Private Nonprofit Graduate Good 62/100

Columbia College

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

Compare This College

Columbia, Missouri

About Columbia College

Columbia College is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Columbia, Missouri. It enrolls 4,950 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Acceptance
Graduation
26.2%
Net Price
$22,715
Median Earnings (10yr)
$45,378
Enrollment
4,950
Student : Faculty
20:1

Accreditor Higher Learning Commission
Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Open / Online). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Good
62/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Open / Online
Outcomes 64
Value 26
Affordability 41
Selectivity

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

Admissions data is not yet reported for Columbia College.

Acceptance Rate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
Not reported

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Columbia College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $22,715 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.

Average Net Price
$22,715
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
45%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
41%
Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees
$25,826
Room & Board (on-campus)
$9,552
Room & Board (off-campus)
$9,552
Books & Supplies
$480
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$5,248
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$5,248
Total Cost of Attendance
$37,207

Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

  • Under $30,000
    $23,967
  • $30,001 – $48,000
    $21,168
  • $48,001 – $75,000
    $21,550
  • $75,001 – $110,000
    $23,015
  • Over $110,000
    $21,545

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$2,346
10% percentile
$4,793
25% percentile
$23,879
Median percentile
$28,689
75% percentile
$44,917
90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $15,750 ↓ $8,129
No Pell $12,500 ↓ $11,379
Dependent students $12,474 ↓ $11,405
Independent students $15,750 ↓ $8,129
Female students $15,250 ↓ $8,629
Male students $13,780 ↓ $10,099
Pell recipients: 18.4% (4,399 students)No Pell: 14.6% (3,491 students)Dependent students: 14.6% (3,484 students)Independent students: 18.4% (4,399 students)Female students: 17.8% (4,259 students)Male students: 16.1% (3,848 students)Overall Median$23,879
Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $11,000, less than completers ($23,879), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

26% of full-time students who enrolled at Columbia College graduate within six years, and 72% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate
26%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
72%
Returning for their second year
What this means: Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Columbia College earn a median of $45,378 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$45,378
Earning > $25K
72%
10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

$40,000$42,000$43,000$45,000$46,0006 yrs8 yrs10 yrs

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

By Gender

Female graduates
$37,700

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates
$53,600

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.


By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)
$36,400

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)
$46,500

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)
$49,900

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $15,900, about 30% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.

Loan Repayment Progression

Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.

Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt 22.6 pts across 6 years
51%1yr57.4%3yr66.9%5yr73.6%7yr
What this signals: Strong. 74% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Columbia College is home to 4,950 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 49% are first-generation college students, 50% study part-time.

Total Enrolled
4,950
Part-Time
50%
First-Generation
49%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents
White 53.0% 2,625
Black 21.1% 1,044
Hispanic 12.0% 594
Other 7.2% 358
International 3.4% 169
Asian 1.9% 96
White: 53.0% (2,625 students)Black: 21.1% (1,044 students)Hispanic: 12.0% (594 students)Other: 7.2% (358 students)International: 3.4% (169 students)Asian: 1.9% (96 students)Total4,950

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Columbia College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting
Midsize City Columbia, Missouri
Housing
Limited on-campus housing 412 beds
Adult Learners
65% of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAA athletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semester scheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated

What You Can Study

Columbia College offers an extensive catalog of programs: 50 distinct programs across 18 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

13 Programs
2 Programs
5 Programs
3 Programs
5 Programs
1 Program

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Columbia College is 20:1, on the higher side.

Student : Faculty
20:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$242M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$75,302
9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

67 instructional faculty across 4 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank Faculty Count Share Avg Salary
Full Professors 14 21% $84,708
Associate Professors 20 30% $80,449
Assistant Professors 25 37% $69,258
Instructors 8 12% $64,859

Pros & Cons of Columbia College

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Columbia College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS
  • Wide reach of need-based federal aid
  • First-gen-friendly student body
  • Flexible part-time enrollment options
CONS
  • Above-average net price
  • Larger class sizes than typical
  • Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
  • Modest first-year retention
  • Mostly part-time student body, less full-time campus feel
Best for: Based on the data, Columbia College is a fit for working adults or students needing part-time study options.

Frequently Asked Questions about Columbia College

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Columbia College.

How much does Columbia College cost?
The average net price after aid at Columbia College is $22,715 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Columbia College worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $45,378 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $22,715 per year. That's roughly 2.0x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Columbia College known for?
Columbia College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Liberal Arts, Business. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Columbia College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Columbia College are $45,378, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Columbia College accredited?
Yes. Columbia College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Columbia College?
Columbia College enrolls 4,950 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Columbia College?
Columbia College graduates 26% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Columbia College a public or private college?
Columbia College is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Columbia College located?
Columbia College is located in Columbia, Missouri.
What programs does Columbia College offer?
Columbia College offers 50 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Liberal Arts, Business.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Columbia College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Columbia College is 20:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.

Continue Exploring

Browse our full directory: every college, major, program, and career we track, all built from verified government data.