
Columbia College is a private college founded in Columbia, Missouri, in 1851 as Christian Female College. It adopted the name Columbia College in 1970, a change that reflects its transition from a women's college to a coeducational institution.
Its history helps explain its present-day mix of traditional campus programs and options for students who study online or at other locations. Applicants comparing those options should check which services and activities are available to them: an institution-wide offering is not necessarily available at every location.
Columbia College offers undergraduate and graduate study across the liberal arts, sciences, business, education, and professional fields. Prospective students can explore subjects such as biology, psychology, criminal justice, computer and information sciences, nursing, and business administration.
Associate and bachelor's degrees, as well as graduate programs, are part of its academic offerings. Availability depends on the credential and study format; a major offered online may have different course schedules or experiential requirements from its campus counterpart. Nursing and other professionally oriented programs warrant particular attention to clinical placements, admission standards, and the requirements for practice in the state where a student intends to work.
Reported student-to-faculty figures show an 11-to-1 ratio. That institution-level measure is useful context, but it does not predict the size of an individual lecture, laboratory, or online course.
Columbia College's main campus is in Columbia, Missouri. Students considering in-person study should distinguish that campus from the college's online offerings and other instructional locations when comparing courses, housing, and student services.
Columbia is also home to the University of Missouri and Stephens College, making higher education a visible part of the city. Columbia Regional Airport provides nearby air service, although flight availability and ground transportation should be checked before planning a trip. Students who commute should account for their course schedule, parking arrangements, and travel time rather than assuming that a campus-based program follows a conventional weekday timetable.
Columbia College describes its educational purpose in terms of providing accessible, affordable higher education and supporting lifelong learning. Its range of campus, online, and other study options is consistent with that stated emphasis, though the mission itself is a statement of institutional intent rather than evidence of an individual student's outcome.
The college began as Christian Female College. Prospective students should not infer from that historical name that enrollment today requires a religious commitment; its current academic options serve a broader student population. Students for whom a particular institutional affiliation or campus policy matters should consult the college's current governing documents.
Name of the institution
Columbia College-MissouriLevel of institution
Four or more yearsControl of institution
PrivateSetting type
City: MidsizeInstitutional Category
Degree - granting, primarily baccalaureate or aboveInstitution size category
5,000 - 9,999Religious affiliation
Protestant (Pentecostal Church)School type
Upper-level higher education institution with graduate programsMain student body
CoeducationalCalendar system
SemestersFoundation year
1851Columbia College-Missouri is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation confirms that the school meets quality standards and is required for students to receive federal financial aid.
Certificate of less than 1 year
Associate's degree
Bachelor's degree
Master's degreeData last updated on November 2, 2026
Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026
Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.