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Columbus, GA · Macon, GA
| Columbus State University | Middle Georgia State University | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $13,115/yr | $12,361/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $11,271/yr | $10,668/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $26,000 | $19,000 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $11,873/yr | $10,920/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $13,786/yr | $12,679/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $16,542/yr | $15,901/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $18,329/yr | $16,762/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $276/mo | $201/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $11,720/yr | $9,350/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $10,900/yr | $12,791/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $1,600/yr | $1,250/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $6,312/yr | $5,095/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $21,676/yr | $19,617/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $5,898/yr | $5,038/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $17,610/yr | $16,390/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 45% | 43% |
| Students taking federal loans | 38% | 33% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 99% | 100% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 800–1060 | 950–1190 |
| SAT average | 977 | 1083 |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | 16–22 | 16–24 |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | English 14–22 · Math 16–22 | English 14–23 · Math 16–25 |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 3,550 | 3,876 |
| Students accepted | 3,523 | 3,867 |
| Students who enrolled | 1,083 | 1,313 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 31% | 34% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | 21% | 20% |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | 17% | 9% |
| High-school GPA | Required | Required |
| High-school transcript | Required | Required |
| Essay | Not considered | Not considered |
| Recommendation letters | Not considered | Not considered |
| Class rank | Not considered | Not considered |
| College-prep program | Required | Required |
| Demonstrated competencies | Not considered | Not considered |
| Work experience | Not considered | Not considered |
| English proficiency test | Required | Required |
| Other admission tests | Not considered | Not considered |
| Legacy considered | Not considered | Not considered |
| SAT/ACT policy | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 42% | 25% |
| Freshmen who come back | 70% | 65% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $44,544/yr | $40,863/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $27,521–$62,748 | $24,759–$61,811 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 47% | 32% |
| White students graduating | 42% | 34% |
| Black students graduating | 40% | 16% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 39% | 26% |
| Asian students graduating | 59% | 45% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $39,190/yr | $39,624/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 65% | 58% |
| Graduate on time | 23% | 12% |
| Pell students who graduate | 37% | 21% |
| First-gen students who finish | 38% | 22% |
| Low-income students who finish | 31% | 20% |
| Students who transfer out | 34% | 43% |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $41,799/yr | $40,816/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Business, Management & Marketing 16% · Health Professions 13% · Homeland Security & Protective Services 12% | Health Professions 20% · Computer & Information Sciences 13% · Transportation & Materials Moving 12% |
| Most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 16% of degrees | Health Professions — 20% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Health Professions — 13% of degrees | Computer & Information Sciences — 13% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Homeland Security & Protective Services — 12% of degrees | Transportation & Materials Moving — 12% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Computer & Information Sciences — 10% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 11% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Visual & Performing Arts — 10% of degrees | Psychology — 8% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Education, Other — $105,126/yr | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $116,881/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 19% | 16% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 5,625 | 6,574 |
| Students per professor | 16 : 1 | 18 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 1,790 | 671 |
| Average professor pay | $8,802/mo | $8,304/mo |
| Full-time professors | 59% | 75% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
| Median family income | $32,788 | $27,992 |
| Setting | City (midsize) | City (midsize) |
| Location | Columbus, GA | Macon, GA |
| Region | Southeast | Southeast |
| Founded | 1958 | 1884 |
| Public or private | Public | Public |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | Master's Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 1.3% | 2.1% |
| Men | 43% | 47% |
| Women | 57% | 53% |
| White students | 42% | 49% |
| Black students | 37% | 31% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 9.3% | 8.8% |
| Asian students | 2.5% | 3.2% |
| Two or more races | 4.7% | 4.6% |
| Other / not reported | 3.4% | 0.8% |
| Special type | None | None |
| First-generation students | 33% | 36% |
| Part-time students | 28% | 35% |
| Students age 25+ | 24% | 27% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $7,245/yr | $7,135/yr |
| Endowment | $104.2M | $17.7M |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 1,392 | 1,738 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | $6,512/yr | $5,410/yr |
| Meal plan charge | $5,270/yr | $3,440/yr |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | Varies by week | 19 meals/week |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Semester |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | No | Yes |
| ROTC | Yes — Army | No |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | No | No |
| Credit for life experience | Yes | Yes |
| Online classes | Yes | Yes |
| Whole degrees online | Yes | Yes |
| Weekend & evening classes | Yes | No |
| Teacher certification | Yes | Yes |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | Yes |
| Job placement for graduates | Yes | Yes |
| On-campus day care | No | No |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | No | No |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | Yes | Yes |
| Credit for military training | Yes | Yes |
| Student veteran organization | No | No |
| Tuition payment plan | No | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | No | No |
| Prepaid tuition plan | No | No |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NCAA Division II without football | NAIA Division I |
| Football team | No | No |
| Varsity teams | 15 | 10 |
| Student athletes | 317 | 187 |
| Athletic scholarships | $1.6M | $570,098 |
| Athletics budget | $4.5M | $2.3M |
| Athletics revenue | $4.5M | $2.3M |
| Recruiting spend | $125,444 | $3,728 |
Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.