Columbia College
Below average. Ask hard questions before enrolling. It ranks 1,239 of 1,755 four-year colleges on student outcomes, with an overall score of 37 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
- Many students leave early: only 60% of first-year students return for a second year.
- Low pay: typical earnings ten years after starting are $46,266, lower than 83% of four-year colleges.
- Debt is heavy for the pay: graduates owe a typical $21,944 in federal loans against earnings of $46,266.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 30 | n/a | $20,125 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 24 | $42,123 | $22,750 |
| Psychology, General | 20 | $22,192 | $20,834 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | 15 | $25,194 | $23,122 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 14 | $30,305 | $25,000 |
| Education, General | 13 | n/a | $24,676 |
| Special Education and Teaching | 11 | $33,687 | $11,925 |
| Social Work | 9 | $30,926 | n/a |
| Biology, General | 8 | n/a | n/a |
| Homeland Security | 8 | n/a | n/a |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | 8 | n/a | n/a |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | 7 | n/a | n/a |
Certificates and diplomas: largest programs
| Field | Graduates a year | Earnings, 2 yrs after | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 10 | 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.