Columbia College - South Carolina

Usually, college tuition goes up about 3% every year.

If this information makes going to college sound impossible, remember, the advertized cost of tuition does not always give you enough information to determine the actual cost of attending any given college. Many students pay way less than the total tuition after grants, scholarships, and tuition discounts are applied. Plus, student loans can make theactual cost of attending college more manageable until you're done with college.

Columbia College meets 62% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates. The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student at Columbia College is around $17,874 a year.

In 2020, students graduated with an average of $11,426 in student loans for each student with debt.

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

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

Public schools receive funds from the state to help them cover costs. Public insitutions often offer a lower cost of attendance for students who are residents of that state.

Choosing a college where you qualify for in-state residency can cut the cost of college tuition. Be sure to verify your state's eligibility criteria for in-state tuition. 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

Tuition for International Students at Columbia College

Tuition at Columbia College is the same for each student.

International students usually do not qualify for for loans or grants from the U.S. government, but may qualify for private or school-specific grants, scholarships, and other funding opportunities. International students with need may qualify for the following types of financial support at Columbia College:

•On-campus jobs •Loans from outsideColumbia College •Athletic Awards •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 Housing Expenses, Fees, and More

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In addition to the cost of tuition, there are other costs associated with college, like room and board, facility fees, and books and supplies. Let's take a look at what impacts these costs, and what to expect at Columbia College.

Room and Board Costs at Columbia College

Meal-plan costs can depend on the number of meals you intend to eat on-campus

Cost of Books at Columbia College

The cost of books often surprises first-year college students. The actual cost of books depends on the courses you take and the materials required. To save money, many students choose to use books from the library or buy books from students who have already taken the course.

Yearly Fees

The majority of colleges charge some yearly fees to offsets cost associated with maintaining facilties, like the library, gym and computer labs.

There may be additional fees associated with participating in certain activities, like Greek Life, or participating in sports or other extracurriculars. Most colleges have resources so that those who may struggle to participate because of cost can get help covering these fees.

Transportation costs

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 walkable? Do you own a car, or are you planning to use public transportation? All of these questions can drastically impact your estimated cost of transportation. Keeping in mind, first-year students are allowed to park a car 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 other hand getting around in a city could be costly, but there may be more trains, busses and affordable flights to actually get to school. The Columbia College campus is in a suburb in South Carolina.

Other Costs

When budgeting for college, be sure to leave some room in your budget for personal expenses, like movies, takeouts, furniture or appliances for your dorm or housing, and essentials like laundry detergent, toothpaste and toilet paper.

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Financial Breakdown for Columbia College

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Now, let’s go over all of the costs we've covered, to get a better idea of the actual cost of attending Columbia College.

Total Cost of Columbia College

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

2023 Total Tuition and Expenses

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

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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Columbia College Financial Aid

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The majority of Columbia College undergrads use financial aid to to cover the cost of tuition. In 2023, 680 of the 1,173 undergrads enrolled received financial aid. Columbia College meets 62% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates.

The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student is around $17,874 a year. Around 87% 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 $11,426 of student loan debt.

The average debt for each loan type varies.

Average Debt By Loan Type
Federal Loans	$10,926
State Loans	$11,250
Private Loans	$2,804

Most Common Loans for Columbia College Students
Federal Loans	87%
State loans	2%
Private loans	8%

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 2023, Columbia College awarded 640 need-based scholarships to students, giving away total of $8.4 million to help students with financial need cover the cost of school. An additional $1.31 million 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 $17,874 in 2023. 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.

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 make more informed decisions about 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 does not have guaranteed tuition.

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

Columbia College Tuition Waivers

Schools sometimes offer tuition waivers to certain groups, to make attending more affordable. Some colleges offer tuition waivers for faculty, staff, and their families , underrepresented students, or military students. Even if you qualify for a waiver, other expenses and fees are the responsibility of the student.

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.

Columbia College's Endowment

An endowment is the total value of a school's investments, donations, and assets. Endowment is not necessarily an indicator of the quality of a school, but it can give you a sense of how much money a college can afford to invest in expanding programs, improving facilities, and supporting students.

As of 2022, the total market value of Columbia College's endowment was $20.3 million. The average college endowment was $905 million in 2021. For each full-time student, Columbia College spends about $9,258 a year.

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Learn More About Columbia College

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