Freshman Admission Requirements

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Entrance Difficulty

Moderately Difficult: More than 75% of freshmen were in the top 50% of their high school class and scored over 1010 on the SAT I or over 18 on the ACT; about 85% or fewer of all applicants accepted.

High School Preparation

High School Graduation

High school diploma required and GED is accepted

High School Program

 

High School Units Required or Recommended

High School Units Required or Recommended

Subject	Required Units	Recommended Units
English		4
Mathematics		3
Science		2
Foreign Language		2
Social Studies		2
History		1
Academic Electives		2

Examinations

Examinations

Exam	Required Units	Scores Due in Admissions Office
SAT or ACT	Considered if submitted	July 1
SAT Only
ACT Only
SAT and SAT Subject Tests, or ACT
SAT Subject Tests Only	Not used if submitted
SAT Essay Component Policy	Accepted with or without essay component
ACT Writing Test Policy	Accepted with or without writing component
ACT Writing Test Policy	SAT: Not used ACT: Not used

Applying for Admission

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Admissions Office

Address

1301 Columbia College Drive

City, State, Zip

Columbia, SC 29203-5998

Phone

(803) 786-3871

Fax

(803) 786-3674

E-mail

admissions@columbiasc.edu

Application Dates and Fees

Regular Admisson Deadline

May 1

Application Fee

No fee required

Application Fee Waiver

Available

Regular Admission Notification

Not reported

Accept Offer of Admission

By May 1 or within 4 weeks if notified after May 1

Waiting List Used

No

Defer Admission

Student cannot defer admission

Transfer Admission

Transfer applications accepted

Early Admission

Early Decision Offered

No

Early Decision Deadline

 

Early Decision Notification

 

Early Action Offered

No

Early Action Deadline

 

Early Action Notification

 

Application Form

Common Application

Accepted

Universal College Application

Not accepted

Electronic Application

Available

Other Application Requirements

Interview

Not Required

Essay or Personal Statement

Recommended for all freshmen

Letters of Recommendation

 

Other

 

Financial Need

Financial need is not a consideration in the admissions process

Selection of Students

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Selection of Students

Factor	Very Important	Important	Considered	Not Considered
Rigor of Secondary School Record	X
Academic GPA	X
Standardized Tests			X
Class Rank	X
Recommendations	X
Essay			X
Interview			X
Level of Applicant's Interest	X
Extracurricular Activities		X
Volunteer Work		X
Particular Talent/Ability		X
Character/Personal Qualities		X
First Generation to Attend College				X
State Residency				X
Geographic Residence				X
Relation with Alumnus			X
Religious Affiliation/Commitment				X
Ethnicity				X
Work Experience		X

Profile of Fall Admission

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Overall Admission Rate

87% of 880 applicants were admitted

Women

87% of 880 applicants were admitted

Men

Not reported

Students Enrolled

189 (25%) of 764 admitted students enrolled

Women

173 (23%) of 764 admitted students enrolled

Men

16 admitted students enrolled

Early Decision Admission Rate

 

Early Action Admission Rate

 

Students Offered Wait List

 

Students Accepting Wait List Position

 

Students Admitted From Wait List

 

Grade Point Average of Enrolled Freshmen (4.0 scale)

Average GPA

3.72

3.75 and Above

56%

3.50 - 3.74

12%

3.25 - 3.49

14%

3.00 - 3.24

8%

2.50 - 2.99

9%

2.00 - 2.49

1%

SAT Scores of Enrolled Freshmen

SAT Math

460-540 range of middle 50%

Score of 700 - 800

0%

Score of 600 - 700

3%

Score of 500 - 600

47%

Score of 400 - 500

41%

Score of 300 - 400

9%

Score of 200 - 300

0%

SAT EBRW

520 average
490-580 range of middle 50%

Score of 700 - 800

0%

Score of 600 - 700

16%

Score of 500 - 600

50%

Score of 400 - 500

25%

Score of 300 - 400

9%

Score of 200 - 300

0%

ACT Scores of Enrolled Freshmen

ACT Composite

20 average
17-21 range of middle 50%

Score of 30 - 36

3%

Score of 24 - 29

14%

Score of 18 - 23

56%

Score of 12 - 17

27%

Score of 6 - 11

0%

Score of 5 or Below

0%

Other Qualifications of Enrolled Freshmen

High School Class Rank

Top tenth: 9%
Top quarter: 34%
Top half: 72%

National Merit Scholar

Not reported

Valedictorian

Not reported

Class President

Not reported

Student Government Officer

Not reported

Tuition and Expenses

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Cost of Attendance

$33,170

Tuition and Fees

$19,500

Room and Board

$7,900

Books and Supplies

$1,182

Other Expenses

$4,438

Payment Plans

Installment plan

Applying for Financial Aid

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Financial Aid Office

Email

Web Site

Financial Aid Web Site

Net Price Calculator URL

Net Price Calculator URL

Application Process

Application Deadline

Priority deadline March 15

Award Notification

On a rolling basis beginning April 1

Methodology for Awarding Institutional Aid

Federal Methodology

Forms Required	Cost to File
FAFSA Code is 003430	Free

Profile of 2018 - 19 Financial Aid

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Freshman

Financial Aid Applicants

240 (92.0%) of freshmen

Found to Have Financial Need

199 (82.9%) of applicants

Received Financial Aid

199 (100.0%) of applicants with financial need

Need Fully Met

142 (71.4%) of aid recipients

Average Percent of Need Met

82%

Average Award

$21,723

Need-Based Gift

Received by 195 (98.0%) of aid recipients, average amount $8,309

Need-Based Self-Help

Received by 141 (70.9%) of aid recipients, average amount $4,015

Merit-Based Gift

Received by 131 (65.8%) of aid recipients

Merit-Based Gift

52 (19.9%) of freshmen had no financial need and received merit aid, average amount $9,656

All Undergraduates

Financial Aid Applicants

794 (88.9%) of undergraduates

Found to Have Financial Need

698 (87.9%) of applicants

Received Financial Aid

695 (99.6%) of applicants with financial need

Need Fully Met

310 (44.6%) of aid recipients

Average Percent of Need Met

70%

Average Award

$20,052

Need-Based Gift

Received by 669 (96.3%) of aid recipients, average amount $8,495

Need-Based Self-Help

Received by 548 (78.8%) of aid recipients, average amount $4,455

Merit-Based Gift

Received by 262 (37.7%) of aid recipients

Merit-Based Gift

152 (17.0%) of undergraduates had no financial need and received merit aid, average amount $7,775

Borrowing

2018 Graduates Who Took Out Loans

87%

Average Indebtedness of 2018 Graduates

$25,333

Parents of Students Receiving Aid

9.0%

Parents of Students Not Receiving Aid

9.0%

Financial Aid Programs

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Loans

Federal Loans

Federal Perkins loans

State Loans

Available

Other Loans

South Carolina Teacher Loans, United Methodist Student Loans

Scholarships and Grants

Need-Based Available

Federal Pell grants, SEOG, State scholarships, Institutional scholarships, Private scholarships

Non-Need–Based Available

Academic scholarships, Creative arts/performance scholarships, Special achievements/activities, Special characteristics (minority, religious affiliation, other scholarships)

Non-Need Awards

Academic Interest/Achievement Award Areas

Biological Sciences, Business, Communication, Education, English, Foreign Languages, Humanities, Mathematics, Religion/Biblical Studies

Number of Awards

736

Top Areas (By Money Awarded)

 

Creative Arts/Performance Award Areas

Applied Art and Design, Art/Fine Arts, Dance, Music

Number of Awards

108

Top Areas (By Money Awarded)

 

Special Achievements/Activities Award Areas

Leadership

Number of Awards

199

Top Areas (By Money Awarded)

 

Special Characteristics Award Areas

Children of Faculty/Staff, Relatives of Clergy

Number of Awards

22

Top Areas (By Money Awarded)

 

Employment

Work-Study Programs

Federal work study available, other work study available

Average Earnings from On-Campus Employment

$1,000

Academic Calendar System

Semester

Summer Session

Offered

General Catalog/Bulletin

Online Catalog

Undergraduate Education

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Undergraduate Majors

Most Popular Disciplines

Homeland security, law enforcement, firefighting, and protective services, Communication/journalism, Education

Combined Liberal Arts/Professional Degree Programs

None

Special Programs

Student-designed major, Distance learning, Double major, Honors program, Independent study, Internships, Study abroad, Summer session

Study Abroad

Offered

Online Degrees

Some online degree programs

Curriculum and Graduation Requirements

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General Education/Core Curriculum

Required for most or all students

Computer

Students not required to own/lease a computer

Foreign Language

Required

Math/Science

Required for all students

Faculty and Instruction

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Full-Time Faculty

55

Part-Time Faculty

54

Full-Time Faculty with Ph.D./Terminal Degree

38%

Regular Class Size

2-9 students: 28% of classes
10-19 students: 47% of classes
20-29 students: 24% of classes
30-39 students: 1% of classes

Discussion Section/Lab Class Size

Not reported

Advanced Placement

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International Baccalaureate

Not accepted

Advanced Placement (AP) Examinations

Accepted for placement and credit

Sophomore Standing

Available through AP examinations

Academic Resources

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Library Available on Campus

Yes

Holdings

128,486

Computer Ownership

Students not required to own/lease a computer

Computers Available on Campus

165

Internet/E-mail Access

Not reported

Academic Support Services

---

Remedial Instruction

Offered

Tutoring

Available

Services for Learning Disabled Students

Available

Services for Physically Disabled Students

Wheelchair access

Graduate/Professional School Education

---

Master's Degrees Offered

Master of Education, Master of Arts

Master's Programs of Study

Doctoral Degrees Offered

Not reported

Doctoral Programs of Study

Location and Setting

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Columbia Population

133,358

Nearest Metropolitan Area

 

Campus Size

59 acres

Weather

Temperature

32.1 average low in January, 88.8 average high in September

Rain

110 rainy days per year

Getting Around

Campus Map

Map

Nearest Bus Station

Columbia

Nearest Train Station

Columbia

Housing

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College Housing

College offers housing to students

Types of Housing

Women only housing

Students in College Housing

29% of all students

Housing Requirements

Freshmen and sophomores are required to live on campus

Freshman Housing Guarantee

Freshmen are guaranteed housing

Students Living Off Campus/Commuting

49%

Off-Campus Housing Assistance

 

Security

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24-Hour Emergency Phone/Alarm Devices

Available

24-Hour Security Patrols

Available

Late-Night Transport/Escort Services

Available

Electronically Operated Housing Entrances

Available

Other

 

Personal Support Services

---

Health Service

Offered

Personal Counseling

Offered

Child Care

Not offered

Sports and Recreation

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Intercollegiate Athletics

Athletic Conferences

National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics

Mascot

Koalas

School Colors

Purple and white

Intercollegiate Sports Offered

Women's Club Sports

 

Men's Club Sports

 

Recreational Sports

Intramural Sports

 

Student Activities

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Activities and Organizations

choral groups, drama theatre, student newspaper

Sororities

 

Fraternities

 

ROTC

Army ROTC is offered off campus

Student Body

---

Coeducational

Mostly women

All Undergraduates

1,379

Women

1,025 (74.3%)

Men

354 (25.7%)

Full-Time Undergraduates

802

Ethnicity of Students from U.S.

0.8% American Indian/Alaskan Native
0.7% Asian
34.0% Black/African-American
3.7% Hispanic/Latino
3.3% Multi-race (not Hispanic/Latino)
0.1% Native Hawaiian/ Pacific Islander
56.1% White
1.3% Unknown

International Students.

3.1% from 21 countries

Average Age

29

All Graduate Students

134

Undergraduate Retention and Graduation

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First-Year Students Returning

71.0%

Students Graduating Within 4 Years

45.6%

Students Graduating Within 5 Years

49.2%

Students Graduating Within 6 Years

49.0%

After Graduation

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Graduates Offered Full-Time Employment Within 6 Months

93%

Average Starting Salary

93%

Graduates Pursuing Advanced Study Directly

Not reported

Disciplines Pursued

Not reported