Columbus Technical College
#3 Most Affordable Colleges in Georgia- Graduation Rate
- 24% F
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $34,238 D+
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $4,001 A
- 77% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 2,719
Bottom line: A C overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 52.6× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $52.6 over 20 years. Ranked #3 in Most Affordable Colleges in Georgia.
Every $1 spent returns $52.6 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $826,361.
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 24% — 59% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $52.6 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
About Columbus Technical College
Columbus Technical 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 College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 2,719
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Mechanic & Repair Tech, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Precision Production
Why students choose Columbus Technical 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 $4,001 a year after grants and scholarships — 77% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $34,238 ten years after enrolling — 16% below the typical college, against $8,756 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 0.8% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 89% nationally for mobility. High social capital (0.61 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Columbus Technical College serves 2,719 students, making it a focused institution for those seeking specialized training. The net price for students is notably low at $4,001, making higher education more accessible for many. This affordability is crucial for students considering their financial future.
The Chetty/Opportunity Insights data highlights the college's role in economic mobility. While specific mobility rates are not available, the emphasis on career-focused programs like Mechanic & Repair Tech and Health Professions suggests strong pathways to stable employment. Graduates earn a median salary of $34,238 ten years after enrollment, indicating a solid return on investment for those who complete their programs.
Students who thrive here are often those seeking practical skills in trades and health professions. With a graduation rate of 24%, the college emphasizes hands-on training that prepares students for immediate employment. The median debt is manageable at $8,756, allowing graduates to enter the workforce with less financial burden. Additionally, 57% of students receive Pell Grants, which further supports those from low-income backgrounds.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Columbus Technical 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 Columbus Technical College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Columbus, Georgia, Columbus Technical College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 24%.
- Retention Rate
- 52%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 54%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $5,411
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 14:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.61
- First-Gen Students
- 42%
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 Columbus Technical College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Columbus Technical College is $7,262, 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 $4,001. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $3,383 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $8,756 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $4,052
- Out-of-State
- $7,262
- Avg Net Price
- $4,001
- Median Debt
- $8,756
- Pell Grant Rate
- 57%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 0%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $3,383
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $4,543
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $6,170
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Columbus Technical College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Columbus Technical College report median earnings of $34,238, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $28,884
- 8 Years
- $32,648
- 10 Years
- $34,238
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.26x
- Earning > $25K
- 46%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (30)
- 11%
- 100% (30)
- 11%
- 100% (30)
- 11%
- 100% (30)
- 11%
How Columbus Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Columbus Technical College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Columbus Technical College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $4,001/year ($16,004 total). Graduates earn $34,238 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $842,365 in total earnings — a net gain of $826,361 (52.6× your investment). The median debt is $8,756, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 24% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $16,004
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $842,365
- Net Return
- $826,361
- ROI Multiple
- 52.6×
- Cost Per Year
- $4,001
- Median Debt
- $8,756
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 24%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Columbus Technical College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Columbus Technical College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.78%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 26.6% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 2.9% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $41,500, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 0.78%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 2.9%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 26.6%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $41,500
Top Programs
The fields Columbus Technical College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 28%
- Health Professions 21%
- Business & Marketing 9%
- Precision Production 8%
- Culinary & Personal Services 6%
- Construction Trades 5%
- Computer Science & IT 4%
- Humanities 4%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Columbus Technical 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
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Columbus Technical College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Columbus, Georgia, Columbus Technical College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 24%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Columbus Technical College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Columbus Technical College is $7,262, 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 $4,001. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $3,383 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $8,756 in federal student loans.
Is Columbus Technical College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Columbus Technical College report median earnings of $34,238, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Columbus Technical College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Columbus Technical College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.78%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 26.6% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 2.9% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $41,500, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Columbus Technical College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs below average at Columbus Technical College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.61, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.07). Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Columbus Technical College.
- South Suburban CollegeSouth Holland, IL · Close peer26% grad $33,680 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Prairie State CollegeChicago Heights, IL · Close peer20% grad $36,696 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- West Kentucky Community and Technical CollegePaducah, KY · Close peer49% grad $34,891 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size
- Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical CollegeBowling Green, KY · Close peer55% grad $34,242 earnWhy: similar earnings
- Big Sandy Community and Technical CollegePrestonsburg, KY · Close peer38% grad $32,954 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
- Florence-Darlington Technical CollegeFlorence, SC · Close peer27% grad $32,748 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Columbus Technical College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs below average at Columbus Technical College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.61, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.07). Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note