Columbia International vs South University-Columbia

Columbia International University and South University-Columbia, both located in South Carolina, offer distinct educational experiences. Columbia International University, a private Christian university, boasts a lower acceptance rate and a smaller student body, fostering a close-knit community. South University-Columbia, a private for-profit university, offers a wider range of programs, including graduate degrees, and attracts a more diverse student population. While both universities offer competitive graduation rates, Columbia International University's graduates tend to pursue careers in ministry and education, while South University-Columbia's graduates often enter healthcare and business fields. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more key differences and make an informed decision about which university aligns best with your academic goals and personal preferences.

	Columbia International University	South University-Columbia
Overview
Location	Columbia, South Carolina	Columbia, South Carolina
Campus setting	City: Midsize	Suburb: Large
College type	4 year	4 year
Control/business model	Private (Non Profit)	Private (For Profit)
Calendar system	Semester	Quarter
Degrees offered	Undergraduate and Graduate	Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate	64.0%	25.0%
Common app member	No	No
Religious affiliation

Admission
Acceptance rate	45.6%	Open Admission
Application fees	Undergraduate: $25 Graduate: $25
SAT range	940 - 1135	N/A
ACT range	17 - 24	N/A
Students submitting SAT score	39.0%
Students submitting ACT score	21.0%
Total number of applicants	526
Total number of admissions given out	240
Admitted students who chose to enroll	176
Yield rate	73.3%
Test scores (SAT/ACT)	N/A	Not required
High school GPA	Required	N/A
Recommendation letters	Not required	N/A
High school transcript	Not required	N/A
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL)	Required	N/A

Tuition and Fees
Sticker price	$38,700	$33,088
Average net price	$20,088	$19,249
Tuition	$24,490	$16,920
Room & board	$8,950
Available payment plans	Tuition payment plan	Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid
Students receiving financial aid (Grants & scholarships)	96.0% Average amount $17,706	80.0% Average amount $6,127
Students receiving federal student loan	66.0% Average amount $5,128	60.0% Average amount $4,278
Students taking out private loans	7.0% Average amount $9,004	0.0% Average amount $0

Students and Campus
Undergraduate students	905 Men 46.2% Women 53.8%	486 Men 14.2% Women 85.8%
Graduate students	1,433 Men 47.6% Women 52.4%	139 Men 26.6% Women 73.4%
Racial/ethnic diversity	Moderate	Low
Out-of-state students	47.6%	N/A
International students	14.2%	0.5%
Campus local/setting	City: Midsize	Suburb: Large
Dormitory capacity	400	N/A
First year students are required to live on campus?	No	N/A
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from	South Carolina Florida North Carolina Georgia Texas	N/A

Academics
Popular study areas	Theology Education Business Psychology Liberal Arts	Health Professions Business Law Enforcement and Firefighting Psychology Public Administration and Social Service
Students to faculty ratio	16:1	12:1
Institutional accreditation	Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges	Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Outcome
Graduation rate	62.1%	13.3%
Dropout rate	16.8%	83.3%
Transferred out	19.0%	N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)	Theology and Religious Vocations, Other (First Professional Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $28,960 Year 3: $43,723 Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (First Professional Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $30,119 Year 3: $33,137 Bible/Biblical Studies (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $27,420 Year 2: $24,421 Year 3: $25,579 Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: N/A Year 3: $23,982 Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $21,964 Year 3: $23,347 Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $24,035 Year 3: N/A Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (First Professional Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $33,993 Year 3: N/A Intercultural/Multicultural and Diversity Studies (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $24,421 Year 3: N/A Theological and Ministerial Studies (First Professional Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $35,420 Year 3: N/A Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $23,351 Year 3: N/A	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Graduate/Professional Certificates) Year 1: $90,641 Year 2: $98,736 Year 3: $102,466 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $90,832 Year 2: $91,613 Year 3: $98,023 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $65,499 Year 2: $66,883 Year 3: $71,557 Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $46,002 Year 2: $42,799 Year 3: $48,444 Information Science/Studies (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $39,831 Year 2: $44,418 Year 3: $46,834 Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services (Associate's Degrees) Year 1: $39,095 Year 2: $43,489 Year 3: $45,357 Health and Medical Administrative Services (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $43,629 Year 2: $45,207 Year 3: $44,849 Public Administration (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $41,016 Year 2: $41,007 Year 3: $43,418 Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $37,748 Year 2: $39,986 Year 3: $42,014 Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $38,224 Year 2: $36,598 Year 3: $39,039

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Columbia International vs South University-Columbia

Columbia International University

South University-Columbia

Overview

Admission

Tuition and Fees

Financial Aid

Students and Campus

Academics

Outcome

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