“it told me what to ask and what the renewal GPA looked like, which I was not going to find on my own”Melissa
What makes Columbus State different
Georgia residents with strong academics can access state scholarship programs alongside campus honors and research awards.
Merit tiers3See who qualifies
Research checkedJun 2026By our research team
Selection beyond grades and scores
Start with the selection process.
These awards are not recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read each award's selection rules, application steps and dates. Meeting a minimum is not an award offer.
Read the selection rules
Look for the school's stated criteria and whether an additional application is needed.
Check the application dates
Confirm the current admission and scholarship deadlines directly with the school.
Know what happens next year
Check renewal, credit requirements and how other aid affects the award.
The fine print / Three questions to carry forward
Before you count on it.
Does it apply to us? Confirm the entering year, residency and every eligibility condition.
Can we keep it? Check renewal GPA, credits and how long the award lasts.
Can we combine it? Ask how outside scholarships and other school awards change the offer.
A printable research summary, source links and room for your questions.
See costs and school data+
Who this school may work for
This page is for Georgia residents who may qualify for HOPE or Zell Miller scholarships, as well as students seeking an honors college experience with funding for undergraduate research and creative projects.
Published yearly cost: Approximately $27,478 for 2026-2027. Source
Cost and graduation facts
Federal reporting on who actually enrolls at Columbus State, what they paid after aid, and what happened next — independent of anything the school markets.
Average annual net price by family income at Columbus State, academic year 2021-22 — in-state, Title-IV aid recipients only
Family income
Average net price paid
$0–$30,000
$11,271
$30,001–$48,000
$11,873
$48,001–$75,000
$13,786
$75,001–$110,000
$16,542
$110,001+
$18,329
All income levels (average)
$13,115
Sticker price vs. what students actually pay
Published tuition & fees (in-state), AY 2022-23
$5,898
Published tuition & fees (out-of-state), AY 2022-23
$17,610
Average net price paid (all Title-IV aid), AY 2021-22
$13,115
That works out to roughly a 39% discount below the federal AY 2021-22 average cost of attendance of $21,676 (College Scorecard — a separate, federally reported figure, not the published cost of attendance shown above).
Columbus State is a public school; Scorecard's net price figure covers in-state, Title-IV-aid-recipient payers only — there is no comparable federal figure for out-of-state students.
Outcomes for students who enrolled here
Graduation rate (150% of normal time), 2016 cohort
42%
First-year retention rate, 2021 cohort
70%
Median debt at completion, 2020–2021 completers
$26,000 (~$276/mo on a 10-yr plan)
Median earnings, 10 years after entry (measured 2020-21)
$44,544
Share of students receiving a Pell grant, AY 2021-22
57%
Share of students receiving a federal loan, AY 2021-22
43%
See other scholarships and cost examples+
Other Columbus State scholarships worth checking
These awards can be harder to find. Each one has its own rules.
AmountUp to $300EligibilityStudent Research And Creative Endeavors Grants provide up to $300 for materials, supplies, or travel costs to disseminate research findings or creative projects.
AmountAmount not publishedEligibilityHonors Educational Activity Grants support Honors students' co-curricular activities such as research, conference travel, and study abroad programs.
AmountUp to $2,500EligibilityThe Tower Scholarship is an annual, renewable scholarship of up to $2,500 for entering freshmen admitted to the CSU Honors College.
AmountUp to $5,000EligibilityThe Presidential Scholarship is an annual, renewable scholarship of up to $5,000 for entering freshmen admitted to the CSU Honors College.