Columbus State University (CSU, CSU) Introduction and Academics

Introduction

Columbus State University (CSU) is a member of the University System of Georgia. Located in Muscogee County, the school was founded as a junior college in 1958 and began offering bachelor’s and master’s degrees in 1965 while continuing to operate as Columbus State College. The institution received its current name in 1996 as part of the state’s university system restructuring program.

The main CSU campus, a 132-acre site located in Midtown Columbus, is home to most of the university’s academic and athletic departments. The RiverPark campus, home to CSU’s fine arts complex, is located in historic downtown Columbus near the Chattahoochee River. Two satellite campuses can be found in West Point and Fort Benning.

The university is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

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Information Summary

Ranks 22nd in Georgia and 951st overall. See the entire top 2,000 colleges and universities list
Overall Score (about)	80.8
Total Cost On-Campus Attendance	$21,746
Admission Success rate	N/A
ACT / SAT 75%ile scores	23 / 1100
Student Ratio Students-to-Faculty	17 : 1
Retention (full-time / part-time)	72% / 19%
Enrollment Total (all students)	8,076

Academics

CSU prides itself on offering small classes that allow all students to experience regular one-on-one interaction with his or her professors, a quality that attracts many students to the university. Columbus State is comprised of five colleges:

College of the Arts
College of Business
College of Letters and Sciences
College of Education and Health Professions
CSU Graduate School

The university awards more than 65 undergraduate and 30 graduate degrees in the arts, business, education, nursing, social sciences, and more.

Students can pursue bachelor’s degrees in accounting, computer science, English, exercise science, health science, mathematics, psychology, theatre education, and more.

Graduate programs are offered in several fields, primarily in education. These include master’s level programs in early childhood education, art education, school counseling, teaching, business administration, music education, public administration, computer science, and instructional technology.

Most Popular Fields of Study

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Unique Programs

The Department of Theatre offers Georgia’s only Bachelor of Science in Education that includes a teacher certification in drama. Students may perform in any of three venues, including the large proscenium theatre, a smaller theater/lecture hall, and a modular, more flexible theatre space.

The Environmental Science program merges the disciplines of biology, chemistry, geology, and environmental law to produce students who can manage increasingly complex questions about environmental concerns and who will work actively to improve the quality of their environment. Admission to this program is considered competitive.

The university also has six outreach centers for educating both CSU students and members of the community including K-12 students. These include the Carson McCullers Center for Writers and Musicians, the Childcare Resource and Referral center, the Coca-Cola Space Science Center, the Columbus Regional Mathematics Collaborative, the Center for Quality Teaching and Learning, and the Oxbow Meadows Environmental Learning Center.

Admissions

Anyone wishing to attend Columbus State must apply for acceptance.

Undergraduate Students

Along with a completed undergraduate application, prospective undergrads must submit a non-refundable application fee, official high school transcripts, and official SAT and/or ACT scores. Homeschooled students should also complete the Supplemental Homeschool Application. Students who are transferring from another college or university must also submit official transcripts from all post-secondary schools attended.

Graduate Students

Students wishing to pursue graduate studies must have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution. Official transcripts from all colleges or universities attended must accompany the applicant’s completed application, non-refundable application fee, GRE, GMAT or other standardized test scores, and verification / proof of lawful presence.

The Admissions Office can supply interested students with deadlines, application fee amounts, and the proper procedures to follow. International students and students returning to CSU after being away must meet additional requirements.

Financial Aid

Students seeking financial assistance to help finance their educations must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Eligible CSU students may receive help paying for college in the form of grants, loans, work study jobs, and scholarships.

The Honors Scholarship and Leadership Scholarship are awarded to students who demonstrate particularly astute abilities in academia and outside the classroom. The university also offers numerous undergraduate scholarship opportunities for students pursuing various majors such as accounting, environmental science, teacher preparation, and law enforcement.

Graduate students may be able to receive financial aid in the form of teaching or research assistantships, including a stipend and a waiver of some or all of the tuition and other fees. Graduate students should consult with their individual department about what sort of assistantships or fellowships are available and about the details of the application process.

The CSU Financial Aid office can direct applicants to specific scholarships and their requirements, or students can inquire with a specific department about any unique opportunities available to them in particular areas of study.

Student Financial Aid Details

Ranks 4707th for the average student loan amount.
Secrets to getting the best scholarships and financial aid in Georgia.

Students

Columbus State students rarely get bored, thanks to the wide variety of activities and organizations on campus. Student groups and clubs at CSU include academic and professional organizations, performing arts groups, social fraternities and sororities, religious groups, and special interest groups such as College Republicans, the Minority Student Union, and the French Club. Students can write for the Saber newspaper, see musical or dramatic performances, and visit the fitness center for weight training and exercise.

Freshmen must live on campus for their first two semesters unless they are legally married or live with their parents within 30 miles from campus. This policy is in place to help ensure both academic and personal success at CSU.

Student Enrollment Demographics

Student Graduation Demographics

Athletics

The Columbus State Cougars participate in the Peach Belt Conference of the NCAA Division II, except for the co-ed rifle team which is a Division I member of the Ohio Valley Conference.

In addition to the rifle team, varsity sports include men’s and women’s basketball, cross country, golf, tennis, and track and field. There is also a men’s baseball team as well as women’s softball and volleyball teams.

Athletic facilities on campus include multiple different golf courses, a baseball field and stadium, a softball field. and the indoor Lumpkin Center indoor arena.

Traditions

The university’s Athletic Hall of Fame was conceived by a number of alumni and sports authorities during the summer of 1994. In 1996 the first “class” was inducted at the Columbus Convention Center and included over 200 attendees. Since that time, the induction ceremony and the Hall itself have both become points of pride for CSU alums.

Local Community

The main CSU campus is located 100 miles west of Atlanta, Georgia in the city of Columbus, which lies on the Chattahoochee River and has a population of nearly 200,000 people. The Fort Benning military base is just south of Columbus. Nearby attractions include restaurants, movie theaters, the National Civil War Naval Museum, an opera house, the Coca Cola Space Science Center, several other museums and performing arts centers, Providence Canyon, a state park, the Calloway Gardens, and many other sites of historical interest. Various festivals occur throughout the year.

Columbus State University