Quad

Columbus State University

Columbus, GAQuad's selectivityOpen
Known forTest-optional heavy
WebsiteAdmissionsApplyVisitFinancial aid

Updates

What changed

New and revised figures from the latest data releases, each with its year.

Published Oct 10, 2026

  • Fall 2026 applicants: Required for some applicants (fall 2024: Test-optional)Columbus State University Common Data Set 2024–25

Source:Columbus State University Common Data Set 2024–25, Fall 2026 applicantsAbout the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)

Admissions · Fall 2024

10 in 10 applicants admitted

Columbus State admits about 10 in 10 applicants (99%). That puts it in the "Open" tier, more selective than 4% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

99%

99%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityOpen

Applied

3,648

Admitted

3,616

Yield

32%

of admits enroll

Avg. GPA

3.18

SAT middle 50%

800–1060

4001600
ACT middle 50%

16–22

1236
Applications +30% since fall 2014 · admit rate 55% → 99%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A medium campus of 5,625 undergrads, where 45% receive Pell Grants, a high share compared to other colleges.

5.6K

undergrads · larger than 80% of colleges

Diversity index

0.68

Pell Grant

45%

above the median

First generation

33%

about the median

Midsize cityNCAA D-II · Peach Belt ConferenceROTCStudy abroadUndergrad research
More diverse · index 0.59 → 0.68 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (11% of graduates). 16 students for every faculty member, more than at 72% of colleges. 59% of faculty are full-time. Spends $7,245 a year on instruction per student.

16 to 1

students per faculty member · more than at 72% of colleges

Most popular major

Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse

11% of 2024–25 graduates

Top-earning major

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

$89.7K four years after completion

Full-time faculty

59%

of faculty

Instruction spending

$7.2K

per student a year

All majors with search, earnings by major, and faculty

Cost & aid · 2023–24

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $17,777 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $6.5K less than the national median. The 89% who received grants paid $12,420 on average; the other 11% paid the full sticker price of $24,797 in-state / $35,851 out-of-state.

31%

$17.8K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $6.5K below the national median

$0$110K$400K+
Full price, in-state
$24,797 a year
tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid
Published data end at $110K
use the college's net price calculator for higher incomes
Aid generosity

Moderate

grants cover 31% of full price

Federal loans

38%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits
Cost falling · −15% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $44,544 ten years after enrolling, more than at 23% of colleges; 48% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 1.6 years of that salary.

48%

48%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$44.5K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$26K

≈ $276/month for 10 years

Retention

70%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 32% → 42% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price fell 7% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid fell 15%, because grants grew faster. Applications rose 30% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 55% to 99%.

  • Cost

    Falling

    −15% after inflation

  • Applications

    Growing

    +30%

  • Selectivity

    Less selective

    admit rate 55% → 99%

  • Diversity

    More diverse

    index 0.59 → 0.68

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

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Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

  1. 1
    IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  2. 2
    College Scorecard

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Entered fall 2023; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  3. 3
    IPEDS Admissions survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  4. 4
    Columbus State University Common Data Set 2024–25

    Columbus State University · Fall 2024; Fall 2026 applicants; 2024–25; Fall 2025 cycle; 2025–26; Class of 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-05

  5. 5
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  6. 6
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  7. 7
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  8. 8
    IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12

  9. 9
    College Scorecard Field of Study data

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  10. 10
    IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  11. 11
    IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  12. 12
    Common Data Set

    Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  13. 13
    IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  14. 14
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  15. 15
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  16. 16
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  17. 17
    IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  18. 18
    IPEDS Outcome Measures survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  19. 19
    Columbus State University (2026)

    Columbus State University · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 139366 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything