Columbus State University : Overview, Courses, Scholarships & Rankings
About Columbus State University
In downtown Columbus, the Chattahoochee edges a riverfront campus where studios and labs meet galleries and coffee shops. Columbus State University is known for hands-on learning in the arts, sciences, business, health, and education. Facilities include modern classrooms, performance venues, a university space science center with a planetarium, plus tutoring, advising, counseling, and a responsive career team.
Student life feels active and welcoming. Intramurals and club sports, concerts and exhibits, and quick access to whitewater, kayaking, and a long riverwalk keep weekends full. The culture blends creative energy with practical grit, supported by a nearby military community and regional employers that offer internships and real projects, while the walkable downtown adds food, music, and history without the big city hassle. Cougar pride shows up at homecoming and packed performances.
Key Institutional Details
Contact & Profile
Academic & Institutional
Academic Programs & Fields of Study
Columbus State University offers 65 degree programs across 20 major academic fields, graduating approximately 1,596 students annually. The most popular fields by graduate volume are Education (15 programs, 276 graduates), Security & Safety (2 programs, 221 graduates), Health (4 programs, 207 graduates), Business (8 programs, 204 graduates) and Computer & IT (4 programs, 162 graduates). Explore program details, award levels, and graduate demographics below.
Education (15 programs, 276 graduates)
Educational Sciences, Teaching Methods and Pedagogy
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary Education | 90 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
|
13.1202 |
| Special Education Teaching | 27 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
|
13.1001 |
| Drama and Dance Education | 27 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
|
13.1324 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development | 23 |
|
Master's
|
13.1299 |
| Educational Leadership and Administration | 20 |
|
Master's
|
13.0401 |
| Middle School Education and Teaching | 17 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
|
13.1203 |
| Education, General | 16 |
|
Doctorate (R)
|
13.9999 |
| Secondary Education and Teaching | 15 |
|
Master's
|
13.1205 |
| School Counseling and Guidance | 11 |
|
Master's
|
13.1101 |
| Music Teacher Education | 9 |
|
Bachelor's
|
13.1312 |
| Physical Education Teaching and Coaching | 8 |
|
Master's
|
13.1314 |
| Special Education Administration | 5 |
|
Master's
|
13.0402 |
| Art Education | 3 |
|
Bachelor's
|
13.1302 |
| English as a Second Language (ESL) Teaching | 3 |
|
Other Award
|
13.1401 |
| Early Childhood Education | 2 |
|
Bachelor's
|
13.1210 |
Security & Safety (2 programs, 221 graduates)
Emergency Management, Law Enforcement and Public Safety
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Criminal Justice and Safety Studies | 208 |
|
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Bachelor's
Master's
|
43.0104 |
| Protective Services | 13 |
|
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
43.9999 |
Health (4 programs, 207 graduates)
Healthcare Professions, Medical Sciences and Clinical Practice
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | 114 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
|
51.3801 |
| Family Practice Nursing | 89 |
|
Master's
|
51.3805 |
| Public Health | 3 |
|
Master's
|
51.2201 |
| Medical Informatics | 1 |
|
Postbac Cert.
|
51.2706 |
Business (8 programs, 204 graduates)
Business Administration, Marketing and Entrepreneurship
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business and Management Services | 68 |
|
Master's
|
52.9999 |
| Business Administration | 38 |
|
Bachelor's
|
52.0101 |
| Business Administration and Management | 38 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
|
52.0201 |
| Finance, General | 21 |
|
Bachelor's
|
52.0801 |
| Marketing Management | 18 |
|
Bachelor's
|
52.1401 |
| Accounting | 15 |
|
Bachelor's
|
52.0301 |
| Management Information Systems | 5 |
|
Bachelor's
|
52.1201 |
| Human Resources Management | 1 |
|
Postbac Cert.
|
52.1001 |
Computer & IT (4 programs, 162 graduates)
Computer Science, Information Technology and Cybersecurity
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences | 108 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Other Award
|
11.0101 |
| Information Systems Security and Auditing | 30 |
|
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
11.1003 |
| Information Technology | 20 |
|
Bachelor's
|
11.0103 |
| Web and Digital Multimedia Design | 4 |
|
Other Award
|
11.0801 |
Arts (10 programs, 121 graduates)
Fine Arts, Design Studies and Creative Performance
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Music Performance | 44 |
|
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
50.0903 |
| Theatre Arts | 16 |
|
Bachelor's
|
50.0501 |
| Cinematography and Film Production | 16 |
|
Associate's
Other Award
|
50.0602 |
| Drawing | 16 |
|
Bachelor's
|
50.0705 |
| Art Studies | 11 |
|
Bachelor's
|
50.0701 |
| Musicology and Ethnomusicology | 9 |
|
Other Award
|
50.0905 |
| Music | 5 |
|
Bachelor's
|
50.0901 |
| Art History and Conservation | 2 |
|
Bachelor's
|
50.0703 |
| Film and Media Studies | 1 |
|
Other Award
|
50.0601 |
| Jazz Studies | 1 |
|
Other Award
|
50.0910 |
Communication (2 programs, 72 graduates)
Media Communications, Journalism and Public Relations
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Communication and Media Studies | 65 |
|
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
09.0100 |
| Communication Management and Strategic Communication | 7 |
|
Master's
|
09.0909 |
Social Sciences (4 programs, 68 graduates)
Sociology, Anthropology and Political Science Studies
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sociology | 33 |
|
Bachelor's
|
45.1101 |
| Social Sciences | 22 |
|
Master's
|
45.9999 |
| Political Science and Government | 10 |
|
Bachelor's
|
45.1001 |
| Geographic Information Science and Cartography | 3 |
|
Other Award
|
45.0702 |
Biological Sciences (1 programs, 55 graduates)
Life Sciences, Biotechnology and Biomedical Research
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biology and Biological Sciences | 55 |
|
Bachelor's
|
26.0101 |
Psychology (1 programs, 41 graduates)
Psychological Sciences, Mental Health and Behavioral Studies
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Psychology | 41 |
|
Bachelor's
|
42.0101 |
Admission Requirements & Test Scores
Comprehensive overview of admission criteria, standardized test score ranges, and application requirements for prospective students at Columbus State University.
Application Requirements
Data based on IPEDS for 2022-2023 academic year. Test score ranges represent the middle 50% of admitted students (25th-75th percentile). Requirements may vary by program.
Tuition, Fees & Estimated Costs
Overview of tuition rates, housing, and other annual education expenses for undergraduate and graduate students
Financial Aid & Student Support
Summary of scholarships, grants, student loans, and financial aid statistics for undergraduate students
Student Success Metrics
Graduation rates and post-graduation earnings to help assess student outcomes and long-term value of education.
Loan Burden & Repayment Outcomes
Breakdown of loan repayment rates and student debt levels by income and dependency status.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Columbus State University
How much does it cost to attend Columbus State University?
The annual tuition at Columbus State University is $5,751 for in-state students and $16,804 for out-of-state students. When including room and board, books, and other expenses, the total estimated cost is approximately $24,797 for in-state students and $35,850 for out-of-state students. Additional costs include room and board $11,262 (on) / $10,122 (off) and books and supplies $1,600.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2022-2023 academic year. Tuition and cost estimates are approximate and may not include all fees, personal expenses, or transportation costs.
What academic programs and degree levels does Columbus State University offer?
Columbus State University offers 65 academic programs across 20 major fields of study, with available degree levels: Certificate (1-2 yrs), Associate's, Bachelor's, Postbac Cert., Master's, Post-Master's, Doctorate (Research), Other Award.
Most popular program areas include:
- Educational Sciences, Teaching Methods and Pedagogy (15 programs)
- Emergency Management, Law Enforcement and Public Safety (2 programs)
- Healthcare Professions, Medical Sciences and Clinical Practice (4 programs)
- Business Administration, Marketing and Entrepreneurship (8 programs)
- Computer Science, Information Technology and Cybersecurity (4 programs)
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated, not all offered programs.
What is the acceptance rate for Columbus State University?
Columbus State University has an 99.2% acceptance rate and a 30.7% yield rate, making it moderately selective.
Admission statistics breakdown:
- Total applicants: 3,550
- Students admitted: 3,523
- Students enrolled: 1,083
Data based on IPEDS for 2022-2023 academic year. Admission statistics may vary by program and application cycle.
What financial aid and scholarships are available at Columbus State University?
Columbus State University provides financial aid to 16% of first-time, full-time students, with average grants of $8,299 and average loans of $6,036.
Average financial aid amounts by type:
- Pell grants: $5,699
- State/Local grants: $5,020
- Institutional grants: $6,556
- Federal loans: $5,049
The university supports 927 students with grants and 500 students with loans annually.
Data based on IPEDS for 2022-2023 academic year. Financial aid amounts and percentages may vary by program, enrollment status, and individual circumstances.
What is the average salary for Columbus State University graduates?
Columbus State University graduates earn a median salary of $39,190 after 6 years and $44,544 after 10 years.
The salary range 10 years after graduation spans from $27,521 (25th percentile) to $62,748 (75th percentile), with top earners reaching $69,100 (90th percentile).
Data based on IPEDS for 2022-2023 academic year. Salary data reflects graduates who received federal financial aid (approximately 60% of all graduates). Actual earnings may vary significantly based on program, location, and individual circumstances.
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