Public Bachelor's Good 64/100

Columbus State Community College

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Columbus, Ohio

About Columbus State Community College

Columbus State Community College is a public institution offering bachelor's degrees based in Columbus, Ohio. It enrolls 17,549 students (a very large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Acceptance
Graduation
0.5%
Net Price
$8,400
Median Earnings (10yr)
$39,435
Enrollment
17,549
Student : Faculty
18:1

Accreditor Higher Learning Commission
Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Open / Online). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Good
64/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Open / Online
Outcomes 29
Value 73
Affordability 49
Selectivity

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

Admissions data is not yet reported for Columbus State Community College.

Acceptance Rate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
Not reported

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Columbus State Community College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $8,400 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.

Average Net Price
$8,400
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
26%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
18%
Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$5,488
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$11,224
Room & Board (off-campus)
$8,640
Books & Supplies
$2,000
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,961
Total Cost of Attendance
$13,381

Application fee: $50 (one-time, due at submission)


Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

  • Under $30,000
    $6,777
  • $30,001 – $48,000
    $7,161
  • $48,001 – $75,000
    $8,643
  • $75,001 – $110,000
    $11,660
  • Over $110,000
    $12,985

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$1,750
10% percentile
$3,197
25% percentile
$8,749
Median percentile
$14,307
75% percentile
$25,375
90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $6,514 ↓ $2,235
No Pell $5,250 ↓ $3,499
Dependent students $4,963 ↓ $3,786
Independent students $7,939 ↓ $810
Female students $6,371 ↓ $2,378
Male students $5,500 ↓ $3,249
Pell recipients: 17.8% (1,560 students)No Pell: 14.4% (1,257 students)Dependent students: 13.6% (1,188 students)Independent students: 21.7% (1,901 students)Female students: 17.4% (1,526 students)Male students: 15.1% (1,317 students)Overall Median$8,749
Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,944, less than completers ($8,749), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

1% of full-time students who enrolled at Columbus State Community College graduate within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate
1%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
Returning for their second year
What this means: Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Columbus State Community College earn a median of $39,435 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$39,435
Earning > $25K
63%
10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

$36,500$37,500$38,000$39,000$40,0006 yrs8 yrs10 yrs

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

By Gender

Female graduates
$31,800

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates
$40,800

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.


By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)
$30,900

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)
$39,200

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)
$41,900

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $9,000, about 22% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.

Loan Repayment Progression

Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.

Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt 24.2 pts across 6 years
44.8%1yr52.6%3yr67.9%5yr69%7yr
What this signals: Moderate. Only 69% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Columbus State Community College is home to 17,549 students, a sprawling student community. Some distinctive traits: 44% are first-generation college students, 70% study part-time.

Total Enrolled
17,549
Part-Time
70%
First-Generation
44%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents
White 39.6% 6,953
Black 25.4% 4,463
Hispanic 8.7% 1,529
Asian 4.5% 783
Other 4.2% 739
International 2.8% 497
White: 39.6% (6,953 students)Black: 25.4% (4,463 students)Hispanic: 8.7% (1,529 students)Asian: 4.5% (783 students)Other: 4.2% (739 students)International: 2.8% (497 students)Total17,549

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Columbus State Community College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting
Large City Columbus, Ohio
Housing
Commuter campus No on-campus housing
Adult Learners
23% of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAA athletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semester scheduling structure

What You Can Study

Columbus State Community College offers an extensive catalog of programs: 81 distinct programs across 18 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

1 Program
19 Programs
5 Programs
4 Programs
14 Programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Columbus State Community College is 18:1, on the higher side.

Student : Faculty
18:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$5,352
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$32M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$66,872
9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

352 instructional faculty across 5 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank Faculty Count Share Avg Salary
Full Professors 125 36% $84,350
Associate Professors 53 15% $69,352
Assistant Professors 72 20% $57,741
Instructors 74 21% $51,522
No Rank 28 8% $48,193

Pros & Cons of Columbus State Community College

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Columbus State Community College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS
  • Very affordable net price after aid
  • Low typical debt at graduation
  • First-gen-friendly student body
  • Flexible part-time enrollment options
CONS
  • Class sizes are on the higher side
  • Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
  • Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
  • No graduate programs offered at this institution
  • Mostly part-time student body, less full-time campus feel
Best for: Based on the data, Columbus State Community College is a fit for families focused on keeping net cost low; working adults or students needing part-time study options.

Frequently Asked Questions about Columbus State Community College

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Columbus State Community College.

How much does Columbus State Community College cost?
The average net price after aid at Columbus State Community College is $8,400 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Columbus State Community College worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $39,435 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $8,400 per year. That's roughly 4.7x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Columbus State Community College known for?
Columbus State Community College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Practical Nursing, Information Systems. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Columbus State Community College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Columbus State Community College are $39,435, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Columbus State Community College accredited?
Yes. Columbus State Community College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Columbus State Community College?
Columbus State Community College enrolls 17,549 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Columbus State Community College?
Columbus State Community College graduates 1% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Columbus State Community College a public or private college?
Columbus State Community College is a Public institution.
Where is Columbus State Community College located?
Columbus State Community College is located in Columbus, Ohio.
What programs does Columbus State Community College offer?
Columbus State Community College offers 81 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Practical Nursing, Information Systems.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Columbus State Community College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Columbus State Community College is 18:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.

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