It is not difficult to get into Columbia College. Columbia College admitted 98% of all applicants in 2022. Out of 2,175 applications received in 2023, 2,134 students were offered admission.
If you want to apply to Columbia College, there is no application fee, which means it is free to apply.
Here is an overiew of some of Columbia College's admissions stats.
Columbia College 2023 | Admissions Statistics |
---|---|
Mean Unweighted GPA | 3.0 |
Admitted Students in Top 10% of Graduating Class | 5% |
Mean SAT Score | 1030 |
Admissions Test Policy | Test Optional |
Applicants Who Submit SATs | 7% |
Applicants Who Submit ACTs | 6% |
Waitlist | No |
These are the application deadlines for Columbia College.
Application Type | Offered | Application Deadline | Notification Deadline |
---|---|---|---|
Early Decision I | No | – | – |
Early Decision II | – | – | – |
Early Action | No | – | – |
Columbia College does not offer early decision or early action.
➡️ See a list of some selective colleges that admit significantly more applicants during early decision or early action than during regular admission.
It is not difficult to be admitted as a transfer student.
Columbia College has not reported data for waitlisted and admitted students.
Colleges consider a range of factors when choosing who to admit for their next incoming class. Each college has a different way of determining which factors are given the most weight when choose which applicants to admit, and which to deny. When assembling your list of schools to apply to, you may want to consider your strengths and any possible weaknesses in your application, and apply to colleges that put the most emphasis on the areas where you're strong.
What does Columbia College consider during the admissions process? Take a look at the list below to see which factors are most important during the admissions process.
Admissions Factor | Level |
---|---|
Class Rank | Very Important |
Recommendation(s) | Very Important |
Level of Applicant's Interest | Very Important |
Academic GPA | Very Important |
Rigor of Secondary School Record | Very Important |
Character/Personal Qualities | Important |
Extracurricular Activities | Important |
Talent/Ability | Important |
Volunteer Work | Important |
Work Experience | Important |
Alumni/ae Relations | Considered |
Application Essay | Considered |
Interview | Considered |
Standardized Test Scores | Considered |
Make sure to check with Columbia College for more information on admission factors.
To apply to Columbia College, all applicants must submit the following items. Make sure to check in with Columbia College's admissions department to confirm all application materials and requirements.
Area | Required | Recommended | Required for Some | Details (If Any) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Written Essay or Personal Statement | – | √ | – | – |
Interview | – | – | √ | – |
Minimum High School GPA (On 4.0 Scale) | 2.0 | – | – | |
Transcript of High School Record | √ | – | – | – |
Students admitted to Columbia College have an average unweighted GPA of 3.0.
Out of all students that were admitted, 78% submitted a class rank. At Columbia College 5% of students ranked in the top 10% of their graduating class in high school, 19% were in the top 25% and 49% were in the top 50%.
At Columbia College, student GPAs fall in the following ranges.
GPA | Percent of Students |
---|---|
4.0 GPA | 1% |
3.75 and 3.99 | 7% |
3.50 and 3.74 | 14% |
3.25 and 3.49 | 14% |
3.00 and 3.24 | 12% |
2.50 and 2.9 | 31% |
2.00 and 2.49 | 14% |
This chart depicts the percentage of all enrolled, degree-seeking, first-time, first year (freshmen) students who had high school grade point average within the given ranges.
Note: Some schools choose not release this information. If you have any questions regarding missing numbers, be sure to reach out to Columbia College directly.
About GPAs
Your high school grade point average (GPA) is a number that reflects your high school academic performance. A weighted GPA or an unweighted GPA are the two possible GPA scores considered by colleges.
An unweighted GPA is an average of your scores from each class on a four-point scale. Unweighted GPAs range from 4.0 to under 1.0. A weighted GPA considers your average grade and the difficulty of your classes. A weighted GPA boosts your average by adding extra points for honors or Advanced Placement courses.
Columbia College is a test optional school. Test optional schools allow students to choose if they want to submit ACT or SAT scores with their applications or not.
In 2022, 7% of Columbia College's first-year students submitted their SAT scores with their application. 6% of admitted applicants sent ACT scores.
To be competitive with other Columbia College applicants, you should aim to score between 835 and 1110 (or higher!) on the SAT. At Columbia College 25% of admitted students scored higher than 1110 and 25% of scored lower than 835, but the majority of students scored somewhere in between these two numbers.The mean composite SAT score for a Columbia College student is 1030.
On the SAT Math Section, 25% of Columbia College students scored 550 or higher and 75% of students scored 460 or higher. On the SAT Critical Reading section (formerly called the Verbal section), 25% of Columbia College students scored 590 or higher, and 75% scored a 460 or higher.
To be most competitive at Columbia College, you should strive to earn between 14 and 18 on the ACT.
An ACT score of 18 means you fall in the 75th percentile for Columbia College's admitted students. One out of every four students scored above a 18, and three out of four students scored lower than 18 on the ACT.
A 14 on the ACT is the 25th percentile for Columbia College students. Only one out of every four students scored below 14.
For transfer students, it is not difficult to get admitted to Columbia College. Transfer applications are processed on a on a rolling basis as they are received.
Transfer students can enroll in Columbia College during the following terms:
• Fall Term
• Winter Term
• Spring Term
• Winter Term
• Summer Term
Can I defer my acceptance to Columbia College?
❌ Students who are admitted to Columbia College must attend in the term they start. Deferring admissions is not encouraged. If you have a unusual circumstance, contact the admissions department.
Does Columbia College accept transfer credits?
✅ Columbia College accepts eligible transfer credits from accredited institutions. Columbia College accepts:
• CLEP subject tests • DSST/DANTES • Excelsior College Examinations
Does Columbia College accept Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) credits?
✅ Columbia College accepts International Baccalaureate credits (IB) credits.
Do I have to submit test scores to Columbia College?
❌ No, Columbia College is test optional, so it's up to you if you want to submit test scores or not. If your scores are higher than the school's average, you should strongly consider submitting them. If you scored lower than a school's average, you may want not want to include them in your application.
What is Columbia College's acceptance rate?
✅ Columbia College's acceptance rate is 98%.
What is the early decision acceptance rate at Columbia College?
❌ Columbia College does not offer early decision.
To learn more about Columbia College, choose from the options below:
See what others are saying about Columbia College in the College Confidential forums
Explore other colleges in South Carolina or use the college admissions predictor to calculate your chances of getting into some of the top colleges and universities in the U.S.
Admission Difficulty
How hard is it to get into Columbia College? Columbia College is a less selective institution. The Columbia College acceptance rate is 98%. This means that the institution accepts 98 out of every 100 applicants.
First-Year Applications are Due
Transfer Applications are Due
The deadline for Fall first-year applications to Columbia College is Continuous processing.
The deadline for Fall transfer applications to Columbia College is Continuous processing.
Check the school website for more information about deadlines for specific programs or special admissions programs
Composite SAT Range
Math SAT Range
Reading SAT Range
SAT Score
Estimated Chance
1110 and Above
835 to 1110
835 and Less
The median SAT score for Columbia College students is 1030. Applicants with SAT scores of 1110 and above have a good chance of being admitted to Columbia College, while applicants with SAT scores between 835 to 1110 have an average chance of admittance, and prospective students with an SAT score below 835 have a low chance of being offered a spot at Columbia College.
Avg. High School GPA (non-weighted)
At Columbia College, the average unweighted high-school GPA for admitted students is 2.97. This is the average, which means that some applicants submit GPAs lower than this and some applicants submit GPAs above this level. If your GPA falls below the average, strong test scores or other qualifications may help you make you a more competitive applicant.
Data Source: IPEDs and Peterson's Databases © 2022 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved
Total Enrollment
Campus Setting
Acceptance Rate
Fall Freshmen
Application Deadline
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