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Colleges / Columbia College - South Carolina

Columbia College - South Carolina

Columbia, SC 4-Year Private
Acceptance Rate98%

Columbia College Admissions

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.

Columbia College Admissions Stats at a Glance

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

Columbia College Application Deadlines

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

Want to Apply Early to Columbia College?


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.


More on Columbia College Admissions


Transferring to Columbia College

It is not difficult to be admitted as a transfer student.

For Students Waitlisted to Columbia College

Columbia College has not reported data for waitlisted and admitted students.

What Does Columbia College Look For in an Applicant?

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.

Admissions Factors at Columbia College

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.

Columbia College 2022-2023 Application Requirements

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

GPA and Testing


What GPA Do I Need To Get Into Columbia College?

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%.

GPAs of Admitted Students

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.

Standardized Test Scores

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.

What is a Good SAT Score for Columbia College?

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.

More Information on Transferring to Columbia College

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


Columbia College Admissions FAQs


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.

Want To Learn More About Columbia College?

To learn more about Columbia College, choose from the options below:

Overview

Student Life

Academics

Tuition & Aid

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.

Columbia College Admissions Requirements

Admission Difficulty

Less Selective

98%

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.

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Columbia College Application Deadline

First-Year Applications are Due

Continuous processing

Transfer Applications are Due

Continuous processing

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

Columbia College SAT Scores

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Composite SAT Range

835 - 1110

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Math SAT Range

390 - 550

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Reading SAT Range

460 - 590

Estimated Chance of Acceptance by SAT Score

SAT Score

Estimated Chance

1110 and Above

Good

835 to 1110

Avg

835 and Less

Low

SAT Scores Needed to Get Accepted

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.

Columbia College GPA

Avg. High School GPA (non-weighted)

2.97

GPA Needed to Get Accepted

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

Quick Facts

Total Enrollment

1,514

Campus Setting

Suburban

Acceptance Rate

98%

Tuition and Fees

In State

Unknown

Out-of-State

Unknown

Fall Freshmen
Application Deadline

Continuous processing
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