Columbia College vs. AU

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

 Columbia College AU
Location Columbia, SC Danville, VA
Setting Midsize City Small City
Enrollment 1,514 1,363
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #913 #661
Religious Affiliation United Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website columbiasc.edu averett.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Columbia College AU
Tuition (In State) $21,250 $37,640
Tuition (Out of State) $21,250 $37,640
Room & Board $8,400 $11,360
Avg Net Price $18,779 $23,781
Avg Grant Aid $16,089 $26,246
% Receiving Grant Aid 97% 100%

Admission

 Columbia College AU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,176 2,324
Admitted 2,135 1,767
Acceptance Rate 98.1% 76%
Enrolled % 8.9% 14.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.56 3.07
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 14/18 16/22
SAT Range 850/1140 850/1170
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline

Academics

 Columbia College AU
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (20%)
  • Psychology (12%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Human Services (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (7%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)

Outcomes

 Columbia College AU
Graduation Rate 50% 41%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $34,700 $48,400
Making Student Loan Payments 43% 51%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,264 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $261 $258

Diversity

 Columbia College AU
% Men 15% 48%
% Women 85% 52%
Racial Diversity High High
HBCU No No
% White 55% 58%
% Black 34% 33%
% Hispanic 4% 4%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 0%
% International 2% 4%
% Unknown Race 1% 0%

Students

 Columbia College AU
% In-State 76% 46%
% Out-of-State 22% 45%

Campus

 Columbia College AU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Columbia College is larger than than AU based on total student enrollment (1,514 students vs. 1,363 students)

Columbia College vs. AU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbia College or AU?

  • Averett University is 77.1% more expensive to attend than Columbia College for in-state tuition ($37,640.00 vs. $21,250.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 77.1% higher at AU than Columbia College ($37,640.00 vs. $21,250.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Columbia College than AU ($18,779 vs. $23,781)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia College are 35.2% lower than costs at Averett University ($8,400 vs. $11,360)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Averett University than Columbia College (100% vs. 97%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Averett University students is 63.1% larger than aid received Columbia College ($26,246 vs. $16,089)

Columbia College vs. AU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Columbia College (971) is 58 points higher than at AU (913)
  • Incoming Columbia College students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (21) than students at AU (20)
  • Accepted freshman Columbia College students have a 0.49 point higher average high school GPA (3.56) than students at AU (3.07)
  • Columbia College has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than AU (76%)

Columbia College vs. AU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Columbia College or AU? 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 AU and Columbia College.

  • The graduation rate at Columbia College is higher than Averett University (50% vs. 41%)
  • Graduates from Averett University earn on average $13,700 more per year than Columbia College graduates after ten years. ($48,400 vs. $34,700)
  • Averett University students graduate with a $264 lower median federal student loan debt than Columbia College graduates. ($25,000 vs. $25,264)
  • AU graduates are paying $3 less per month on federal student loans than Columbia College graduates. ($258 vs. $261)
  • More AU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia College students, three years after graduation. (51% vs. 43%)

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