Columbia's tuition & fees has increased from $28,100 (2015) to $20,054 (2025), and the rate of tuition increase is 28.63% over the past 10 years. The graduate school tuition & fees has raised from $10,004 (year 2015) to $15,630 (year 2025).
The 2025 tuition & fees are lower than last year (2024) at Columbia College.
Columbia's tuition increase rate is lower than the South Carolina's average increase rate of 11.74%. Compare to all colleges in United States, it's increase rate is lower than the average increase rate of 10.99%.
Cost of Attendance (COA) Trends
The total cost of attendance (COA), including tuition & fees, books & supplies costs, and living costs, increased by -12.72% from 2015 ($41,120).
For the current academic year 2024-2025, Columbia's COA is $35,888, which is decreased by -0.03% from last year.
The following table and chart show changes to Columbia's COA over the past 10 years.
Tuition & Fees Changes
The tuition & fees have decreased 28.63% for the last 10 years , and the 2025 tuition & fees are $19,276. The following table and chart show the tuition & fees changes at Columbia College over last the 10 years.
Books & Supplies Costs Changes
The cost of purchasing books & supplies which are required/recommended for courses $1,000, and it has decreased -15.40% from the year 2015 to 2025.
| Year | Books & Supplies | Change by Year |
|---|
| 2015-16 | $1,182 | - |
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| 2016-17 | $1,182 | |
|---|
| 2017-18 | $1,203 | 1.78% |
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| 2018-19 | $1,203 | |
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| 2019-20 | $1,258 | 4.57% |
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| 2020-21 | $1,268 | 0.79% |
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| 2021-22 | $1,240 | -2.21% |
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| 2022-23 | $1,240 | |
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| 2023-24 | $960 | -22.58% |
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| 2024-25 | $1,000 | 4.17% |
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Living Costs Changes
The living costs including room, board, and other living expenses have increased 15.49% when a student lives on-campus facilities and 52.02% when living-off campus from the year 2015 to 2025. The following table shows the changes in living costs at Columbia College.
| Year | Living On Campus | Living Off Campus | Change by Year |
|---|
| 2015-16 | $11,838 | $12,867 | - |
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| 2016-17 | $12,088 | $12,868 | 2.11% |
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| 2017-18 | $12,418 | $12,870 | 2.73% |
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| 2018-19 | $12,420 | $13,100 | 0.02% |
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| 2019-20 | $12,614 | $13,676 | 1.56% |
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| 2020-21 | $13,400 | $13,840 | 6.23% |
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| 2021-22 | $13,678 | $19,022 | 2.07% |
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| 2022-23 | $15,442 | $19,022 | 12.90% |
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| 2023-24 | $13,490 | $11,480 | -12.64% |
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| 2024-25 | $14,834 | $15,488 | 9.96% |
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Compare Tuition Change to Similar Colleges
The following table compares 2025 tuition and increase rate from last year between Columbia College and similar schools.
| 2025 | 2024 | Increase Rate |
|---|
| Columbia College | $20,054 | $16,745 | 19.76% |
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| Anderson University | $34,970 | $33,580 | 4.14% |
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|
| Charleston Southern University | $32,520 | $31,030 | 4.80% |
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|
| Columbia International University | $27,900 | $27,900 | - |
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|
| Bob Jones University | $22,892 | $21,896 | 4.55% |
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| Furman University | $59,770 | $58,312 | 2.50% |
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