Columbia College

About
Columbia College, located in Columbia, Missouri, was founded 1851 and has been providing a quality education to students for over a century and a half. The school was originally founded as Christian Female College and was the first such college to be established west of the Mississippi River. The school became a four year institution in 1970, after nearly 120 years as a two years women's institution, and it was during this time that school became known as Columbia College. Though the school maintains a relationship with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), it is nonsectarian and admits students from all denominations. The school currently operates 34 campuses nationwide, with an enrollment of over 17,000 student, including students enrolled in the school's online campus.


Academics
Columbia College offers degrees in a variety areas, allowing students to choose a program that best reflects their needs and goals. Associate degrees are offered , providing study over the course of two years in a given field. Bachelor degrees are obtained over the course of four years through the completion of lower and upper division courses, general education classes and electives. Master degree programs are also available for student though the main Columbia campus, though the admissions requirements typically involve high scores on graduate level exams, an appropriate degree earned, and a strong academic record.


Programs offered include:

• Accounting
• Biology
• Criminology
• Nursing
• Sociology

Admissions and Financial Aid
Students looking to enroll at Columbia College will find that the admissions process is moderately selective. Students must complete the application for admission as well as provide the appropriate transcripts and test scores which will be used to measure a student's academic ability. The submitted information will be reviewed by an admissions committee provide a final decision regarding enrollment, after which students will be notified and those admitted provided the necessary information for beginning their college experience. Individuals pursuing a two year education or taking specific courses online or at branch campus will not have the same stringent review process when being considered for admission.


Financial aid is available in the form of loans, grants, and scholarships. Students in need of aid must complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the information from which is used to determine the tuition needs of the student, aid program eligibility and monetary awards. Financial aid must be reapplied prior to the start of each academic year. Students may be randomly chosen to provide additional financial information in order to verify the FAFSA's accuracy due to new federal regulations for aid. Scholarships from sources other than the school may be applied for separately and are awarded for an extensive of reasons using varying criterion to determine winners.


Athletics
The Columbia College Cougars participate in intercollegiate athletics through the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) in the American Midwestern Conference. Athletics are available through the school's main campus and allow students to participate in a forum of healthy competition and develop skills and habits that are useful in one's personal, academic and professional life. These skills and habits include things such as teamwork, discipline, leadership, responsibility and good health. Students will also experience the camaraderie associated with experiencing the shared successes and failures with their teammates. Additionally, participating students must maintain a minimum GPA to continue participation and balance their schedule with workouts and practice in order to continue their primary goal of completing their education.


Athletic programs offered include:

• Basketball
• Cross Country/Distance Track
• Golf
• Soccer
• Softball
• Volleyball

Estimated Costs & Financial Aid

The items listed below are for informational purposes only and may not represent current tuition, fees, and expenses.

Tuition & Fees Information

• The estimated tuition range is around $7,000-$8,400 per year
• Part time students pay in the range of $260 to $310 per unit
• Some programs may have a frozen tuition rate, which means the tuition will stay the same for up to five years.

Financial Aid Details

The table below breaks down the types of financial aid, the percent of students receiving aid, and average amount of aid per student per year.

	Percent of Students	Average Amount
Any Financial Aid	85%	-
Receiving Grants & Scholarships	81%	$6,158
Receiving Student Loans	62%	$5,977

Academics & Student Services

Student Services

To help support students, Columbia College may provide services like those listed below:

• Distance learning
• Classes offered on nights and weekends
• Academic counseling for students
• Student employment
• Employment search assistance

Graduation Rates

Columbia College has an overall graduation rate which is approximately 41%.

Number of Year to Graduate	Percent of Entering Class
Students Graduating in 4 Years	25%
Graduating in 5 Years	9%
Graduating in 6 Years	4%

Specialized Programs & Accreditations

• Associate's Degree in Nursing (ADN) Program
  • * Accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc. ? May 6, 2013 Formerly: National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (since 1995)

Other 4-Year Private Colleges

The list of schools below have been selected by researching which schools offer similar programs to Columbia College.

• Lincoln University - Jefferson City in Jefferson City, MO (28 miles away)
• Truman State University in Kirksville, MO (86 miles away)
• Harris - Stowe State University in Saint Louis, MO (115 miles away)
• Western Illinois University in Macomb, IL (136 miles away)
• Missouri Western State University in Saint Joseph, MO (143 miles away)

Also, you can compare schools by looking through our list of colleges & universities:

• Review a complete list of all the Missouri colleges
• Browse our list of private colleges in Missouri
• Compare other Missouri Christian and Bible Colleges

Data Disclaimer

Information displayed on this page has been obtained from Institution, State, and Federal data sources, including the US Dept. of Education's Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) Survey 2010-2016. Information should be solely used for informational purposes only and may not be accurate for the current year. Contact Columbia College for official up-to-date information.