Columbia International University
Columbia, SC · Private · Midsize city · CIU
Private institution in Columbia, SC · 690 undergraduates · 98% acceptance rate · $38,951 median earnings 10 years after entry.
Stats
College Scorecard figures, each with where this school sits nationally among institutions that report the same measure. A dash means the school does not report it.
Cost
- Average net price
- $21,6601,243rd cheapest of 1,969 reporting
- In-state tuition & fees
- $27,9001,284th cheapest of 2,024 reporting
- Out-of-state tuition & fees
- $27,9001,165th cheapest of 2,024 reporting
- Cost of attendance
- $40,1831,215th cheapest of 1,969 reporting
- Median graduate debt
- $20,000625th lowest of 1,865 reporting
Outcomes
- Median earnings, 10 years after entry
- $38,9511,650th highest of 1,954 reporting
- Median earnings, 6 years after entry
- $33,9291,583rd highest of 1,950 reporting
- Graduation rate (4-year)
- 65.5%571st highest of 2,014 reporting
- Full-time retention
- 65.8%1,424th highest of 1,837 reporting
Admissions
- Acceptance rate
- 97.6%1,483rd most selective of 1,596 reporting
- Average SAT
- —
- Median ACT
- 21701st highest of 952 reporting
Campus
- Undergraduates
- 6901,570th largest of 2,144 reporting
- Student-faculty ratio
- 13.0:1979th smallest of 2,141 reporting
- Pell Grant share
- 28.3%1,289th highest of 2,122 reporting
Nearest large-hub airport: 79 mi (CLT)
On 1 of our 111 lists
Every published ranking this school appears on, with its rank there.
Best-paying fields of study
Median earnings one and two years after graduating, by field. Showing 12 of 19 reported programs.
| Field | Level | 1 yr | 2 yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bible/Biblical StudiesTheology | bachelors | $25,194 | $24,421 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesLiberal Arts | bachelors | $25,194 | — |
| Area StudiesArea & Ethnic Studies | bachelors | — | — |
| Business Administration, Management and OperationsBusiness | bachelors | — | — |
| Communication and Media StudiesCommunications | bachelors | — | $24,035 |
| English Language and Literature, GeneralEnglish Language & Literature | bachelors | — | — |
| Health and Physical Education/FitnessParks, Recreation & Fitness | bachelors | — | — |
| Intercultural/Multicultural and Diversity StudiesMultidisciplinary Studies | bachelors | — | $24,421 |
| International/Global StudiesMultidisciplinary Studies | bachelors | — | — |
| Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsForeign Languages | bachelors | — | — |
| Missions/Missionary Studies and MissiologyTheology | bachelors | — | — |
| Pastoral Counseling and Specialized MinistriesTheology | bachelors | — | $23,351 |
Campus facts
- Founded in 1923source
- Athletic nickname: "Rams"source
- Mascot: Ramsource
- Motto: "To know Him and to make Him known."source
- Campus size: about 400 acressource
- Formerly known as "Columbia Bible School" (1923–1929)source
- Formerly known as "Columbia Bible College" (1929–1994)source
- Religious affiliation: Multidenominational Christiansource
- Athletic conference: NAIAsource
Athletics — 8 sports
NAIA Division I · NAIA
Athletic scholarships allowed · Athletic aid $1,926,004 (M $1,073,712 · W $753,192 · Coed $99,100)
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Golf
- Other Sports
- Soccer
- Softball
- Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)
- Volleyball
Self-reported EADA participants (2024-2025). Athletic aid is institution-level, not per sport.
Similar-size colleges
Nearest undergraduate enrollment to Columbia International University’s 690 (College Scorecard UGDS, compiled 2026-10-24). Size only — not a judgment of similarity or quality.
In SC
Elsewhere
- Thomas CollegeWaterville, ME · 688 undergrads
- Hult International Business SchoolCambridge, MA · 694 undergrads
- Salem UniversitySalem, WV · 695 undergrads
- Brewton-Parker CollegeMount Vernon, GA · 684 undergrads
- Notre Dame of Maryland UniversityBaltimore, MD · 684 undergrads
- Bluefield UniversityBluefield, VA · 683 undergrads
Key links
- Official websiteciu.edu
- College ScorecardFederal source for every figure above (UNITID 217925)
- Compare colleges in SCRe-score with your weights
- The Most Selective Colleges in South CarolinaEvery eligible four-year in this state, ranked by published admission rate
- Compare with Allen UniversitySide by side on every Scorecard measure — closest in-state school by enrollment
- Showdown: Columbia International University vs Allen UniversityHigher-or-lower on real Scorecard metrics — round 1 is these two
- Sports directoryAll 8 EADA programs at this school
- Build an admissions plan8th–12th grade actions for this college — sports, activities, timeline
- MethodologyWhat these figures do and do not capture
- How to read a school page end to endStats, standings, lists, athletics, news — one profile, many jobs. Know which panel answers which question.
- Sticker price is a trapPublished tuition is a starting rumor. Net price is closer to what families actually pay.
- What acceptance rate actually measuresSelectivity is a competition statistic — not a quality score, and not your personal odds.
- A plan from eighth grade — without fake certaintySchool-anchored milestones, sports scarcity honesty, and EC playbooks — not invented admit odds.