Columbus State University
Columbus, Georgia · Public · 99.1% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 24/100 · Poor Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Columbus State University earns an overall ROI score of 24 (Poor Value). The public regional in Columbus, GA charges $5,898 in-state tuition ($17,610 out-of-state) with an average net price of $13,115. Four-year cost is $52,460 - significantly cheaper than the private peers in our database, which makes the low ROI score noteworthy. The issue is not cost but outcomes: median earnings are $31,100 six years out and $44,544 at 10 years, debt-to-earnings is 0.836, and payback runs 20.2 years on $26,000 median debt. Completion is 41.8% and repayment is weak at 51.3% three-year, dropping to 48.8% seven-year. The school admits nearly anyone (99.1% admit rate), and many entering students arrive academically underprepared based on the SAT mid-ranges (360-530 math, 440-530 reading). Strong programs exist - nursing and CS both earn B/C+ grades - but the institution-wide cohort outcomes are dragged down by weak completion and a heavy mix of low-earning majors. Like most open-access regionals, program selection drives nearly all of the financial outcome.
The data raises concerns about Columbus State University
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score24/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- Payback period20.2 years - Most 4-year schools we track have payback periods of 4-10 years.
Columbus State University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $5,898/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $17,610/yr |
| Average net price | $13,115/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $52,460 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $44,544 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $31,100 |
| Median debt at graduation | $26,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $276 |
| Estimated payback period | 20.2 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 41.8% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 5,625 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $5,898/year ($17,610/year out-of-state). Here's the part that matters - almost nobody pays that. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $13,115/year, or roughly $52,460 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $11,271/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $18,329/year.
Most students borrow to get here. The median graduate leaves owing $26,000 in federal loans, which works out to about $276 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Hold that up against the $44,544 the typical graduate earns ten years out: the debt-to-earnings ratio comes to 0.84, within the range advisors call workable but worth keeping an eye on.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $11,271 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $11,873 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $13,786 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $16,542 |
| $110,001+ | $18,329 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30K pay $11,271 net per year - a workable number against any reasonable graduate outcome. Four-year cost is $45K. Pell-eligible students can leave with manageable debt if they complete; completion remains the dominant risk factor.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 30-48K bracket pays $11,873 (very similar to low-income) and the 48-75K bracket pays $13,786. The 75-110K bracket jumps to $16,542. Four-year cost runs $47K-$66K. Workable for nursing or CS pathways. The aid structure tightens significantly above $48K.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families over $110K pay $18,329 net - well below the $17,610 out-of-state sticker because most enrollees pay in-state rates. Four-year cost runs $73K. Still cheaper than most private alternatives, but at this price the strong-program-selection argument matters more.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Columbus State University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $89,659 | B |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $80,694 | C+ |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $45,997 | D |
| Biology | $47,819 | F |
| Business Administration and Management | $53,246 | D |
| Communication and Media Studies | $48,499 | D |
| Psychology | $41,266 | F |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $49,912 | F |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $49,956 | D |
| Teacher Education | $46,723 | D |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Nursing is Columbus State's flagship financial program with 114 graduates per cycle and a B grade. Graduates earn $74,454 one year out and $89,659 at four years against $30,980 median debt. The 0.416 debt-to-earnings ratio is well within healthy bounds. This is the program where the institutional ROI score most understates actual outcomes for completers.
Computer and Information Sciences
Computer and Information Sciences earns a C+ with 61 graduates. First-year earnings of $56,660 climb to $80,694 at four years against $31,000 debt - a 0.547 ratio. Strong trajectory and a defensible track. Columbus area has limited tech employer concentration but Atlanta is accessible for relocation.
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General
Health Services/Allied Health earns a D with 61 graduates. First-year earnings of $30,382 against $28,508 median debt produces a 0.938 ratio. The four-year jump to $45,997 helps modestly. This is a general health-sciences track that often functions as a pre-nursing or pre-allied-health holding pattern; students should target specific clinical credentials rather than the general degree.
Biology
Biology pulls an F with 59 graduates. First-year earnings of $28,947 against $31,000 debt produces a 1.071 ratio. Four-year earnings climb to $47,819 but debt burden exceeds early-career wages. Bio is a classic graduate-school feeder major; students without a clear advanced-degree plan should pick differently.
Business Administration and Management
Business Administration and Management earns a D with 55 graduates - a popular major. First-year earnings of $37,852 climb to $53,246 at four years against $31,000 debt. Debt-to-earnings of 0.819 makes this borderline. Better than average for the school's non-STEM tracks but not strong on absolute terms.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 46.8% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 51.3% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 40.8% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 48.8% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Columbus State University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2023).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 99.1% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 360-530 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 440-530 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 16-22 |
| Enrollment | 5,625 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 44.6% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,802 |
Columbus State admits 99.1% of applicants - effectively open access. SAT mid-ranges of 360-530 math and 440-530 reading and ACT 16-22 are notably low, reflecting the institution's mission to serve the regional population including many academically underprepared students. The 41.8% completion rate is the predictable result of broad access without strong remediation infrastructure. Well-prepared in-state students who can complete will get reasonable value; that is the central question.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
CampusROI peers include Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, Albany State University, UNC Pembroke, Southern Mississippi, and Virginia State. All are open-access regional publics serving similar demographic profiles. Albany State and Virginia State are HBCU regionals with similar challenges. UNC Pembroke and Southern Miss have somewhat stronger completion economics. The peer set tells a consistent story: open-access regional publics produce mixed ROI because the institutional metric averages strong and weak cohorts.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus State University (this school) | 24 | $13,115 | $44,544 |
| University of Southern Mississippi | 27 | $21,708 | $44,140 |
| University of North Carolina at Pembroke | 26 | $10,260 | $43,407 |
| Virginia State University | 21 | $15,840 | $45,543 |
| Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College | 20 | $6,842 | $34,996 |
| Albany State University | 14 | $11,898 | $40,674 |
Who Thrives Here
Columbus State fits in-state Georgia students seeking affordable tuition with a regional focus, especially around Fort Moore and the Chattahoochee Valley. Pell rate is 44.6% and enrollment is 5,625. The fit case is strongest for nursing (114 graduates, B grade), computer science (61 graduates, C+ grade), or finance. Students entering with undecided majors or drawn to liberal arts and education should be aware that those tracks pull D and F grades here.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
We'll be straight with you: the numbers at Columbus State University are a real concern. With a net cost of $13,115 per year and the typical graduate earning only $44,544 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds 20.2 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost - go in with your eyes open.
What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost, its 41.8% graduation rate, high debt relative to what graduates earn, concerning loan repayment rates, a long payback period.
Median debt of $26,000 against $44,544 in earnings is reasonable, though your major matters a lot here. Graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.