Columbus State University
Columbus, Georgia · Public · 5,625 undergraduates · columbusstate.edu
Test policy (fall 2027)
Test optional
Sending scores is your choice
Admit rate
99%
of 3,651 applicants
SAT (middle 50%)
800 to 1030
of enrolled freshmen
Annual cost (2027-28)
$31,180Est.Estimate
$46,890 out of state
Your chances and merit aid at Columbus State University
See where you stand for admission, how much merit aid you could get, and what you'd pay after it.
We started you at a typical enrolled freshman here. Move the sliders to match you.
Your admission chances
99% of applicants admitted
Target
Your SAT is inside the range where the middle half of enrolled freshmen scored, and your GPA is in the middle half of freshmen's.
Estimated merit aid
a year
Your cost after merit aid
$46,890
a year in 2027-28, from a $46,890 sticker price (out of state)
What to do with your 930
Send your score
Your SAT is at or above the median of freshmen who sent scores (930).
Reach, target and likely are a rough guide from your test score and how selective the college is. Admissions also weigh your courses, grades, essays and activities. Merit aid figures are estimates, before any need-based aid.
Admissions
Test policy for fall 2027
Test optional
You choose whether to send an SAT or ACT score. If you send one, it's considered.
- If your GPA is below 3.0, you must send a score.
- CLT scores accepted in addition to SAT/ACT beginning in the Fall 2027 semester
Source: First-Time Freshmen Undergraduate Admissions - Columbus State University · Checked October 17, 2026
Application deadlines
- Apr15Priority deadline · April 15, 2027Apply by this date for the best chance at admission and scholarships.
- Jun30Regular Decision · June 30, 2027The standard deadline.
- Jul15Other deadline · July 15, 2027
Who gets in
99%
of applicants were admitted: 3,617 of 3,651 for fall 2024.
Test scores of enrolled freshmen (fall 2024)
The shaded part shows the middle half of enrolled freshmen who sent scores: a quarter scored below it and a quarter above. 13% of them sent SAT scores and 12% sent ACT scores.
SAT total 800 to 1030
Reading and Writing 440 to 530
Math 360 to 530
ACT composite 16 to 22
How enrolled freshmen scored on the SAT
- 1400 to 16001%
- 1200 to 13995%
- 1000 to 119926%
- 800 to 99944%
- 600 to 79924%
- 400 to 5991%
Source: Common Data Set 2024-25
High school GPA of enrolled freshmen
Average GPA: 3.18
- 4.06%
- 3.75 to 3.9911%
- 3.50 to 3.7412%
- 3.25 to 3.4915%
- 3.00 to 3.2428%
- 2.50 to 2.9919%
- Below 2.509%
Cost and financial aid
The sticker price is what a year costs before any aid. Most students pay less after grants and scholarships.
Sticker price for 2027-28Estimate
$31,180
a year, in state
$46,890
a year, out of state (tuition $21,650)
- Tuition (in state)$5,940
- Fees$1,490
- Food and housing$12,780
- Books and supplies$1,860
- Transportation and other$9,110
Columbus State University published $29,450 in state for 2025-26. Its 2027-28 prices aren't out yet.
Source: Common Data Set 2024-25
What families actually pay
What a year cost on average after grants and scholarships, for freshmen who got federal aid in 2023-24 (in-state students), by family income.
- $0 to $30,000$14,389
- $30,001 to $48,000$14,258
- $48,001 to $75,000$15,353
- $75,001 to $110,000$18,899
- Over $110,000$20,226
Financial aid
56%
of a student's financial need is covered, on average
$9,726
average need-based grant to freshmen, money you don't repay
6.9%
of freshmen got merit aid without financial need, $2,252 on average
Source: Common Data Set 2024-25
Merit scholarships
Awards for grades and scores, on top of need-based aid. You don't repay them.
Georgia programs for residents
HOPE Scholarship
State program · In-state students
Tuition at HOPE rate. 2026-27 examples: UGA $334.47/credit hour ($5,017/semester at 15 hrs); Emory (private) $2,985/semester full-time, $1,493 half-time
- 1160+ SAT or 24+ ACT, Ineligible HS graduate / unaccredited home study / HSE: test-only pathway; graduate from an ineligible high school, unaccredited home study, or HSE diploma; manual evaluation
Zell Miller Scholarship
State program · In-state students
100% of standard undergraduate tuition (public up to 15 hrs; private up to 12 hrs). 2026-27 examples: UGA $5,067/semester for 7-15 hrs; Emory (private) $2,985/semester full-time, $1,493 half-time
- 3.70+ GPA, 1200+ SAT or 25+ ACT, Eligible HS graduate / accredited home study: GPA + test pathway; at least 4 full rigor credits from the Academic Rigor Course List
- 1340+ SAT or 29+ ACT, Ineligible HS graduate / unaccredited home study: test-only pathway; graduate from an ineligible high school or complete an unaccredited home study program; manual evaluation
Compare awards across colleges with the merit aid calculator.
AP credit
AP exams that earn credit can replace college courses, so you pay for fewer of them and may graduate sooner.
AP exams that earn credit
36 of 36
Earn credit with a score of 3
24 exams
A 3-credit course is worth
about $590Est.Estimate
at 2027-28 tuition for in-state students
Credit for each AP exam
| Exam | Score needed | Credits | Counts as |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-D Art and Design | 4 | 3 | ARTS 1020 |
| 3-D Art and Design | 4 | 3 | ARTS 1030 |
| Art History | 4 | 3 | ARTH 1100 |
| Biology | 3 | 4 | BIOL 1215K |
| Biology | 4 | 4 | BIOL 1107K |
| Calculus AB | 3 | 4 | MATH 1131 |
| Calculus BC | 3 | 8 | MATH 1131 & 1132 |
| Chemistry | 3 | 3 | CHEM 1212 |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 5 | 3 | CHIN 2*** |
| Comparative Government and Politics | 3 | 3 | POLS 2**** |
| Computer Science A | 3 | 4 | CPSC 1302K |
| Computer Science Principles | 3 | 3 | CPSC 1105 |
| Drawing | 4 | 3 | ARTS 1010 |
| English Language and Composition | 3 | 3 | ENGL 1101 |
| English Language and Composition | 5 | 6 | ENGL 1101 & 1102 |
| English Literature and Composition | 3 | 3 | ENGL 1101 |
| English Literature and Composition | 5 | 6 | ENGL 1101 & 1102 |
| Environmental Science | 4 | 3 | ENVS 1105 |
| European History | 4 | 3 | HIST 2*** |
| French Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | FREN 1001 |
| French Language and Culture | 4 | 6 | FREN 1001 & FREN 1002 |
| German Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | GERM 1001 |
| German Language and Culture | 4 | 6 | GERM 1001 & GERM 1002 |
| Human Geography | 3 | 3 | GEOG 2*** |
| Italian Language and Culture | 5 | 12 | ITAL 1001, 1002, 2001 & 2002 |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 3 | 6 | JAPN 1001 & 1002 |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 4 | 9 | JAPN 1001, 1002, & 2001 |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 5 | 12 | JAPN 1001, 1002, 2001 & 2002 |
| Macroeconomics | 3 | 3 | ECON 2105 |
| Microeconomics | 3 | 3 | ECON 2106 |
| Music Theory | 3 | 3 | MUSC 2*** |
| Physics 1 | 4 | 4 | PHYS 1111 & PHYS 1311 |
| Physics 2 | 5 | 8 | PHYS 1111, PHYS 1311, PHYS 1112 & PHYS 1312 |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 5 | 4 | PHYS 1112 & 1312 |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 4 | 4 | PHYS 1111 & 1311 |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 5 | 4 | PHYS 1111 & PHYS 1311 or PHYS 2211 & PHYS 2311 |
| Pre-Calculus | 3 | 3 | MATH 1113 |
| Psychology | 3 | 3 | PSYC 1101 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 3 | 6 | SPAN 1001 & SPAN 1002 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 4 | 9 | SPAN 1001, SPAN 1002 & SPAN 2001 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 5 | 12 | SPAN 1001, 1002, 2001 & 2002 |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 3 | 6 | SPAN 1001 & 1002 |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 4 | 9 | SPAN 1001, SPAN 1002 & SPAN 2001 |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 5 | 12 | SPAN 1001, SPAN 1002, SPAN 2001 & SPAN 2002 |
| Statistics | 3 | 3 | STAT 1401 |
| United States Government and Politics | 3 | 3 | POLS 1101 |
| United States History | 3 | 3 | HIST 2111 |
| World History: Modern | 3 | 3 | HIST 1112 |
Source: AP credit policy
After college
Graduate within 6 years
42%
Come back for a second year
70%
Typical earnings
$49,706
a year, 10 years after starting here
- Columbus State University$95,945
- All colleges$90,887
Median yearly earnings of graduates five years after finishing a bachelor's in this major. 22 majors here have earnings data.
Keep exploring
Figures marked Estimate are our estimates, not numbers the college published. Check each college's own site before you apply. SAT is a trademark of College Board, and ACT is a trademark of ACT, Inc. Sharp is not affiliated with either, or with Columbus State University. The Columbus State University logo is a trademark of the college.