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Columbus, GA · Valdosta, GA
| Columbus State University | Valdosta State University | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $13,115/yr | $10,945/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $11,271/yr | $9,378/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $26,000 | $24,779 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $11,873/yr | $9,541/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $13,786/yr | $11,877/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $16,542/yr | $14,906/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $18,329/yr | $15,905/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $276/mo | $263/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $11,720/yr | $9,530/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $10,900/yr | $11,668/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $1,600/yr | $1,200/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $6,312/yr | $6,364/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $21,676/yr | $20,801/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $5,898/yr | $6,124/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $17,610/yr | $17,836/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 45% | 52% |
| Students taking federal loans | 38% | 44% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 99% | 72% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 800–1060 | 920–1100 |
| SAT average | 977 | 1013 |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | 16–22 | 16–22 |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | English 14–22 · Math 16–22 | English 15–22 · Math 16–20 |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 3,550 | 4,689 |
| Students accepted | 3,523 | 3,915 |
| Students who enrolled | 1,083 | 1,135 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 31% | 29% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | 21% | 35% |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | 17% | 17% |
| 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) | Required |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 42% | 42% |
| Freshmen who come back | 70% | 72% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $44,544/yr | $49,361/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $27,521–$62,748 | $31,232–$69,186 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 47% | 47% |
| White students graduating | 42% | 46% |
| Black students graduating | 40% | 40% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 39% | 46% |
| Asian students graduating | 59% | 50% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $39,190/yr | $39,416/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 65% | 69% |
| Graduate on time | 23% | 25% |
| Pell students who graduate | 37% | 40% |
| First-gen students who finish | 38% | 31% |
| Low-income students who finish | 31% | 30% |
| Students who transfer out | 34% | 37% |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $41,799/yr | $43,211/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Business, Management & Marketing 16% · Health Professions 13% · Homeland Security & Protective Services 12% | Business, Management & Marketing 22% · Health Professions 15% · Education 12% |
| Most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 16% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 22% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Health Professions — 13% of degrees | Health Professions — 15% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Homeland Security & Protective Services — 12% of degrees | Education — 12% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Computer & Information Sciences — 10% of degrees | Psychology — 11% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Visual & Performing Arts — 10% of degrees | Liberal Arts & General Studies — 8% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Education, Other — $105,126/yr | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $96,299/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 19% | 10% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 5,625 | 6,622 |
| Students per professor | 16 : 1 | 17 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 1,790 | 3,096 |
| Average professor pay | $8,802/mo | $8,606/mo |
| Full-time professors | 59% | 68% |
| 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 | $35,444 |
| Setting | City (midsize) | City (small) |
| Location | Columbus, GA | Valdosta, GA |
| Region | Southeast | Southeast |
| Founded | 1958 | 1906 |
| Public or private | Public | Public |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | Doctoral/Professional Universities |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 1.3% | 1.3% |
| Men | 43% | 32% |
| Women | 57% | 68% |
| White students | 42% | 44% |
| Black students | 37% | 37% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 9.3% | 12% |
| Asian students | 2.5% | 1.6% |
| Two or more races | 4.7% | 3.8% |
| Other / not reported | 3.4% | 0.9% |
| Special type | None | None |
| First-generation students | 33% | 31% |
| Part-time students | 28% | 21% |
| Students age 25+ | 24% | 17% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $7,245/yr | $7,133/yr |
| Endowment | $104.2M | $73.8M |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 1,392 | 2,320 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | $6,512/yr | $4,772/yr |
| Meal plan charge | $5,270/yr | $4,288/yr |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | Varies by week | Varies by week |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Semester |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | No | No |
| ROTC | Yes — Army | Yes — Air Force |
| 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 | Yes |
| Teacher certification | Yes | Yes |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | Yes |
| Job placement for graduates | Yes | No |
| On-campus day care | No | No |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | No | No |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | Yes | No |
| Credit for military training | Yes | No |
| Student veteran organization | No | Yes |
| Tuition payment plan | No | No |
| 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 | NCAA Division II with football |
| Football team | No | Yes |
| Varsity teams | 15 | 12 |
| Student athletes | 317 | 328 |
| Athletic scholarships | $1.6M | $2.1M |
| Athletics budget | $4.5M | $8.6M |
| Athletics revenue | $4.5M | $9.7M |
| Recruiting spend | $125,444 | $102,557 |
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.