A college's ethnic diversity is indicated by the student body's equal inclusion of students from different backgrounds . Students at Columbia College are mainly White with a significant Black population. The school has high racial diversity. 45% percent of students are minorities or people of color (BIPOC). The ethnic breakdown is detailed in the following table.
| Race | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| White |
55%
|
| Black |
34%
|
| Hispanic |
4%
|
| Asian |
1%
|
| American Indian / Alaskan |
1%
|
| Hawaiian / Pacific Islander |
0%
|
| Two or more races |
3%
|
| International |
2%
|
| Race Unknown |
1%
|
Columbia College is a women's college. There are more female students than male students enrolled at Columbia College with a gender ratio of 85% women to 15% men. Though it is a women's college, 15.39% of the student body is male. Compared to the US average of 56% female students, Columbia College has a significantly lower gender diversity than other US colleges and is not inclusive of males.
| Gender | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| Men |
15%
|
| Women |
85%
|
| Gender | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| Men |
233
|
| Women |
1,281
|
Columbia College serves a very low number of students outside of South Carolina, with 76 percent of the student body residing in-state.
| Origin | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| In State |
76%
|
| Out of State |
22%
|
| Foreign |
2%
|
| Unknown Location |
0%
|
68% of students can be considered low-income as indicated by their receipt of Federal Pell Grant Aid.
| Segment | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| Students Over 25 Years Old | 50.3% |
| Part time Undergrads | 25.3% |
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=217934 IPEDS survey data for Columbia College.