Columbia College

About Columbia College

Columbia College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Sonora, California. It enrolls 1,984 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.

Official website: gocolumbia.edu

Acceptance

Open

Graduation

9.7%

Net Price

$11,316

Median Earnings (10yr)

$39,035

Enrollment

1,984

Student : Faculty

20:1

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 (2-Year). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

As a two-year college, Columbia College generally admits all qualified applicants.

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 $11,316 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.

Full Cost Breakdown

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

Tuition & Fees (in-state)

$1,282

Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)

$9,264

Room & Board (off-campus)

$22,086

Books & Supplies

$1,062

Other Expenses (off-campus)

$4,968

Total Cost of Attendance

$19,870

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
  $10,095
• $30,001 – $48,000
  $10,910
• $48,001 – $75,000
  $13,961
• $75,001 – $110,000
  $15,762
• Over $110,000
  $12,813

Graduation Rate & Retention

10% of full-time students who enrolled at Columbia College graduate within six years, and 66% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Columbia College earn a median of $39,035 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.

Earnings by Demographic

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

By Gender

Who Studies Here

Columbia College is home to 1,984 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 53% are first-generation college students, 65% study part-time.

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

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

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.

What You Can Study

Columbia College offers an extensive catalog of programs: 42 distinct programs across 24 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.

Faculty & Resources

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

Faculty by Rank

48 instructional faculty across 1 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.

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.