
First Generation
33%
Pell Grant Recipients
44%

Race & Ethnicity

White 41%
Black 38%
Hispanic 9%
Asian 3%
Two+ 5%
Int'l 1%

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate41.7%
Freshman Retention72.7%

Median Earnings After Graduation

6 Years$39,190
10 Years$44,544

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings reflect federally-aided students 6 and 10 years after entry.

Rankings

U.S. News
#64
vs 2024

More About This School

History & Fun Facts

  • History The university was first called Columbus College when it opened as a junior college in a former hosiery mill in 1958.
  • The college was staffed by fifteen faculty and staff and almost three hundred students attended courses in the first year.
  • Columbus College relocated to the midtown area in 1963, building a campus defined by modern architecture on what was previously a dairy farm.
  • The school was granted four-year status in 1965 with offerings of bachelor's and master's degrees.

Source: Wikipedia

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

112Above Average

Housing and food costs are higher than national average

Climate (School Year)

68°
Sep
55°
Oct
42°
Nov
30°
Dec
25°
Jan
28°
Feb
38°
Mar
50°
Apr
62°
May
Snowfall: 48"Sunny days: 200Rainy days: 120

Nearest Cities

Bostonpop. 675,647
90 miles(95 min)
Hartfordpop. 121,054
60 miles(70 min)

Transit Scores

BikeableCampus shuttle: Free campus shuttle runs 7am-midnight
72
Walk Score
45
Transit Score
68
Bike Score

Local Economy

Unemployment Rate3.2%
Top Employers
UniversityRegional Medical CenterTech corridor firms
Key Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnology

Getting There

Nearest Airports

ATL Atlanta84 mi
BHM Birmingham128 mi
JAX Jacksonville237 mi

Distance to Cities

Boston, MA1019 mi · ~29h 26m drive
New York, NY829 mi · ~23h 57m drive
Hartford, CT929 mi · ~26h 50m drive
Providence, RI983 mi · ~28h 24m drive
Albany, NY929 mi · ~26h 50m drive
Syracuse, NY872 mi · ~25h 11m drive
Rochester, NY837 mi · ~24h 11m drive
Buffalo, NY790 mi · ~22h 49m drive
Philadelphia, PA749 mi · ~21h 38m drive
Pittsburgh, PA613 mi · ~17h 43m drive
Harrisburg, PA699 mi · ~20h 12m drive
Newark, NJ824 mi · ~23h 48m drive
Washington, DC626 mi · ~18h 5m drive
Baltimore, MD661 mi · ~19h 6m drive
Atlanta, GA92 mi · ~2h 39m drive
Charlotte, NC301 mi · ~8h 42m drive
Raleigh, NC426 mi · ~12h 18m drive
Miami, FL547 mi · ~15h 48m drive
Orlando, FL346 mi · ~10h drive
Tampa, FL348 mi · ~10h 3m drive
Nashville, TN274 mi · ~7h 55m drive
New Orleans, LA351 mi · ~10h 8m drive
Richmond, VA549 mi · ~15h 52m drive
Chicago, IL664 mi · ~19h 11m drive
Detroit, MI687 mi · ~19h 51m drive
Minneapolis, MN971 mi · ~28h 3m drive
St. Louis, MO516 mi · ~14h 54m drive
Kansas City, MO706 mi · ~20h 24m drive
Indianapolis, IN507 mi · ~14h 39m drive
Columbus, OH527 mi · ~15h 13m drive
Cleveland, OH647 mi · ~18h 41m drive
Milwaukee, WI746 mi · ~21h 33m drive
Dallas, TX690 mi · ~19h 56m drive
Houston, TX645 mi · ~18h 38m drive
Austin, TX770 mi · ~22h 15m drive
San Antonio, TX830 mi · ~23h 59m drive
Los Angeles, CA1918 mi · ~55h 25m drive
San Francisco, CA2134 mi · ~61h 39m drive
San Diego, CA1868 mi · ~53h 58m drive
Seattle, WA2207 mi · ~63h 45m drive
Portland, OR2191 mi · ~63h 18m drive
Denver, CO1222 mi · ~35h 18m drive
Phoenix, AZ1570 mi · ~45h 21m drive
Salt Lake City, UT1592 mi · ~45h 59m drive
Honolulu, HI4476 mi · ~129h 18m drive
Southern (mild winters, hot summers)

Visit Planning

Suggested Itinerary

9:00 AMArrive & park
Visitor parking lot
Free parking with visitor pass
9:30 AMCheck in at Admissions
Admissions Office
10:00 AMInformation session
Welcome Center
45 minutes
11:00 AMCampus tour
Starts at Welcome Center
75 minutes, student-led
12:30 PMLunch
Main Dining Hall
Visitor meal passes available
1:30 PMDepartment visit
Academic buildings
Schedule with department directly
2:30 PMExplore campus independently
Library, student center, residence halls

Airport Transit

Atlanta (ATL)84 miles
Rental car
126 min$40-60/day
Shuttle/rideshare
168 min$101-168
Birmingham (BHM)128 miles
Rental car
192 min$40-60/day
Shuttle/rideshare
256 min$154-256

Deadline Calendar

Columbus State University Application Checklist

Decision Notifications

Columbus State University — v2 Preview — TourStack