Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

To get started with the application and enrollment process, go to the "Get Started Guide". The guide contains step-by-step instructions for all student populations.

Click here to view the "Get Started Guide" which contains step-by-step instructions for all student applicant populations.

You will need to complete an application for admission to the college first.

Apply Online

Once you receive your notification of acceptance, contact Transient / Guest Students for assistance with course selection and next steps.

Many students in high school career-technical programs are eligible for college credit at Columbus State. First, you will need to click here to Apply for Admission. After receiving your letter of acceptance, you will email sminton@cscc.edu for instructions on how to enroll and receive possible college credit for some of your coursework.

If you are currently enrolled in College Credit Plus and wish to continue on at Columbus State after completing high school, click here for detailed instructions. If you are interested in taking classes while you are in high school, please visit the Dual Credit/College Credit Plus page for more details to help you get started.

The placement test determines the appropriate course level placement for first term students. You may be exempt from taking some or all sections of the test if you have qualifying ACT, SAT, AP, or CLEP scores or have transcripts from another college or university.

Visit the Placement Testing website for details.

No, these tests are not required for admission to Columbus State. However, ACT and SAT scores can be submitted and may be utilized for placement purposes. Click here for details.

Need help navigating the ACT and/or the SAT process? Click here to view the ACT Prep Guide or here to view the SAT Prep Guide. These guides will walk you through the process, from test registration to preparing for the exams to receiving your scores.

If you will be transfering to Columbus State to seek a degree, click here to be taken to the "Transfer Student" page.

If you will be taking courses at Columbus State to transfer back to your home institution, click here to be taken to the “Transient/Guest” student.

Yes. Final, official high school transcripts and/or GED records must also be sent if required for your program of study, scholarships, financial aid verification, or to meet prerequisites for programs or courses.

For more information, visit Transcripts. 

Yes. Students may schedule classes at any Columbus State location where offered and in combination with online offerings. View classes that are offered both in person and online by clicking here.

No, Columbus State is not exactly free, but our tuition is among the lowest in the region. In fact, about 76% of our students take on zero college debt. Our tuition is about $5,388 a year for a full-time student. Many students can completely cover a year at Columbus State with financial aid and scholarships.

Here are three tips to pay for school:

• Fill out your FAFSA. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is your key to a variety of student aid programs, including grants, loans, scholarships, and work-study. For many students, the aid they get from the FAFSA will completely cover a year at Columbus State. Even if you think you don't qualify for federal student aid, complete FAFSA anyway because it can open doors to other funding sources that require a completed FAFSA. Apply for Financial Aid
• Scholarships: Don't forget scholarships! Every year, thousands of dollars in scholarships go unclaimed. Find specialized scholarships for students studying STEM, manufacturing, or IT. Or look through our Scholarship Application Portal for the scholarship that best fits you. Think you have to get straight A's or be a high school student to qualify for scholarships? Think again. Our scholarships are awarded adults and recent high school grads for academic achievement, community involvement, certain majors like STEM, IT, and healthcare, for financial need, or a combination of all of the above. Find Scholarships
• Save Money with Transfer Programs: You can complete the first two years of your bachelor's degree by earning an associate degree at Columbus State, then transferring to a four-year college. Two years with our low tuition gets you closer to that debt-free degree. Transfer Degrees

Please contact one of our Admissions Specialists or visit us in the Admissions Department. Contact Admissions.

This means you have already been entered into the system and have an account and password. Click to password.cscc.edu to recover your username or password.

Contact Admissions if you are a new student in the process of applying to Columbus State and need help. 

If you have already taken classes here, continue to Returning Students for more information on how to activate your account and register for classes.  

You will usually receive an email confirmation within 2-3 business days of submitting your application. Check your email, including your spam folder.  

First: Make sure you officially submitted your application.

Second: If you have questions, don’t hesitate to Contact Admissions.  

Third: It may depend on which application you used. We are in the process of upgrading our application.  

If you submitted an application using the old process, you may need to recreate it in the new system.

Click back to Apply Online and log in to the application you used. Check if you have any outstanding tasks in that application.

Fourth: If you plan to start classes in Autumn 2026, we will begin processing those applications in March 2026. Please check your email regularly for important announcements and next steps.   

Please check the email account that you used when you created the application for a communication from Columbus State, within 2-3 business days of submitting your application, for your next steps. 

If you receive an acceptance letter, you will want to continue with the rest of the steps in the enrollment process that can be found on the "Get Started Guide"

If you receive communication that is requesting additional information or documentation, please submit the information as soon as possible so that we can finish processing your application.

If you are unclear about what information is being requested, please contact an Admissions Specialist or visit our Admissions Department.

Note: We will begin processing applications for Autumn 2026 in March 2026. You will receive a confirmation email once you complete your application. Please check your email regularly for important announcements and next steps.   

Almost all male U.S. citizens and male immigrants, who are 18 through 25, are required to register with Selective Service. If you are required to register and do not, you will be blocked from course registration. If you are within this age range and have not yet registered, visit www.sss.gov or call 847-688-6888 to register for your number. If you are not yet 18, you must register within 30 days of your 18th birthday. Once you obtain this information, please provide verification of your number by calling the Telephone Information Center at 614-287-5353.

If you plan to start in Spring 2026 or Summer 2026, enter your Selective Service number in the online application. 

For students who plan to start in Autumn 2026 or later, you will enter your Selective Service during student onboarding. 

If you have already submitted an application and still need to send us your Selective Service number, contact the Telephone Information Center at (614) 287-5353.

Application deadlines for upcoming semesters can be found on the Admissions homepage.

Yes! You can call, email, or meet with an Admissions Specialists for assistance with any questions you might have before applying. If you prefer to meet with an Admissions Specialist, meetings are available on a walk-in basis.

Click here for Admissions Specialists contact information and walk-in hours and locations.