Columbia College:
Columbia College, founded in 1854 and affiliated with the United Methodist Church, is a private, liberal arts, women's college with a coeducational Evening College and Graduate School. The College has been ranked by U.S. News and World Report since 1994 as one of the top comprehensive undergraduate colleges in the South. Enrollment is 1500 students from 23 states and 20 countries.

The College provides educational opportunities that develop students’ capacity for critical thought and expression, lifelong learning, acceptance of personal responsibility, and commitment to service and social justice. It is noted for faculty who foster academic excellence through collaborative teaching and learning; a vital learning community in which character, ethics, and values are cultivated; the study of leadership enhanced by opportunities for practical application; programs that capitalize on advances in technology; and learning environments that extend beyond the classroom.