Columbia College

In 2022, tuition for full-time students at Columbia College was $20,450 a year.

Tuition increased 17.41% in 2022–from $17,418 the previous year. Usually, college tuition rises about 3% year.

Remember, the total cost of tuition isn't the final cost for attending college. Many students find the actual cost of college is way less than the sticker price after grants, scholarships, and tuition discounts are awarded. And, student loans can make the amount you do have to pay out of pocket more manageable until you're done with college.

Does Columbia College Offer In-State and Out-of-State Tuition?

Columbia College is a private, religious institution, which means it has the same tuition for residents of South Carolina as it does for residents from other states.

Public schools receive funds from the state to help them cover costs. Public, state schools can offer lower tuition for students who meet the requirements for in-state residency.

Choosing a college where you qualify for in-state residency can cut the cost of college tuition. Don't forget to verify your state's requirements for in-state residency. Each state has different requirements to qualify as in-state resident. In many states, students must have lived in the state for 12 months before starting school to qualify for in-state tuition. There may be other criteria too, depending on where you live.

Explore other South Carolina colleges

Do International Students Pay More to Go to Columbia College?

Tuition at Columbia College is the same for each student.

Students from outside of the U.S. usually do not qualify for for federal financial aid, but should research private or school-specific aid and scholarships. International students who demonstrate financial need may be eligible for the following types of financial support at Columbia College:

•Columbia College-specific scholarships

International students without financial need may be eligible for merit-based institutional scholarships and athletic awards.

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Columbia College Living Expenses, Fees, and More

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Tuition is not the only cost of attending college; room and board, books, transportation and fees are also costs it consider when planning for college. Let's take a look at what impacts these costs, and what to expect at Columbia College.

Room and Board Costs at Columbia College

Room and board at Columbia College costs $8,400 a year. This covers the cost of living in dorms or other on-campus housing, and a meal plan that enables you to eat in the school dining halls. Students who do not live on-campus but still want to use the dining facilities can choose to be on a meal plan. The cost of board-only is $5,990.

Meal-plan costs may vary depending on the numnber of meals you intend to eat on-campus

How Much Do Books Cost at Columbia College?

First-year students are sometimes surprised by how much books and supplies cost–and not in a good way. The actual cost of books and supplies depends on the courses you take and what kinds of books and materials they require. To save money, many students choose to use books from the library or buy books from students who have already taken the course.

Annual Fees

The majority of colleges also have fees to help cover the cost of facilties, like the library, gym and computer labs.

There may be other costs associated with participating in certain activities, like Greek Life, or participating in sports or other extracurriculars. Most colleges offer resources for students who may struggle to participate because of cost can get help covering these costs.

The Cost of Transportation at Columbia College

The total cost of transportation in college depends on a few key factors. Will you take a subway, car or an airplane to get to school? Is on-campus parking free, or will you need to budget for parking? Is the campus easy to get around on foot? Do you own a car, or are you planning to use public transportation? All of these questions can drastically impact your transportation budget. At Columbia College, freshman are allowed to park on campus.

A school's location can also have a big effect on transportation costs. Small, rural schools may be easier to get around, but the cost of getting to campus may be higher. On the flip side, transportation in a city is often costly, but cities may offer more trains, busses or affordable flights to actually get to school. Columbia Collegeis located in a suburban setting in South Carolina.

Other Costs

When estimating your budget for college, don’t forget to factor in the cost of things like going out to eat or see shows, furnishing your living space, and things like haircuts, clothes and, yes, even toilet paper and shampoo.

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Financial Breakdown for Columbia College

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Now, let’s look at the breakdown of all expenses, to get a better estimate of what is really costs to go to Columbia College.

How Much Does Columbia College Cost?

What will the cost of attending Columbia College be? Here is a breakdown of tuition and expenses.

2022 Total Tuition and Expenses
Tuition	$20,450
Room and Board	$8,400
Board Only	$5,990
Other expenses	$5,358

The total estimated cost will vary depending on whether you are going to live on-campus or off-campus.

Total Estimated Costs
On-Campus	$36,248
Off-Campus	$33,838

The breakdowns above provide a good estimate of the total cost of attendance before financial aid and scholarships. Tuition and fees may vary depending on program, course level, location, and more.

Columbia College’s tuition and fees change based on: •Campus location for full-time and part-time students •Class time for both full and part-time students

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Financial Aid at Columbia College

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The majority of Columbia College undergrads use financial aid to finance their education. In 2022, 553 of the 1,065 undergrads enrolled received financial aid. Columbia College meets 73% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates.

The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student is around $18,944 a year. Around 78% of Columbia College undergrads take out student loans to cover any remaining costs. Columbia College graduates who have student loans graduate with an average of $26,206 of student loan debt.

The average debt for each loan type varies.

Average Debt By Loan Type
Federal Loans	$25,081
State Loans	$10,357
Private Loans	$10,431

Most Common Loans for Columbia College Students
Federal Loans	77%
State loans	8%
Private loans	3%

Most students take out institutional or government loans, because they tend to have lower interest rates and more flexible repayment options than private loans. Loans from the federal government can be subsidized or unsubsidized. Subsidized loans do not accrue interest during school, while unsubsidized loans begin accruing interest at the time the loan is issued. If students do no qualify for enough federal loans to cover the cost of tuition, some take out private loans. Parents can also take out ParentPLUS loans, which are government loans for parents who are helping their children pay for college.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) helps colleges determine how much financial need students and their familes have, so they can offer a financial aid package that meets, or come close to meeting, their need. For more information on Columbia College financial aid, keep reading, or visit their financial aid website.

Scholarships at Columbia College

Some students may receive grants and scholarships to help pay for college. Unlike loans, scholarships and grants do not have to be paid back.

In 2022, Columbia College awarded 539 need-based scholarships to students, giving away total of $6.2 million to help students with financial need cover the cost of school. An additional $660000 thousand in merit-based scholarship money was awarded to students without demonstrated financial need.

Net Cost of Columbia College

The net price of college is the actual cost of attending a school for one year. Net cost is calculated by subtracting any scholarships, grants or other aid that does not need to be paid back from the total cost. Student loans are not part of the calculation, because they need to be repaid.

Now that we have a sense of the total estimated costs for Columbia College students, we can subtract the average financial aid package to find the estimated net cost. Net cost can vary depending on a students’ need and the financial aid award received.

When considering whether a school fits your budget, it is important to consider the estimated net cost, not just the sticker price of tuition. Often, schools with the highest tuition also offer the most generous aid packages, so estimate your net cost before eliminating a school because it does fit your budget.

The average amount of financial aid received by a full-time first year student with demonstrated need at Columbia College was $18,944 in 2022. By substracting the average financial aid package from the estimated costs, we get a number that may make the cost of Columbia College seem more manageable.

Estimated Net Cost for Full-Time Students
On-Campus	$17,304
Off-Campus	$14,894

What will attending Columbia College really cost you? The answer depends on several factors.

As of 2011, colleges are required to have a net price calculator on their website to help prospective students and their families get a better idea of the actual cost of attending that school, based on their financial situation. You can find the Columbia College's net cost calculator on their website.

Columbia College Tuition Payment Plans

Some students choose to use payment plans to make the cost of tuition fit more comfortably in their budget.

Columbia College offers an Installment Payment Plan, which allows students to pay tuition in a series of smaller chunks instead of one lump sum.

Does Columbia College Offer Tuition Waivers?

Schools sometimes waiver tuition for certain groups, to offset the cost of attending. Some schools offer tuition waivers for employees and their family members, underrepresented students, or military students. Even if you qualify for a waiver, students are usually responsible for housing, meal plans, and other expenses.

Columbia College has some full or partial tuition waivers available for: - Employees or Children of Employees

Check the financial aid website for more information on payment plans and tuition waivers.

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Learn More About Columbia College

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