Rust College vs. Columbia Southern University

Should I go to Rust College or Columbia Southern University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Rust College or Columbia Southern University 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.

Add a college to compare up to four schools
Rust College vs. Columbia Southern University comparison
Rust College Columbia Southern University College 3 College 4
Rust College
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Rust College Columbia Southern University
Location Holly Springs, MS Orange Beach, AL
Setting Distant Town Distant Rural
Enrollment 755 15,948
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation United Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit For-profit
Website rustcollege.edu columbiasouthern.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Rust College Columbia Southern University
Tuition (In State) $9,900 $5,880
Tuition (Out of State) $9,900 $5,880
Room & Board $5,200 $8,136
Avg Net Price $8,151 $12,366
Avg Grant Aid $8,549 $4,154
% Receiving Grant Aid 94% 42%

Admission

Rust College Columbia Southern University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,467 -
Admitted 1,943 -
Acceptance Rate 78.8% Open
Enrolled % 9.5% Open
Avg High School GPA 2.66 -
Typical High School Grades C+ -
Admissions Standards Easy Unavailable
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 17/18
SAT Range 440/1339
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline

Academics

Rust College Columbia Southern University
Student to Faculty Ratio 8:1 28:1
Popular Majors
  • Biology (20%)
  • Education (15%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Communication (12%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (35%)
  • Business (32%)
  • Engineering Technology (17%)
  • Natural Resources Conservation (4%)
  • Health Professions (3%)

Outcomes

Rust College Columbia Southern University
Graduation Rate 28% 22%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $25,100 N/A
Making Student Loan Payments 21% 46%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,837 $16,404
Median Loan Payment $287 $169

Diversity

Rust College Columbia Southern University
% Men 41% 62%
% Women 59% 38%
Racial Diversity Extremely Low High
HBCU Yes No
% White 0% 58%
% Black 97% 23%
% Hispanic 0% 7%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 3%
% International 3% 0%
% Unknown Race 0% 7%

Students

Rust College Columbia Southern University
% In-State 19% 8%
% Out-of-State 63% 90%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Columbia Southern University is larger than than Rust College based on total student enrollment (15,948 students vs. 755 students)

Rust College vs. Columbia Southern University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rust College or Columbia Southern University?

  • Rust College is 68.4% more expensive to attend than Columbia Southern University for in-state tuition ($9,900.00 vs. $5,880.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 68.4% higher at Rust College than Columbia Southern University ($9,900.00 vs. $5,880.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Rust College than Columbia Southern University ($8,151 vs. $12,366)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rust College are 56.5% lower than costs at Columbia Southern University ($5,200 vs. $8,136)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Rust College than Columbia Southern University (94% vs. 42%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rust College students is 105.8% larger than aid received Columbia Southern University ($8,549 vs. $4,154)

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

Rust College vs. Columbia Southern University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Rust College or Columbia Southern University? 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 Columbia Southern University and Rust College.

  • The graduation rate at Rust College is higher than Columbia Southern University (28% vs. 22%)
  • Columbia Southern University students graduate with a $11,433 lower median federal student loan debt than Rust College graduates. ($16,404 vs. $27,837)
  • Columbia Southern University graduates are paying $118 less per month on federal student loans than Rust College graduates. ($169 vs. $287)
  • More Columbia Southern University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rust College students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 21%)

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