Columbia College
Among the weakest of its kind. Look at alternatives before enrolling. It ranks 1,629 of 1,755 four-year colleges on student outcomes, with an overall score of 20.9 out of 100.
These three answers are rules of thumb from the numbers below, not advice for any one student or major.
What do students really think?
You have seen the federal numbers for Columbia College. Now hear from people who went there, or add your own experience. Anonymous, no account.
Would you choose it again? That is the first question the rating form asks.
Why it is good
Nothing stands out as clearly better than similar colleges.
Why it is bad
- Only 37% of students graduate. 87% of four-year colleges do better.
- It falls short of expectations: it graduates 16 points fewer students than is typical for a college enrolling the same share of low-income students (37% against an expected 53%; the estimate is rough, with a typical error of about 16 points).
- Low pay: typical earnings ten years after starting are $48,161, lower than 78% of four-year colleges.
- Debt is heavy for the pay: graduates owe a typical $23,786 in federal loans against earnings of $48,161.
- Expensive: the average student pays about $25,982 a year after grants, more than at 74% of four-year colleges.
The numbers
What these figures measure
Graduation rate: share of all students, full-time or part-time, who finish within 8 years. Return for year 2: share of first-time, full-time students who come back for a second year. Earnings: median pay about 10 years after starting, for students who received federal aid. Debt: median federal loan debt among those who finish. Net price: average yearly cost after grants and scholarships. All from the U.S. Education Department College Scorecard, institution file dated November 2, 2026.
Programs and early earnings
Bachelor's degrees: largest programs
| Field | Graduates a year | Earnings, 2 yrs after | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 223 | $40,914 | $23,583 |
| Business/Commerce, General | 203 | $42,235 | $25,000 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 89 | $38,391 | $27,676 |
| Psychology, General | 71 | $30,879 | $31,625 |
| Human Services, General | 69 | $31,437 | $34,162 |
| Accounting and Related Services | 61 | $42,682 | $20,364 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | 58 | $41,651 | $24,334 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 56 | $44,817 | $18,170 |
| Information Science/Studies | 40 | n/a | $29,168 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 38 | n/a | $21,126 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 29 | $44,970 | $17,555 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | 28 | $40,467 | $24,466 |
Associate degrees: largest programs
| Field | Graduates a year | Earnings, 2 yrs after | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 342 | $39,286 | $23,000 |
| Business/Commerce, General | 63 | $38,597 | $22,000 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 49 | $54,382 | $23,937 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 31 | $33,993 | $23,250 |
| Human Services, General | 23 | $28,598 | $38,375 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | 19 | n/a | n/a |
Certificates and diplomas: largest programs
| Field | Graduates a year | Earnings, 2 yrs after | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Security Science and Technology | 11 | n/a | n/a |
| Real Estate | 7 | n/a | n/a |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | 6 | n/a | n/a |
Earnings are the median pay two years after completing, for graduates who were working and not enrolled again. The federal government hides figures for small programs, shown as n/a. Fields are broad groups, so a college may offer several majors inside one.
Students and reviews
Numbers cannot tell you about teaching, dorms or campus life. Read and write anonymous student reviews for Columbia College, or ask and answer questions about it. Other sources:
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The grade reflects outcomes for the average student compared with other four-year colleges. Individual majors can be much better or worse.