Columbus State vs. Southeastern

Deciding between Columbus State University and Southeastern Louisiana University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,500 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Columbus State University
Southeastern Louisiana University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Columbus State Columbus, GA
  • Southeastern Hammond, LA
  • Setting
  • Columbus State Midsize City
  • Southeastern Distant Town
  • Enrollment
  • Columbus State 7,913
  • Southeastern 14,426
  • Type
  • Columbus State Public 4 Year
  • Southeastern Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Columbus State #1007
  • Southeastern #981
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Columbus State -
  • Southeastern -
  • Status
  • Columbus State Non-profit
  • Southeastern Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Columbus State
  • Southeastern
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Columbus State $5,898
  • Southeastern $8,373
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Columbus State $17,610
  • Southeastern $20,851
  • Room & Board
  • Columbus State $11,720
  • Southeastern $10,240
  • Average Net Price
  • Columbus State $12,420
  • Southeastern $13,116
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Columbus State $9,003
  • Southeastern $10,253
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Columbus State 89%
  • Southeastern 97%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Columbus State 3,648
  • Southeastern 6,255
  • Admitted
  • Columbus State 3,616
  • Southeastern 6,212
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Columbus State 99.1%
  • Southeastern 99.3%
  • Enrolled
  • Columbus State 31.8%
  • Southeastern 38.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Columbus State 930
  • Southeastern
  • Typical ACT score
  • Columbus State 19
  • Southeastern 21
  • Average High School GPA
  • Columbus State 3.07
  • Southeastern 3.39
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Columbus State B
  • Southeastern B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Columbus State Extremely Easy
  • Southeastern Very Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • Columbus State
  • Southeastern
  • ACT Range
  • Columbus State 16/22
  • Southeastern 19/24
  • SAT Range
  • Columbus State 800/1060
  • Southeastern
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Columbus State Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Southeastern Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • Columbus State Jun 30, 2027
  • Southeastern Aug 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Columbus State 16:1
  • Southeastern 20:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Columbus State
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (24%)
    • Business (19%)
    • Education (14%)
    • Health Professions (14%)
    • English and Literature (4%)
  • Southeastern
    • Business (27%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (21%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Education (10%)
    • Engineering Technology (4%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Columbus State 31%
  • Southeastern 33%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Columbus State $37,400
  • Southeastern $41,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Columbus State 37%
  • Southeastern 52%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Columbus State $26,000
  • Southeastern $21,272
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Columbus State $268
  • Southeastern $219
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Columbus State 8%
  • Southeastern 2%
  • % Women
  • Columbus State 15%
  • Southeastern 7%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Columbus State High
  • Southeastern Medium
  • HBCU
  • Columbus State No
  • Southeastern No
  • % White
  • Columbus State 51%
  • Southeastern 64%
  • % Asian
  • Columbus State 2%
  • Southeastern 1%
  • % Black
  • Columbus State 37%
  • Southeastern 18%
  • % Hispanic
  • Columbus State 6%
  • Southeastern 8%
  • % Native American
  • Columbus State 0%
  • Southeastern 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Columbus State 0%
  • Southeastern 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Columbus State 2%
  • Southeastern 7%
  • % International
  • Columbus State 1%
  • Southeastern 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Columbus State 0%
  • Southeastern 1%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Columbus State 92%
  • Southeastern 96%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Columbus State 7%
  • Southeastern 2%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Columbus State Yes
  • Southeastern Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Columbus State No
  • Southeastern No
  • Meal Plan
  • Columbus State Yes
  • Southeastern Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Columbus State No
  • Southeastern No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Columbus State No
  • Southeastern No

Comparable Facts

Compare Columbus State University in Columbus, GA with Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, LA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Southeastern Louisiana University is larger than Columbus State based on total student enrollment (14,426 students vs. 7,913 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Columbus State University is located in Columbus, GA (Midsize City setting); Southeastern Louisiana University is in Hammond, LA (Distant Town setting).
  • Columbus State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Southeastern Louisiana University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Columbus State University 16:1; Southeastern Louisiana University 20:1.

Columbus State vs. Southeastern Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbus State or Southeastern? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Columbus State University than Southeastern ($12,420 vs. $13,116).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southeastern Louisiana University are 12.6% lower than at Columbus State University ($10,240 vs. $11,720).
  • Southeastern Louisiana University is 42% more expensive for in-state tuition than Columbus State (about $2,475 more per year; $8,373.00 vs. $5,898.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 18.4% higher at Southeastern than at Columbus State University (about $3,241 more per year; $20,851.00 vs. $17,610.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southeastern Louisiana University than at Columbus State University (97% vs. 89%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Southeastern Louisiana University students is 13.9% larger than aid received by Columbus State University students ($10,253 vs. $9,003).

Columbus State vs. Southeastern Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Columbus State or Southeastern? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Southeastern and Columbus State.

  • Incoming Southeastern students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (21 vs. 19 at Columbus State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Columbus State University 800/1060.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Columbus State University 16/22; Southeastern Louisiana University 19/24.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Columbus State - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); Southeastern - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
  • Typical fall application deadline: Columbus State Jun 30, 2027; Southeastern Aug 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Southeastern students have a 0.32 point higher average high school GPA (3.39) than students at Columbus State (3.07).
  • Southeastern has a higher acceptance rate (99.3%) than Columbus State (99.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 31.8% at Columbus State vs. 38.8% at Southeastern.

Columbus State vs. Southeastern Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Columbus State and Southeastern? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Southeastern Louisiana University's six-year graduation rate (33%) is higher than Columbus State University's (31%).
  • Graduates from Southeastern Louisiana University earn a median of about $3,700 more per year than Columbus State graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,100 vs. $37,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Southeastern Louisiana University graduates have a $4,728 lower median loan debt than Columbus State graduates ($21,272 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, Southeastern graduates have an estimated $49 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Columbus State graduates ($219 vs. $268).
  • More Southeastern graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbus State students, three years after graduation. (52% vs. 37%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.