Skip to content
College Path Hub

Columbia College

Columbia, Missouri · Private nonprofit · 4-year · City

Compare this college

Official website

At a glance

Average net price
$22,715What students typically pay per year after grants and scholarships.
Acceptance rate
Not reported
Graduation rate
44%Share of students who finish within 150% of the normal time.
Undergraduates
4,950
In-state tuition
$25,826Published price before aid.
Out-of-state tuition
$25,826
SAT midpoint
Not reported
Median earnings, 10 yrs
$45,378Median earnings of former students ten years after they first enrolled.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Data year: 2022-23 academic year. Updated September 2026. Figures are averages across all students and will differ from what any individual pays.

How it compares to similar colleges

Each rating covers one measure against private nonprofit 4-year colleges nationally. Five stars means the top fifth on that measure. There is no overall score, because which of these matters is your call.

Affordability

$22,715

Better than 49% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1092 compared).

Completion

44%

Better than 23% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1063 compared).

Earnings

$45,378

Better than 23% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1087 compared).

Debt at graduation

$23,879

Better than 58% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1020 compared).

What these ratings are based on
Affordability
Based on average net price: what students receiving federal aid actually paid, after grants and scholarships. Your own cost depends on your family's finances.
Completion
Based on the share of first-time, full-time students who graduate within 150% of normal time. It excludes transfer and part-time students, which understates colleges serving many of them.
Earnings
Based on median earnings ten years after students first enrolled. It reflects the subjects a college teaches and the region it sits in as much as its teaching.
Debt at graduation
Based on median federal loan debt among students who completed. Private and parent loans are not included, so real totals are often higher.
Why there is no rating for selectivity
A lower acceptance rate is selectivity, not quality. Awarding stars for it would be us inventing a value judgement and hiding it behind a number.

What it actually costs

Published cost

$37,207

The sticker price: tuition, fees, housing, food and books for one academic year, before any aid.

Average net price

$22,715

What students receiving federal aid actually paid on average, after grants and scholarships. This is the more useful number, though your own figure depends on your family’s finances.

Use this college’s official net price calculator

Outcomes

Graduation, retention, debt and earnings for Columbia College
Graduation rateWithin 150% of normal time44%
Retention rateFirst-year students who return75%
Median debt at graduationFederal loans only, students who completed$23,879
Median earnings, 10 years after entryFormer students, working and not enrolled$45,378

What graduates of each major earn

Median earnings one year after finishing, for people who took that subject here. This is the figure a college-wide median hides: the spread between subjects at one college is usually far wider than the spread between colleges.

Bachelor’s programs at Columbia College by graduate earnings
MajorEarnings, 1 yrDegrees awarded
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$71,27138
Computer and Information Sciences, General$67,9173
Management Information Systems and Services$61,770Not reported
Finance and Financial Management Services$56,10429
Health and Medical Administrative Services$54,19028
Business Administration, Management and Operations$53,74856
Human Resources Management and Services$49,32658
Business/Commerce, General$48,329203
Accounting and Related Services$46,90561
Criminal Justice and Corrections$46,19589
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities$45,133223
Marketing$40,26323
History$40,05425
Biology, General$37,97618
Sociology$37,75813
Human Services, General$37,57169
Psychology, General$35,68571
English Language and Literature, General$24,24015
Information Science/StudiesNot reported40
Computer/Information Technology Administration and ManagementNot reported18
Entrepreneurial and Small Business OperationsNot reported15
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/FitnessNot reported11
Political Science and GovernmentNot reported8
Design and Applied ArtsNot reported6
Fine and Studio ArtsNot reported5
Computer ScienceNot reported5
International BusinessNot reported4
Natural Resources Conservation and ResearchNot reported4
Public AdministrationNot reported3
MathematicsNot reported3
ChemistryNot reported3
MusicNot reported3
Security Science and TechnologyNot reported2
Communication and Media StudiesNot reported2
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular BiologyNot reported2
Real EstateNot reported1
PhilosophyNot reportedNot reported
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied CommunicationNot reportedNot reported
Area StudiesNot reportedNot reported
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, OtherNot reportedNot reported
Film/Video and Photographic ArtsNot reportedNot reported

All 41 bachelor’s programs this college reported.

Similar colleges