Manageable graduate debt
Median federal debt at graduation runs below the typical.
This school$20k
National avg$26k
Source: IPEDS 2024
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Columbia International University
Columbia, SC
Columbia International University at a glance
Columbia International University is a private university in Columbia, South Carolina with 2,914 students (IPEDS, fall 2024 enrollment). It admitted 94% of applicants (IPEDS, applicants for fall 2024). Its published tuition is $27,900 (IPEDS, charges for academic year 2024-25); students who received federal aid paid an average net price of $26,036 a year after grants (College Scorecard, a prior cohort). 47% of students finish within the federal tracking window (IPEDS, Graduation Rates 2024 collection: 4-year cohort 2018, 2-year cohort 2021); 46% of students take federal loans, and borrowers leave with a median $20,000 (College Scorecard). Its Bible/Biblical Studies, bachelor's graduates earn a median $38,117 four years after finishing (College Scorecard, 2017-19 graduates).
Tuition
$27,900
2024-25
Acceptance
94%
Fall 2024 applicants
Students
2,914
Fall 2024
Type
University
Setting
Urban
Cost & Financial Aid
In-State Tuition
$27,900
Out-of-State Tuition
$27,900
Avg On-Campus Living
$11,950
Avg Off-Campus Living
$9,020
Financial Aid & Outcomes
College Scorecard
What will it actually cost?
Sticker price: $39,850
Net price (after aid): $26,036
Most students pay the net price after financial aid, not the sticker price.
Net price by family income
$0 – $30k: $21,955
$30k – $48k: $25,644 (above the federal borrowing ceiling)
$48k – $75k: $15,633
$75k – $110k: $28,722 (above the federal borrowing ceiling)
$110k+: $29,751 (above the federal borrowing ceiling)
Can federal loans cover it? (2026 limits)
For families earning $30k – $48k, $75k – $110k, $110k+, the average net price here is above the $25,500 a first-year dependent student and their parents can borrow federally from 1 July 2026, by up to $4,251. That part has to come from savings, income, work, or private loans.
The ceiling is $5,500 in the student’s own Direct Loan plus up to $20,000 in Parent PLUS, which requires that the parent has no adverse credit history. Net prices are averages for a prior cohort of aid recipients, not a quote. Source: Federal Student Aid loan limits. Where this gap is largest.
After graduation
Median earnings (10yr): $38,951
Median debt at graduation: $20,000
Est. monthly loan payment: $212
Earnings-to-debt ratio
Moderate · 1.9×Graduates earn about 1.9× their median debt every year.
Financial access
Students on Pell Grants: 34%
Pell Grants are federal aid for students from low-income families.
Students with federal loans: 46%
Share of students who borrowed to pay for school.
Some fields may not be reported by this institution. Verify final details with the school directly.
How does cost line up with outcomes across colleges? See our analysis of college cost vs. graduation and earnings, an association shaped by selectivity and sector, not proof a pricier college pays off.
FAFSA earnings check
: Not flaggedColumbia International University does not trigger the FAFSA's "lower earnings" notice. Its graduates' median earnings four years after completing were $42,534, above the $33,703 median for high school graduates aged 25 to 34 in South Carolina.
This is one figure for the whole institution, not for any program: earnings differ by credential and field. It covers graduates who completed in 2017-18 and 2018-19, received federal aid, and were working and not enrolled when earnings were measured in 2022 and 2023, in January 2026 dollars. The Department says the notice is informational only: it does not change aid eligibility. Source: U.S. Department of Education, FSA Data Center, March 2026 release. Which colleges are flagged, and what changed.
Student Outcomes
Graduation Rate
47%
Freshman Retention
53%
Source: IPEDS, charges for academic year 2024-25 (provisional release)
Final aid offers, scholarships, and net price vary per family. Always verify with the school's financial aid office.
Scholarships available
Decision support · Cost & value
Quick Decision Highlights
The strongest cost, aid, and value reasons to consider this school.
Scholarships available
Aid signal
Open-access admissions
Most qualified applicants are admitted.
Affordability snapshot
Tuition
$27.9k
Net price
$26k
Pell
34%
Median debt
$20k
below avg
Earnings (10y)
$39k
“Avg” comparisons reference national IPEDS / College Scorecard averages (~2022–23); figures are directional and vary by school and year.
Admissions
Acceptance rate
94%
SAT range
Institution does not report this
Institution does not report this
ACT range
Institution does not report this
Institution does not report this
Source: IPEDS, applicants for fall 2024 (provisional release)
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UniversitiesCommunity Colleges1 school
Institution does not report this
Columbia, SC 29203
Academics
Studying online: most students study entirely online
In Fall 2023, 1,809 of Columbia International University's 2,631 students (69%) were enrolled entirely at a distance. A further 558 (21%) took at least one distance course alongside in-person study.
Distance-education figures count STUDENTS enrolled in Fall 2023, not programs on offer. "Exclusively at a distance" means a student took only distance courses that term. A college with few or no such students may still run online courses or an online degree, so a low figure is not evidence that online study is unavailable, and a high one is not a judgement of quality either way.
U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS Fall Enrollment (distance education status), Fall 2023
Fields of study
Columbia International University reported conferring credentials in 28 different fields to the federal government. See which ones, and at what credential level.
Campus & Student Life
Area Safety Rating
Decision support
Similar schools
Worth a closer look if Columbia International University caught your interest.
North Greenville University
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Tuition $25,800 67% acceptSame state. Similar tuition. Similar size.Bob Jones University
Greenville, SC
Tuition $24,470 Open admissionSame state. Similar tuition. Similar acceptance.Limestone University
Gaffney, SC
Tuition $27,500 98% acceptSame state. Similar tuition. Similar acceptance.Newberry College
Newberry, SC
Tuition $31,100 90% acceptSame state. Similar tuition. Similar acceptance.Converse University
Spartanburg, SC
Tuition $25,240 68% acceptSame state. Similar tuition. Similar size.Southern Wesleyan University
Central, SC
Tuition $29,800 Open admissionSame state. Similar tuition. Similar acceptance.
Graduate earnings by program
What Columbia International University graduates earn, by program
Columbia International University's bachelor's graduates in Bible/Biblical Studies earned a median $38,117 four years after graduating, 14% below the $44,533 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). One year after graduating, a later class (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21) earned a median $23,737; the two figures describe different graduates, not one class's growth. Graduates who borrowed took out a median $20,500 in federal loans at this college (about $217 a month on a 10-year plan).
6 programs at Columbia International University have federal earnings or debt figures, largest graduating classes first. Earnings: graduates of 2017-18 and 2018-19, earnings measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars. Debt: graduates of 2018-19 and 2019-20. The national median is the same measure for every program in that field and credential in the U.S.
| Program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after | National median | Federal debt borrowed at this college (median) | Payment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Bachelor's | $40,432 | $68,257, −41% | — | — |
| Bible/Biblical Studies, Bachelor's | $38,117 | $44,533, −14% | $20,500 | $217/mo |
| Teacher Education (by grade level), Bachelor's | $43,210 | $47,382, −9% | — | — |
| Teacher Education (by grade level), Professional degree | — | $53,973 | — | — |
| Theological and Ministerial Studies, Professional degree | $48,301 | $63,395, −24% | — | — |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychology, Professional degree | $42,129 | $70,514, −40% | — | — |
Median earnings of graduates who received federal student aid, worked, and were not enrolled in school; debt is the median federal loans borrowed at this college by graduates who borrowed (Direct Subsidized, Unsubsidized and Grad PLUS; not Parent PLUS, private loans or interest). Programs with too few graduates are suppressed by the Department of Education. Monthly payment assumes a standard 10-year plan. Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, field-of-study data, 10 June 2026. Download every program (CSV). Same degree, different paycheck: what the national data show.
Frequently asked questions
About Columbia International University
Built from CampusPin profile data. Always verify final admissions, cost, financial aid, and program details with the institution before applying. See our data methodology and data dictionary.
- Where is Columbia International University located?
- Columbia International University is located in Columbia, SC, in the United States.
- What type of institution is Columbia International University?
- Columbia International University is a private university based in SC. CampusPin classifies institutions as either four-year universities or two-year community colleges, with control labeled public or private.
- What is the acceptance rate at Columbia International University?
- The most recently reported acceptance rate at Columbia International University is approximately 94% (IPEDS, applicants for fall 2024). Acceptance rate signals selectivity but does not predict any individual applicant's outcome and is not a measure of school quality. CampusPin reports the federally-published value; verify the current cycle with the institution.
- What is the tuition at Columbia International University?
- Columbia International University's published in-state tuition is approximately $27,900 per year (IPEDS, charges for academic year 2024-25). This is the published price before financial aid; the net price most students actually pay is typically lower. Verify the current academic-year tuition with the institution before applying.
- How many students attend Columbia International University?
- Columbia International University reports total enrollment of approximately 2,914 students (undergraduate plus graduate) (IPEDS, fall 2024 enrollment). Total enrollment is a useful sizing signal, see the institutional profile for additional breakdowns when available.
- How much does Columbia International University actually cost after financial aid?
- The average net price at Columbia International University is approximately $26,036 per year. Net price is the total cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships that never have to be repaid, so it is what students actually paid rather than the published sticker price. What families pay varies with income: students from families earning under $30,000 paid about $21,955 on average, and those from families earning $110,000 or more about $29,751. These are averages for students who received federal aid in a prior cohort, not a quote for any individual family. Run the institution's own Net Price Calculator for a figure specific to you.
- What is the graduation rate at Columbia International University?
- Columbia International University reports a graduation rate of approximately 47% (IPEDS, Graduation Rates 2024 collection: 4-year cohort 2018, 2-year cohort 2021). This measures the share of a prior entering cohort who completed their degree within the federal tracking window. It reflects who enrolls as much as what the institution does, so it is not on its own a measure of teaching quality, and it is not comparable across institutions serving very different students.
- How much student debt do graduates of Columbia International University have?
- Students who borrowed at Columbia International University left with a median of approximately $20,000 in federal loans, and about 46% of students took federal loans at all. Both numbers matter: a median describes only the students who borrowed, so it reads very differently at a school where most students borrow than at one where few do. Federal loans only, so private and parent borrowing are not included.
- How much do graduates of Columbia International University earn?
- Median earnings approximately ten years after entry are $38,951 for students who received federal financial aid at Columbia International University. This reflects the mix of programs the institution offers and the students who enroll, not the effect of attending, and it covers aid recipients rather than all graduates.
- How should I verify final details about Columbia International University?
- CampusPin compiles institutional data from public datasets like IPEDS and the College Scorecard, plus institutional websites and editorial review. Before applying, paying a deposit, or making a final decision, confirm admissions requirements, current tuition, financial aid, deadlines, and program details directly with Columbia International University.
- How much do Bible/Biblical Studies graduates from Columbia International University earn?
- Columbia International University's bachelor's graduates in Bible/Biblical Studies earned a median $38,117 four years after graduating, 14% below the $44,533 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). One year after graduating, a later class (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21) earned a median $23,737; the two figures describe different graduates, not one class's growth. Graduates who borrowed took out a median $20,500 in federal loans at this college (about $217 a month on a 10-year plan).
- Does Columbia International University get a "lower earnings" warning on the FAFSA?
- No. In the Department of Education's March 2026 data, which the FAFSA uses now, Columbia International University's graduates' median earnings four years after completing were $42,534, above the $33,703 median for high school graduates aged 25 to 34 in South Carolina, so first-year students who list it do not see the lower-earnings notice. The figure describes the whole institution, not any one program.
Fields this college awarded credentials in
The 14 largest of 28 fields Columbia International University reported, by credentials conferred in 2024-25, using the federal classification of each field. The level is the highest credential actually awarded, which is not always the one a field is best known for.
| Field | Awarded | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 171 | Graduate (131 graduate · 37 bachelor's · 3 associate) |
| Curriculum and Instruction | 89 | Graduate |
| Theological and Ministerial Studies | 73 | Graduate (72 graduate · 1 bachelor's) |
| Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology | 68 | Graduate (66 graduate · 2 bachelor's) |
| Bible/Biblical Studies | 48 | Graduate (7 graduate · 27 bachelor's · 14 associate) |
| Theology and Religious Vocations, Other | 38 | Graduate |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | 29 | Graduate |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 22 | Graduate |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 18 | Graduate (6 graduate · 12 bachelor's) |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 17 | Bachelor's |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 12 | Bachelor's (11 bachelor's · 1 associate) |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 12 | Bachelor's |
| Psychology, General | 9 | Bachelor's |
| Human Services, General | 8 | Bachelor's (5 bachelor's · 3 associate) |
Fields are as classified in the federal IPEDS completions collection, which records credentials already conferred. A field listed here was awarded in the reporting year; it does not confirm the program is currently admitting students, and a field CampusPin has no guide for is still shown under its official federal title. Confirm current offerings with the institution.
Explore more
Compare colleges side by side. Other colleges in Columbia, SC. All colleges in South Carolina. South Carolina college costs by family income. Student debt at South Carolina colleges. Computer science in South Carolina. Business in South Carolina. Nursing in South Carolina. Psychology in South Carolina. Engineering major guide.
Always verify final admissions, cost, financial aid, and program details with Columbia International University before applying.
Data sources & methodology
Reporting period: 2024. Last verified: June 10, 2026.
Facts on this profile of Columbia International University are compiled from federal datasets and the institution's own published information.
Sources used across this page
Not every source informs every figure. Each data point draws on the source appropriate to it see the relevant section and the data dictionary for field-level provenance.
IPEDS / NCES College Navigator
Federal enrollment, admissions, tuition, retention, and program data. Released annually with a 1–2 year lag.
U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard
Net price by income band, post-graduation earnings, and federal aid context.
Clery Act campus security reports
Annual campus security and fire-safety disclosures required of U.S. institutions.
Institutional websites
Each school's official admissions, registrar, and financial-aid pages are the authoritative source for current details.
Where a value is unavailable it is shown as unavailable, never as 0, free, or a negative judgment. Always confirm final details with the institution before applying.
Suggested citation
CampusPin. (2024). Columbia International University, college profile. Retrieved from https://campuspin.com/schools/columbia-international-university
About this information
CampusPin compiles college information from recent publicly available data, including federal and institutional sources. College information can change as institutions and public agencies release new data.
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