Payback
EarningsPlus
Economic score
Columbia College is a private regional university located in Columbia, Missouri. Columbia College has an open admissions policy.
Return on educational investment at Columbia College is in the bottom 25% of all ranked schools. The median student earns $43,125 10 years after enrolling, 23rd in Missouri, and in the bottom 50% nationally. When adjusted for earning differences by major, Columbia College bachelor students earn 1% less than the national average.
Columbia College’s median net annual cost of $26,668 and average years to graduate of 4.5 are reported only at the school level. We assume these same costs and graduation time for all programs.
The top 6 programs at Columbia College sorted by number of graduates - Liberal Arts and Sciences, Business and Commerce, Criminal Justice, Psychology, Business Administration, Accounting - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Annual net cost
$26,668
Average years to graduate
4.5
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Computer science
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 3.27
Information Systems Mgmt.
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 4.31
Finance
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 4.89
HR Management
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 5.72
Biology
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 6.14
Health Administrative Services
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 7.85
Marketing
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 8.59
Sociology
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 11.46
Computer Science
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 16.9
History
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 18.01
EarningPlus compares the three-year post graduate earnings to the median earnings of the same graduating class, with the same graduate degree. These 2 metrics, debt-to-earnings and EarningsPlus, are combined into an economic score. The lower the economic score the better.
The most popular 4 graduate programs at Columbia College - Business and Commerce, Curriculum and Instruction, Criminal Justice, Educ. Administration - are shown below.
The average full-time graduate completes their degree in 4.5 years. 37% of all students graduate within 8 years including part-time students. The graduation rate at Columbia College is 23% lower than the state average, and 21% below the average for all regional universities in the country.
At Columbia College, Pell Grant recipients represent 43% of the measured graduating class, 8% higher than the national average of 35%. The average Pell Grant recipient at Columbia College graduates within 4.5 years.
We calculate this performance by adjusting the graduation rate of Pell students by their percentage of the student body. This adjustment is made to prevent schools with large numbers of Pell students from underperforming in comparison to schools with few Pell students but high graduation rates.
Columbia College’s economic mobility score of 3.65 is calculated by adjusting the 12.39 economic score of lower-income students by the 43% pell grant recipients within the student body. Columbia College’s EMS of 3.65 ranks in the bottom 5% nationally. Please note that the economic mobility score considers only students that have graduated.
Economic Mobility
To calculate economic mobility of low-income (household earnings below $30,000) students, we adjust each institution’s economic score by their percentage of Pell Grant students. The logic of this Pell-adjusted calculation is derived from Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index (EMI).
Bottom 5%
The average Title IV recipient at Columbia College pays $26,668 a year, $11,966 less than the $38,634 advertised. See below the cost breakdown for students who receive Title IV grants, broken down by income level.
Average net price
The average net price shown by income level for all students that receive Title IV aid. Calculated by deducting the average grant and scholarship aid from tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Limited to first-time, full-time students. Public institution figures are calculated using in-state tuition figures.
Median net price $26,668
Much of the gap between net price and sticker price is filled by institutional and government grants. At Columbia College, 91% of students receive some grants and scholarships, compared to the national average of 87% for all colleges and universities. The average amount of federal, state, and institutional grants that students receive is shown on the right.
This leaves a total of $26,668 on average to be covered by the student – be it through loans or out of pocket. In total, 64% of students take out loans, federal or private, at an average amount of $6,707. This is 10% more than the national average.
Federal grants
$5,846
Pell grants
$4,045
State grants
$1,745
Institutional grants
$13,667
Columbia College offers 24 online bachelor programs, 16 of which are held exclusively online. At the master’s level Columbia College offers 4 programs, one of which is held exclusively online. We use the IPEDS July '20 — July '21 Distance Education report to determine which programs are online. EarningsPlus data is provided when available.
Online programs
28
Hybrid programs
11
Percentage of programs online
60%
Full time
62%
83%
Female
62%
59%
First time
33%
59%
In-state
57%
68%
1st generation
49%
35%
White
55%
52%
Black
22%
14%
Hispanic
11%
15%
Asian
2%
5%
American Indian
1%
1.6%
Pacific Islander
N/A
0.3%
Other
10%
12%