Columbus State UniversityColumbus, GA · Public

Cost & aid

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.

−15% after inflation since 2013–14

Over time

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

Cost by family income

Per year for a typical family of four with one child in college. Up to $110K it is the average price federal aid recipients paid (2023–24).

Hover, tap, or use the arrow keys to read the price at an income.

Published federal figures

View as a table

Price per year by family income
Family income	Price per year
$0–30K	$11K a year
$30–48K	$12K a year
$48–75K	$14K a year
$75–110K	$17K a year
$150K	Published data end at $110K
$200K	Published data end at $110K
$250K	Published data end at $110K
$300K	Published data end at $110K
$350K	Published data end at $110K
$400K and above	Published data end at $110K

At your income$150K a year

At $150K: Published data end at $110K

Published data end at $110K; use the college's net price calculator for a number.

Your own number depends on the details below, so use the college's calculator for it.

What can change this

Savings and investments above a typical amount raise the price. The curve assumes typical assets.
Home equity: some colleges that use the CSS Profile count it. Check this college's own aid page or calculator.

For your family's real number, use Columbus State University's . It takes about 15 minutes and uses your own income and savings.

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits

Average total cost per year, all first-years (est.)

$17,777

Tuition, housing, food, books & other expenses, after grants · 2023–24

Full price, averaged across in-state & out-of-state$25,792

− Grants, averaged over every first-year−$8,015

89% got grants averaging $9,003; 11% got none.

= Average total cost$17,777

Tuition & fees$6.7KRoom & board$11.3KBooks & supplies$1.6KOther expenses$6.2K

Compared to all colleges$17,777

National median: $24,284Below typical

Housing and food use the college's on-campus rates, so the estimate runs high where many students live at home. “Other expenses” is the college's estimate of personal and transportation costs. Loans aren't subtracted because they're repaid.

Who pays what

Received grants · 89%$12,420 averagenet price (in-state students)

No grants · 11%$24.8K / $35.9Kfull price, in-state / out-of-state

Share of first-year students, 2023–24.

Sticker price by residency

Rate	Tuition & fees		First-years
In-state	$5,751	$24,797	91%
Out-of-state	$16,805	$35,851	9%

Full cost adds books, on-campus room & board, and other expenses ($19,046) to tuition and fees.

Next year (2025–26), reported by Columbus State University

$19,090 in-state · $33,730 out-of-state before aid

Tuition, fees, and on-campus food and housing · up 12% in-state, up 20% out-of-state from 2023–24.

Show the full next-year estimate

Tuition, fees, food & housing$19,090
Books and supplies$1,760
Transportation$2,140
Other expenses$6,460
Total for a student living on campus$29,450

5.0% of full-time undergraduates at Columbus State University pay more than the published tuition because tuition varies by program.

Median debt at graduation

$26K

≈ $276/month for 10 years

Payback estimate

1.6 yrs

of median salary to cover 4 years of net price

Undergrads with a federal loan38%

National median: 45%Below typical

38% of undergrads borrow federally.

Median federal debt, by background

Everyone who borrowed and left, whether or not they graduated.

Pell Grant recipients$17,063

No Pell Grant$12,500

Family income under $30K$15,000

$30K–$75K$15,073

Over $75K$15,000

Three years into repayment

Where former undergraduates stand on their federal loans.

Paid in full5%
Paying it down12%
Payments paused47%
Not paying it down22%
Behind or in default13%
Forgiven or discharged1%

Some shares are published as a small range to protect privacy.

Who actually gets aid

Some colleges cover most of their price with grants; others cover little. Here's how generous this one is, how many students get grants, where the money comes from, and how it varies with family income.

31%of full price

Aid generosity

Moderate

Grants cover 31% of the $25,792 full price on average across all first-years (moderate), more than at 27% of colleges.

$8,015 in grants per first-year ÷ $25,792 full price.

Compared to every college31%

31%

← Limitedmore generous than 27% of 1,514Very generous →

Who gets grants and scholarships

Full-time first-year students (1,002), 2023–24

89%

Received grants or scholarships, avg $9,003 No grants

About 1 in 9 first-year students got no grant aid and paid the full sticker price of $24,797 in-state / $35,851 out-of-state.

Where the aid comes from

From the college22% · avg $6.1K

Pell Grants57% · avg $6.2K

State or local grants57%

Student loans44% · avg $6.1K

Share of first-year students receiving each; averages are per recipient.

Aid by family income

By family income: only students who received federal aid, because income is only reported for them.

Aid by family income isn't reported.

Sources:IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey, 2023–24;College Scorecard, 2023–24;College Scorecard, most recent release;Columbus State University Common Data Set 2024–25, 2025–26;IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD), 2025–26;Common Data Set, most recent releaseAbout the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)