Regional university
Columbia College
Columbia, MO · Private nonprofit · 4-year
Your real cost
Average price after aid $22,715 a year
Median debt at graduation: $23,879 (all students)
Estimate your own price · the college’s net price calculator
Academic Excellence
Each measure counts for the share shown.
- Graduation rate 35% of scoreThis measure counts for 35% of the Academic Excellence score.42%
- First-year retention 20% of scoreThis measure counts for 20% of the Academic Excellence score.75%
- Entering students' test scores 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.Not reported
- Student-to-faculty ratio 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.20 to 1
- Instructional spending per student 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.$8,042
Bars show points on each measure’s scale. How Academic Excellence is computed.
Source: College Scorecard (College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026))
What families pay, by income
Average yearly price after grants and scholarships, for students who receive federal aid.
| Family income | Price after aid |
|---|---|
| Up to $30,000 | |
| $30,001–$48,000 | |
| $48,001–$75,000 | |
| $75,001–$110,000 | |
| Over $110,000 |
Full cost of attendance before aid: $37,207 a year.
Use the college’s net price calculator for your own estimate.
Cost and value
Federal data: what families pay after aid, what graduates earn, and what they owe.
| Undergraduate students Fall enrollment (IPEDS) | 5,633 |
|---|---|
| Men and women College Scorecard, fall 2023 | Men 41% · Women 59% |
| First-generation students College Scorecard | 49% |
| Total students | 6,046 |
| Average net price (per year) After grants and scholarships, for students receiving federal aid | $22,715 |
| Cost of attendance (per year) | $37,207 |
| Median federal debt at graduation | $23,879 |
| Graduation rate First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time | 42% |
| Graduation rate for Pell grant recipients College Scorecard, within 6 years | 25% |
| Graduation rate for first-generation students College Scorecard, within 6 years | 25% |
| Borrowers paying down their loans within 3 years College Scorecard, within 3 years | 34% |
| First-year retention | 75% |
| Median earnings 10 years after entry | $45,378 |
| Application fee IPEDS, 2023–24 | No application fee |
| Typical rent HUD fair market rent, FY2026 | About $1,011 a month for a one-bedroom |
| Students receiving Pell grants | 45% |
Value: Solid (how it’s computed)
Sources: College Scorecard · IPEDS College Navigator · Net price calculator
College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026); IPEDS 2024-25 directory and institutional characteristics; fall 2023 enrollment.
Earnings by major
Median earnings of bachelor’s graduates a few years after finishing, by major (College Scorecard).
| Major | Median earnings |
|---|---|
| Computing and information science | |
| Nursing | |
| Management information systems | |
| Business administration | |
| Finance | |
| Human resources | |
| Health administration | |
| Business (general) | |
| Accounting | |
| Liberal arts | |
| Criminal justice | |
| Marketing | |
| Sociology | |
| Psychology | |
| Biology | |
| History | |
| Human services | |
| English |
Also offered (no earnings published yet): Area studies, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Communication studies, Computer science, Design, Entrepreneurship, Film and video, Fine arts, Information science, Information technology, Interdisciplinary studies, International business, Kinesiology and exercise science, Mathematics, Music, Natural resources and conservation, Philosophy, Political science, Public administration, Public relations, Real Estate, Security science.
What students study most
Share of bachelor’s degrees by field, first majors in 2023–24 (IPEDS).
| Field | Share of degrees |
|---|---|
| Business | |
| Liberal arts and general studies | |
| Psychology | |
| Criminal justice and security | |
| Health professions |
Campus life
| School colors | |
|---|---|
| Setting | City |
| Part-time undergraduates | 50% |
| Undergraduates aged 25 and older | 65% |
| On-campus room and board (per year) | $9,552 |
| Sports | NAIA · American Midwest Conference |
| ROTC | Army · Navy · Air Force |
| Study abroad | Offered |
| Students per faculty member | 20 to 1 |
| Undergraduates registered with the disability office | About 6%IPEDS, 2023–24 |
| Disability services | Visit the office’s pageThe college’s own page |
| Faculty who are full-time | 100%College Scorecard, fall 2023 |
| Endowment per student | $43,765IPEDS, 2023, per student |
| Dorm space | For about 7% of studentsBeds per undergraduate; not who lives on campus |
| Nearest airport with airline service | Columbia Regional Airport (COU)About 11 miles away · about 20 minutes by car |
| Nearest major airport | St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL)About 106 miles away |
| Town population | 128,548Census, 2020–2024 |
| Nearest city of 250,000 people or more | St. LouisAbout 114 miles away · about 2 hours 25 minutes by car |
| Typical weather | 31°F in January · 79°F in JulyNOAA, 1991–2020, from Columbia U Of M, MO |
Federal data (IPEDS and College Scorecard), except school colors.
Campus safety reports
On-campus crimes reported in 2024, per 1,000 students.
| Category | This campus | U.S. rate |
|---|---|---|
| Rape | 0.00 | 0.07 |
| Robbery | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Aggravated assault | 0.00 | 0.04 |
| Burglary | 0.01 | 0.08 |
| Motor vehicle theft | 0.01 | 0.15 |
Numbers reflect what each campus reported. They differ with campus size and how reporting is done, so compare with care. U.S. rate: total reported offenses divided by total students at every institution in the report.
Questions families ask
- What is Columbia College’s Compass Score?
- Good (grade B-). The grade comes from outcomes (40%: graduation, retention and earnings), entering students (40%: test scores and selectivity), cost (15%: debt and price after aid) and teaching (5%: class size), all from federal data.
- How much does Columbia College cost after financial aid?
- The average net price is $22,715 a year for students who receive federal aid, after grants and scholarships. What your family pays depends on income; the college’s net price calculator gives your own estimate.
- How do Columbia College’s graduates do?
- 42% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years; the median earnings of former students ten years after entry are $45,378; the median federal debt at graduation is $23,879.
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About this school’s data
- IPEDS unit ID 177065
- Carnegie classification: Master's university (larger programs)
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (U.S. Department of Education DAPIP)
- Religious affiliation (IPEDS): Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
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