Columbia College Athletics

Columbia College competes in NAIA Division I, which sits between NCAA divisions with moderate athletic scholarships and regional competition. Just 8.4% of the 1,245 students participate in varsity athletics across 13 sports programs. The school distributes $603,600 in athletic scholarships among its 104 student-athletes. As a historically women's college, Columbia has built strong traditions in women's sports, particularly in tennis and basketball. The Koalas compete in the Appalachian Athletic Conference against regional rivals like Montreat College and Milligan University. With 81.77% of students being women, the athletic culture focuses heavily on women's competition. The NAIA level allows Columbia to offer meaningful scholarships while maintaining the academic focus typical of a small liberal arts institution in South Carolina's capital city.