Columbus State vs. AU

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

Columbus State AU
Location Columbus, GA Anderson, SC
Setting Midsize City Small City
Enrollment 7,479 4,121
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #995
Religious Affiliation - Baptist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website columbusstate.edu andersonuniversity.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Columbus State AU
Tuition (In State) $4,371 $30,860
Tuition (Out of State) $15,425 $30,860
Room & Board $12,080 $11,230
Avg Net Price $12,902 $21,633
Avg Grant Aid $9,147 $24,409
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 100%

Admission

Columbus State AU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,870 5,043
Admitted 3,398 2,289
Acceptance Rate 87.8% 45.4%
Enrolled % 30.4% 34.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.07 3.72
Typical High School Grades B A-
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Unavailable
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 16/23
SAT Range 900/1130
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 Jun 30, 2024

Academics

Columbus State AU
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (24%)
  • Business (19%)
  • Education (14%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • English and Literature (4%)
  • Education (37%)
  • Business (36%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Psychology (4%)
  • Communication (3%)

Outcomes

Columbus State AU
Graduation Rate 31% 48%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,400 $37,500
Making Student Loan Payments 37% 60%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $26,862
Median Loan Payment $268 $277

Diversity

Columbus State AU
% Men 40% 35%
% Women 60% 65%
Racial Diversity High Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 51% 83%
% Black 37% 8%
% Hispanic 6% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 1% 1%
% Unknown Race 0% 2%

Students

Columbus State AU
% In-State 92% 68%
% Out-of-State 5% 31%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Columbus State University is larger than than AU based on total student enrollment (7,479 students vs. 4,121 students)

Columbus State vs. AU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbus State or AU?

  • Anderson University is 606% more expensive to attend than Columbus State for in-state tuition ($30,860.00 vs. $4,371.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 100.1% higher at AU than Columbus State University ($30,860.00 vs. $15,425.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Columbus State University than AU ($12,902 vs. $21,633)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Anderson University are 7.6% lower than costs at Columbus State University ($11,230 vs. $12,080)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Anderson University than Columbus State University (100% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Anderson University students is 166.9% larger than aid received Columbus State University ($24,409 vs. $9,147)

Columbus State vs. AU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Anderson University (1078) is 117 points higher than at Columbus State (961)
  • Incoming AU students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at Columbus State (20)
  • Accepted freshman AU students have a 0.65 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at Columbus State (3.07)
  • Columbus State has a higher acceptance rate (87.8%) than AU (45.4%)

Columbus State vs. AU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Columbus State 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 Columbus State.

  • The graduation rate at AU is higher than Columbus State University (48% vs. 31%)
  • Graduates from Anderson University earn on average $100 more per year than Columbus State graduates after ten years. ($37,500 vs. $37,400)
  • Columbus State University students graduate with a $862 lower median federal student loan debt than AU graduates. ($26,000 vs. $26,862)
  • Columbus State graduates are paying $9 less per month on federal student loans than AU graduates. ($268 vs. $277)
  • More AU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbus State students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 37%)

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