About CC

Founded in 1851, Columbia College has been helping students advance their lives through higher education for more than 160 years. A private, nonprofit liberal arts and sciences college, Columbia College takes pride in small classes, experienced faculty and quality educational programs.

Originally founded as Christian Female College, the college changed its name to Columbia College in 1970. That year, it transitioned from a two-year women's college to a four-year coeducational college. 

CC has a traditional campus, more than 30 venues nationwide, an evening program in Columbia, Mo., and an online program. The college serves approximately 18,000 students annually.

The college offers associate and bachelor's degrees, as well as master's degrees at the main campus, selected venues and online.

Locations

• The traditional campus and evening program are located in Columbia, Mo.
• The college also has more than 30 locations in multiple states and Cuba.

Enrollment

• more than 1,171 traditional campus students
• nearly 1,257 evening program students
• more than 10,138 nationwide venue students
• more than 4,702 online program students
• more than 875 graduate students

Degrees

Find more information about each of the degrees that are offered at venues nationwide on our Academics page.

Online program

More than 800 undergraduate courses are offered through the online program, along with 29 online degrees.

Student-faculty ratio

• Day Campus - 10:1

Accreditation

Columbia College is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission. Find out more about Columbia College’s accreditation.

Athletics

Columbia College is part of NAIA Division I competitive sports. CC offers men's and women’s basketball, cross-country, golf, soccer, track and field. Columbia College also has women’s softball, women’s volleyball, women's bowling, men’s baseball and men's lacrosse. 

The competitive eSports team began its first season in fall 2016. 

Religious affiliation

The college is a nonsectarian school welcoming all students regardless of religious affiliation. However, Columbia College is affiliated by covenant with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). The college is not owned by the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ); it merely holds a mutually-beneficial affiliation.