- Acceptance rate: 94% for fall 2024
- Average net price: $23,920 a year (2022–23)
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Columbia College reported an acceptance rate of 94% for fall 2024.
Weighted GPAs above 4.0 can't be compared directly. Many colleges recalculate on their own scale, so use your unweighted GPA here.
A guide based on reported data, not a prediction. Columbia College reviews each application.
Columbia College GPA requirements
Columbia College doesn't consider high school GPA when it decides on first-year applicants, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Columbia College acceptance rate
Columbia College admitted 2,474 of 2,634 first-year applicants for fall 2024, an acceptance rate of 94%, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
Columbia College is a private nonprofit 4-year college in Columbia, South Carolina, with 1,391 undergraduates.
Admission requirements
What Columbia College looks at when it decides on first-year applicants, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024:
| Admission factor | Status |
|---|---|
| Essay or Personal StatementA personal statement or essay written for your application. | Required |
| High School RecordYour transcript: the courses you took and the grades you earned. | Considered if submitted |
| RecommendationsLetters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, or other mentors. | Considered if submitted |
| Work ExperiencePaid or volunteer work. | Considered if submitted |
| High School GPAYour cumulative high school grade point average. | Not considered |
| High School Class RankYour ranking relative to other students in your graduating class. | Not considered |
| College Preparatory ProgramCompletion of a college preparatory curriculum in high school. | Not considered |
| Test ScoresSAT or ACT scores. | Not considered |
| Other TestsOther admission tests, such as the Wonderlic or WISC-III. | Not considered |
| Demonstration of CompetenciesEvidence of specific skills through portfolios, auditions, or other demonstrations. | Not considered |
| Legacy StatusWhether a parent or other relative attended the college. | Not considered |
Columbia College didn't report SAT or ACT scores for its fall 2024 first-year students.
AP credit
Columbia College awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
It doesn't award credit for life experience.
Average net price
First-time, full-time undergraduates who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average net price of $23,920 a year at Columbia College in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
Net price is the full cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Frequently asked questions
How selective is Columbia College?
Not very selective: at least 3 in 4 applicants got in. Columbia College admitted 94% of first-year applicants for fall 2024.
What is Columbia College's acceptance rate?
Columbia College's acceptance rate was 94% for fall 2024: it admitted 2,474 of 2,634 first-year applicants, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education.
What GPA do you need to get into Columbia College?
Columbia College doesn't consider high school GPA in admission, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Does Columbia College require the SAT or ACT?
No. Columbia College doesn't consider SAT or ACT scores, even if you send them (test blind), according to its filing with the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
How important is GPA for getting into Columbia College?
Not as a number: Columbia College requires essay or personal statement. It considers high school record, recommendations and work experience if you send them. It doesn't consider high school GPA, high school class rank, college preparatory program, test scores, other tests, demonstration of competencies and legacy status. That's what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Can you get college credit for AP scores at Columbia College?
Yes. Columbia College awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
Does Columbia College consider legacy status?
No. Columbia College doesn't consider whether a parent or other relative attended, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Does Columbia College ask for a personal statement?
Yes. Columbia College requires a personal statement or essay from first-year applicants, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
How much does Columbia College cost after financial aid?
First-time, full-time undergraduates who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average of $23,920 a year at Columbia College in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Before you apply, check Columbia College's official admissions site: requirements can differ by program and change from year to year.
Sources
- College Navigator: Columbia CollegeU.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS (2024–25 provisional data): admissions, test scores and admission factors for fall 2024, undergraduate enrollment for fall 2024, net price for 2022–23 and credit policies for 2024–25.
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