Exhibit (j)

                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Post-Effective
Amendment No. 21 to the registration statement on Form N-1A (the "Registration
Statement") of our report dated February 8, 2002, relating to the financial
statements and financial highlights which appear in the December 31, 2001 Annual
Report to Shareholders of Columbia Special Fund, Inc., which is also
incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement. We also consent to
the references to us under the headings "Financial Highlights" and "Accounting
Services and Financial Statements" in such Registration Statement.

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
October 25, 2002