Columbia International University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Columbia, South Carolina. It enrolls 716 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Fair
43/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes18
Value6
Affordability40
Selectivity16
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 94.5%, Columbia International University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
94.5%
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Columbia International University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
49.7 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Columbia International University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $26,036 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$26,036
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
34%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
46%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$27,900
Room & Board (on-campus)
$11,950
Room & Board (off-campus)
$9,020
Books & Supplies
$1,200
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,280
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,080
Total Cost of Attendance
$43,045
Application fee: $25 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$21,955
$30,001 – $48,000
$25,644
$48,001 – $75,000
$23,535
$75,001 – $110,000
$28,722
Over $110,000
$29,751
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,50010%percentile
$6,25025%percentile
$20,000Medianpercentile
$26,00075%percentile
$32,50090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $10,500
↓ $9,500
No Pell $10,375
↓ $9,625
Dependent students $12,000
↓ $8,000
Independent students $9,500
↓ $10,500
Female students $10,890
↓ $9,110
Male students $9,500
↓ $10,500
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,590, less than completers ($20,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
56% of full-time students who enrolled at Columbia International University graduate within six years, and 61% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
56%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
61%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Columbia International University earn a median of $38,951 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$38,951
Earning > $25K
66%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$22,700
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$41,500
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$28,500
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$30,700
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$34,800
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $18,800, about 45% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
22.0 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 89% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Columbia International University is home to 716 students, a small, close-knit community.
Total Enrolled
716
Part-Time
8%
First-Generation
24%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 62.4%447
Black 19.6%140
International 5.3%38
Other 5.0%36
Asian 2.2%16
Hispanic 0.3%2
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Columbia International University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Midsize CityColumbia, South Carolina
Housing
Mostly residential400 beds on campus
Adult Learners
16%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Columbia International University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
50 distinct programs across
12 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Columbia International University is 13:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
13:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$72M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$54,883
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
52 instructional faculty across 3 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
22
42%
$58,211
Associate Professors
29
56%
$53,863
Assistant Professors
1
2%
$54,900
Pros & Cons of Columbia International University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Columbia International University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Reasonable class sizes
Tight-knit, close community feel
CONS
Above-average net price
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
First-year retention is below typical
Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
Best for:
Based on the data, Columbia International University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Columbia International University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Columbia International University.
Is Columbia International University hard to get into?
Columbia International University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 94.5%.
What is the acceptance rate at Columbia International University?
Columbia International University has an acceptance rate of 94.5%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Columbia International University cost?
The average net price after aid at Columbia International University is $26,036 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Columbia International University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $38,951 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $26,036 per year. That's roughly 1.5x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Columbia International University known for?
Columbia International University is best known for its programs in Curriculum & Instruction, Business Administration, Theology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Columbia International University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Columbia International University are $38,951, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Columbia International University accredited?
Yes. Columbia International University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Columbia International University?
Columbia International University enrolls 716 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Columbia International University?
Columbia International University graduates 56% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Columbia International University a public or private college?
Columbia International University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Columbia International University located?
Columbia International University is located in Columbia, South Carolina.
What programs does Columbia International University offer?
Columbia International University offers 50 distinct programs. The most popular include Curriculum & Instruction, Business Administration, Theology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Columbia International University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Columbia International University is 13:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in South Carolina
Other colleges in South Carolina share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
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Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
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