Private For-Profit Associate Strong 73/100

Columbia College

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

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Vienna, Virginia

About Columbia College

Thinking about Columbia College, a college in Virginia where more students graduate in Computer Science than anything else? The four things worth knowing are what it actually costs after aid, whether you would get in, whether students finish, and what they earn after they do.

Columbia College is a private for-profit institution offering associate degrees based in Vienna, Virginia. It enrolls 151 students (a very small, intimate student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Every figure on this page is reported by the federal government, not supplied by the college, so it can be compared like for like against anywhere else you are looking.

Acceptance
Open
Graduation
68.9%
Net Price
$10,171
Median Earnings (10yr)
$22,160
Enrollment
151
Student : Faculty
12:1

Accreditor Council on Occupational Education
Academic Calendar Continuous

How It Measures Up

These four scores answer one question: compared with similar colleges, is this one worth the money? Each runs 0 to 100 and is judged only against its peer group (2-Year), so a community college is never marked down for not being Harvard. Everything is computed from federal data. Nobody can pay to move a score, and a pillar with missing data is left unscored rather than guessed.

Strong
73/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes 89
Value 31
Affordability 49
Selectivity —

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

As a two-year college, Columbia College admits essentially everyone who qualifies, so plan around cost and completion instead of your odds of getting in.

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

Cost & Financial Aid

Ignore the sticker price. What matters is the net price, which is what a typical family pays here after grants and scholarships come off. At $10,171 a year on average, it sits below what private for-profit colleges charge nationally. That still leaves most families a gap to cover, but a manageable one. Figures are College Scorecard 2023-24.

The average hides a wide spread by household income, so it is worth estimating what a family at your income would actually pay before treating this as the price.

Average Net Price
$10,171
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
34%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
16%
Borrowing to attend

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
    $10,042
  • $30,001 – $48,000
    $10,246
  • $48,001 – $75,000
    $11,163

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.

$2,108
25% percentile
$7,940
Median percentile
$7,723
75% percentile
What this means: 34% of students receive Pell grants. Most cost is borne by families above Pell thresholds. Verify your individual aid offer before deciding.

Graduation Rate & Retention

69% of students who start here finish within six years, and 81% come back after first year. Roughly half finish on that timeline, so budget for the possibility of a longer run. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.

Completion and earnings carry the most weight in this college's score, and how the UCD Score weighs each measure sets out exactly how they are combined.

6-Year Graduation Rate
69%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
81%
Returning for their second year

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

Ten years after starting here, the median student earns $22,160 a year, below the national median. Weigh that against the cost above before taking on debt here. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$22,160
Earning > $25K
39%
10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

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

$22,000$23,000$24,000$25,000$27,0006 yrs8 yrs10 yrs
What this means: Moderate return on investment. Every dollar of net annual cost is matched by ~$2.2 of median earnings 10 years out. Compare carefully against your funding plan.

Who Studies Here

Who you would actually be sitting next to: 151 students, an intimate, close-knit community. Worth knowing: 65% are the first in their family to go to college.

Total Enrolled
151
Part-Time
0%
First-Generation
65%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

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

GroupShareStudents
International 55.6% 84
Asian 24.5% 37
White 15.9% 24
Hispanic 2.0% 3
Black 2.0% 3
International: 55.6% (84 students)Asian: 24.5% (37 students)White: 15.9% (24 students)Hispanic: 2.0% (3 students)Black: 2.0% (3 students)Total151

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
Large Suburb Vienna, Virginia
Housing
Commuter campus No on-campus housing
Adult Learners
85% of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIA athletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Continuous scheduling structure

What You Can Study

After that comes the national picture for Personal Services graduates, which shows what the field pays across every college rather than just this one.

Columbia College offers a focused set of programs: 7 distinct programs across 6 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.

1 Program
1 Program
1 Program
1 Program

Faculty & Resources

There are 12 students for every instructor here: about average, so expect a mix of small seminars and big lectures.

Student : Faculty
12:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Avg Faculty Salary
$24,750
9-month equivalent across all ranks

Pros & Cons of Columbia College

No college is right for everyone. Here is where Columbia College is likely to suit you and where it may not, based on the same figures shown above.

Read against a single profile these cut both ways, which is why it helps to put two colleges side by side on the same measures rather than judging one in isolation.

PROS
  • Below-average net price
  • Open admissions
  • Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
  • Tight-knit, close community feel
  • Above-average graduation rate
  • Low typical debt at graduation
CONS
  • Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
  • Below-average post-graduation earnings
  • For-profit institution, verify accreditation and outcomes carefully
Best for: Based on the data, Columbia College is a fit for students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.

Frequently Asked Questions about Columbia College

The questions families ask most about Columbia College, answered straight from the federal data rather than from the college's own marketing.

Is Columbia College hard to get into?
Not especially. Columbia College admits most qualified applicants, and reports no competitive acceptance rate. Plan around cost and whether students finish, not your odds of getting in.
What is the acceptance rate at Columbia College?
No acceptance rate is reported, which for a college like this normally means admission is open to anyone meeting the basic requirements. Confirm with the admissions office rather than assuming it.
How much does Columbia College cost?
Budget around $10,171 a year. That is the net price, what families typically pay once grants and scholarships come off, not the sticker price. Your own figure depends on household income, so treat this as a midpoint rather than a quote. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Columbia College worth it?
On the numbers, yes: moderate return on investment. Ten years in, the median graduate earns $22,160 a year against a net price of $10,171, about 2.2 dollars of earnings for every dollar of annual cost. That ratio ignores whether you finish and what you study, which matter just as much. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Columbia College known for?
Mostly Computer Science, Culinary Arts, Business Administration. Those are the fields where it awards the most degrees, which is a better guide to where the teaching strength sits than any reputation ranking. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
What do Columbia College graduates earn?
About $22,160 a year, measured ten years after students first enrolled. Half earn more and half earn less, and what you study moves that figure far more than where you study. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Columbia College accredited?
Yes. Columbia College is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education.
How many students attend Columbia College?
151 students. Small enough that you will recognize faces across campus, and small enough that course choice can be limited. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
What is the graduation rate at Columbia College?
69% finish within six years. That leaves a meaningful share who do not finish on that timeline, so budget for the possibility of a longer run. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
Is Columbia College a public or private college?
It is Private For-Profit. Private for-profit, so compare completion and earnings carefully against a public alternative.
Where is Columbia College located?
Columbia College is located in Vienna, Virginia.
What programs does Columbia College offer?
7 different programs, most commonly Computer Science, Culinary Arts, Business Administration. If the subject you want is not among them, check the full list before applying rather than assuming it is offered.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Columbia College?
12 students per instructor. Low enough that staff are likely to know who you are. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.

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