Columbia International University (CIU) is a private Christian university in Columbia, South Carolina.

Notable alumni

Doris Bartholomew
Chet Bitterman
P. T. Chandapilla
Nabeel Jabbour
Joy Ridderhof
Laura Story
Phillip Yancey
Chad Prather
Laura Belle Barnard

History
CIU began in 1923 when it was founded as Columbia Bible School. The original purpose was to provide a two-year course of study in biblical studies for local mill workers. By 1927, the decision was made to convert the school into a college and begin offering bachelor’s degrees in Bible. A location in downtown Columbia was established and the first dean (later president) of the college was chosen. The school continued to grow and eventually required a new campus. The college was relocated in 1960 to its present facility on Monticello Road. It was during 1968 that the institution’s longest serving president, Robertson McQuilkin, son of the first president of Columbia Bible College, was inaugurated. During this period, the institution also changed its name to Columbia Bible College and Seminary. The name was changed yet again in 1994 to Columbia International University to highlight the growing educational mission as well as to demonstrate a commitment to preparing students from all parts of the world for global Christian service. Former presidents include Drs. R. C. McQuilkin, G. Alen Fleece, Robertson McQuilkin, Johnny Miller, George Murray, and Bill Jones.

Divisions

CIU Seal
CIU has five colleges: the College of Arts & Sciences, the College of Counseling, the College of Education, the College of Intercultural Studies, and the Seminary & School of Ministry. Because of the closely knit nature of the institution and the emphasis on Christian education and biblical studies regardless of major, many of the colleges share faculty members.[1]

Academics
CIU’s traditional academic emphasis has been placed on primarily on cross cultural work, followed by biblical studies and the humanities and liberal arts rather than natural sciences, in addition to strong emphasis on ministerial skills at the undergraduate level. This is evidenced by the fact that there are undergraduate and graduate majors relating directly to ministry but not in the sciences.

Accreditation
CIU is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools[2] for its undergraduate and graduate programs and is listed as a Level VI school, the highest degree level offered, meaning that it offers four or more doctoral degrees. CIU is also accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the Association for Biblical Higher Education with its next ten year review in 2029.[3] The seminary is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada to award the Master of Divinity (M.Div.), the Master of Arts (MA), and the Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.).[4] The Graduate School is also accredited by the South Carolina Department of Education to offer graduate degrees in early childhood and elementary education leading to certification as a teacher in State of South Carolina.[5]

Student life
Like most evangelical schools and many seminaries, CIU does have doctrinal affirmations and lifestyle standards which all students (regardless of degree sought) are expected to affirm as a part of admission.

Doctrinal standards
There are seven doctrinal points which students must assent to as a part of their admission to and candidacy for a degree from CIU. These are biblical inspiration, natural separation of humanity from God, salvation by grace through faith in Christ, the historical doctrine of the Trinity, the bodily resurrection of Christ from the dead, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the believer, and the evangelical mandate to witness to the gospel of Christ. Additionally, the doctrine of Premillennialism is officially held by the school, but students are not required to adhere to this doctrine. CIU requires all teaching faculty to affirm Premillennialism.[6]

Lifestyle standards
CIU holds to a goal of spiritual formation in preparation for life after college. Students are required to sign a covenant form agreeing to keep various lifestyle standards established by the university. Some of the standards include prohibition from alcohol and tobacco. Students are required to complete a Spiritual Growth and Self Assessment – a narrative of a student’s spiritual journey during the year. Though not required during summer and winter breaks, students are expected to maintain CIU lifestyle standards.

The standards have been a point of contention for many years. While not actively publicized, a complete handbook is available for viewing at [1].

In the spring semester of 2007, one of the most contentious standards, the “physical expression of affection” standard (dating couples may not hold hands or kiss, but may only hug briefly) was revised to allow for more freedom of physical expressions (couples dating seriously are now allowed to hold hands and kiss briefly).

Denominational relationships
CIU is not directly affiliated or sponsored by any single denomination though welcomes all students from any number of evangelical Christian denominations and somewhat more loosely, any Protestant denomination.

While CIU does have enrolled students and faculty who are members of Christian communities which would not typically be identified as evangelical Protestant, it does require that all faculty and staff belong to a local Protestant church. This policy was enforced some years ago when one faculty member, Dr. Edward Rommen, was removed from his seminary teaching post upon his conversion to Eastern Orthodoxy and reception into the Orthodox Church in America. Prior to his removal from the faculty, Dr. Rommen was a prominent member of the Evangelical Free Church of America.

Additional programs
While the primary mission of CIU is to provide an evangelical higher education to its students, the corporate entity also includes Ben Lippen School.

Ben Lippen School
Ben Lippen is a private, interdenominational Christian school located on the CIU campus. It was founded as a boarding school in Asheville, North Carolina in the 1940s, but was moved to its current location in 1988, offering middle and high school programs. An elementary school away from the main CIU campus was begun in 1989, and in 2006 a main elementary school campus was completed on CIU grounds and classes began there in August. The schools are co-educational and feature a mix of commuting and resident students. The curriculum mirrors most public institutions with the exception of teaching subject from an evangelical Christian worldview and the inclusion of Bible classes and chapel for students, faculty, and staff. In 2013, there were nearly 800 students enrolled at the school.

columbia international university tuition

Undergraduate Residential Tuition & Fees

2021-2022 Tuition & Fees (per semester)

The current annual estimated tuition at CIU for a full-time undergraduate student who lives on campus is $34,540. That includes tuition, room, board and fees.

We also recommend that all students budget for additional expenses they may incur such as $80 for loan fees, $600 for books and supplies, $1,000 for transportation and $2,630 for miscellaneous expenses.

Below is a full list of all fees for 2021-2022. It includes information on room and board, insurance, deposits, private music lessons, graduation expenses and other details you’ll need to know.

Please note fees and other charges may change without notice.

ENROLLMENT DEPOSIT
   Enrollment Deposit………………………………………………………….$100

STUDENT SERVICES FEE (non-refundable)
   Full-time……………………………………………………………………….. $550
   Part-time………………………………………………………………………. $300

TUITION
   Full-time (12-18 credit hours/$817 per credit hour)…………..$12,245
   Per hour (less than 12 credit hours) ………………………………..$1,020
   Per hour (more than 18 credit hours) ………………………………$1,020
   Summer (per credit hour) …………………………………………………$425
   Dual Enrollment Program  (per credit hour)…………………………$100
   Audit (per credit hour)………………………………………………………..$80

ROOM AND BOARD (per semester)
   Housing Deposit ………………………………………………………………$100

   3 person room/unlimited meal plan ………………………………….$3,770
   2 person room/unlimited meal plan ………………………………….$4,475
   1 person room/unlimited meal plan ………………………………….$5,325

NOTE: A 10 meal plan option is available for students with documented allergies.

Single, double, or triple room requests and any preferences given on the Student Housing Survey are based on availability and not guaranteed.

Room and board costs do not include mid-semester breaks and the time between semesters (e.g., Thanksgiving, Christmas and Spring Break). Due to the volume of requests, first choice may not be available.

RAM CARDS
Students who are on a CIU meal plan may use $100 per semester for purchases made at Grace Coffee. The initial $100 of the Ram Card is included in the Room and Board costs. Students will receive a gift card after start of the semester.

MUSIC FEES
   Private Lessons (per semester)
      1/2 hour lesson (1 semester credit)…………………………………..$240
      1 hour lesson (2 semester credits)……………………………………$480
   Class Lessons (per semester) ……………………………………………$150
NOTE: Practice rooms are available for students taking lessons.

MISCELLANEOUS FEES
   Athletic Fee (all athletes)…………………………………………………… $170
   Graduation Late Fee…………………………………………………………… $50
   Identification Card Replacement Fee …………………………………… $10
   Diploma/Certificate Replacement Fee ………………………………….. $40
   Diploma/Certificate Certified Copy Fee ………………………………… $90
   Transcript Fee (per paper transcript)…………………………………….. $12
   Transcript Fee (per electronic transcript) ………………………………. $10

INSURANCE
CIU does not provide student health insurance. All students are required to have health insurance coverage and are responsible for securing their own coverage.