Columbia College
- Graduation Rate
- 28% F
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $39,035 C-
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $11,316 B
- 34% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 1,984
Bottom line: A C overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 21.6× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $21.6 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $21.6 over 20 years. Net gain: $933,010.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduation of 28% — 50% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $21.6 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
About Columbia College
Columbia College is profiled below with full outcomes data from federal sources.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Community College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 1,984
- Setting
- Rural
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Criminal Justice, Health Professions, Culinary & Personal Services
Why students choose Columbia College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $11,316 a year after grants and scholarships — 34% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $39,035 ten years after enrolling — 4% below the typical college.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Mobility and social-capital data are limited for this school — see what's reported below.
See mobility →Overview
Columbia College has a graduation rate of just 28%. This figure highlights the challenges many students face in completing their degrees. With nearly three-quarters of students not finishing, this statistic is crucial for prospective students to consider.
The Opportunity Insights data on economic mobility is not available for Columbia College, making it difficult to assess how well graduates are able to improve their financial situations after attending. However, the earnings for alumni ten years after graduation average $39,035, which can provide a baseline for understanding potential financial outcomes.
The net price of attending Columbia College is $11,316, and 28% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating that a significant portion of the student body may require financial assistance. Students who thrive here often pursue programs in Humanities, Culinary, Business, Health Professions, or Social Sciences. For those who are dedicated to completing their studies, the college can serve as a stepping stone into various career fields.
Can I Get In?
How selective Columbia College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Columbia College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Sonora, California, Columbia College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 28%.
- Retention Rate
- 58%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 43%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $10,219
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 14:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.56
- First-Gen Students
- 53%
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Columbia College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Columbia College is $9,264, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $11,316. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $10,095 after need-based grants.
- In-State Tuition
- $1,282
- Out-of-State
- $9,264
- Avg Net Price
- $11,316
- Pell Grant Rate
- 28%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 0%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $10,095
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $10,910
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $13,961
- Family Income $110K+
- $12,813
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Columbia College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Columbia College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Columbia College report median earnings of $39,035, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $32,510
- 8 Years
- $34,920
- 10 Years
- $39,035
- Earning > $25K
- 37%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (49)
- 22%
- 100% (49)
- 22%
- 100% (49)
- 22%
- 100% (49)
- 22%
How Columbia Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is Columbia College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Columbia College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $11,316/year ($45,264 total). Graduates earn $39,035 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $978,274 in total earnings — a net gain of $933,010 (21.6× your investment).. With a 28% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $45,264
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $978,274
- Net Return
- $933,010
- ROI Multiple
- 21.6×
- Cost Per Year
- $11,316
- Graduation Rate
- 28%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $2,140,132
- Federal Grants
- $2,252,787
- Investment Income
- $2,693
Top Programs
The fields Columbia College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Humanities 36%
- Criminal Justice 10%
- Health Professions 6%
- Culinary & Personal Services 5%
- Business & Marketing 5%
- Social Sciences 4%
- Psychology 3%
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 2%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Columbia College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- CPurchasing Manager$131,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CAerospace Engineer$130,720 · 6% growthResilient 72
- B+Nurse Practitioner$129,480 · 40% growthResilient 96
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Columbia College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Sonora, California, Columbia College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 28%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Columbia College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Columbia College is $9,264, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $11,316. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $10,095 after need-based grants.
Is Columbia College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Columbia College report median earnings of $39,035, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Columbia College.
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