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Columbia College (CC) is a private, not-for-profit college that features graduate degree programs in addition to associate and bachelor's degrees in Columbia, Missouri. Students seeking a full four-year degree program have many options to consider if they attend here. CC offers bachelor's degrees in subjects such as accounting, international business, management, organizational leadership, philosophy, political science, biology, and sociology, among many other options. Students may even opt to take many of these degrees online from any place in the world that supports a Wi-Fi connection.


Overview of Columbia College (CC)


There are even 14 associate degree options for students seeking traditional campus learning. That number falls to nine for the online associate degree offerings. Two-year students can use the online portal to study fields such as business administration, real estate management, computer information systems, criminal justice, or human services, among others.

For those students who live on or near campus, there are loads of things to do after class is over. The campus organizations span interests such as art, Christian societies, philosophy club, LGBTQIA interests, social sciences, and computer science, among others. Campus clubs offer students the opportunity to find fellowship and leadership with like-minded fellows. Students can even participate in varsity sports, E-sports, and more. In fact, in 2021 the campus' Game Hut was renovated and has everything the avid E-sports aficionado could want.

General Information


School Type Private not-for-profit
Campus Setting City: Midsize
Campus Housing Yes
Student Faculty Ratio 23:1
Graduation Rate 28%
Year Founded 1851

Student Enrollment


Total Students9,913

Undergraduate
9,387
Graduate
526

Undergraduate Student

Male 3,943
3,943
Female 5,444
5,444

Graduate Student

Male 221
221
Female 305
305

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CC of Missouri Acceptance Rate and Admissions


APPLICATIONSNA

Male NA
Female NA

ACCEPTANCENA

Male NA
Female NA

Acceptance RateNA

Male NA
Female NA

Enrollment NA

Male NA
Female NA
Admissions
Application Fee NA
High School GPA NA
High School Rank NA
High School Transcripts NA
College Prep Courses NA
Recommendations NA
SAT/ACT NA
TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) NA
Application Deadline Rolling
Common Application Accepted No

CC Tuition Cost & Financial Aid


Since Columbia College is a private institution, its costs can be assumed to exceed those of its publicly funded peers. However, their academic costs are competitive with many public institutions, and track well with how much many charge their out-of-state students. That is, the gross costs for a year of tuition, books, supplies, and other fees at Columbia College is over $25,000.

The school estimates that students then pay an additional $13,000 for room, board, and other living expenses. This brings the total gross costs for a year of study at CC to over $38,000. However, these gross costs are just the start of the story. The financial aid office can offer help that positively impacts the net price that students and their families actually pay.

Once the financial aid office applies its scholarships and grants, the average net price for a year at CC, including room and board, is $26,000. Students at the low end of the cost spectrum pay around $24,000. Students whose household income falls in the median of all incomes ($48,000 - $75,000) pay the most at CC, with an average net cost of $29,000.

Average net price 2018-2019
Net Price $25,065
Average Total Aid $12,284
Students Receiving Financial Aid 94%
Room & Board $8,400

Sticker Price


  • Tuition In-State - $23,498
  • Tuition Out-of-State - $23,498
  • Books and Supplies - $1,272
  • Room & Board - $8,400
  • Other - $4,384

Academics


Students may have many reasons for attending college, but chief among them should be the academics that will provide training for a lifetime. To assess Columbia College's academics, researchers evaluate a few key educational statistics: retention rate, graduation rate, and transfer out rate, among others. The retention rate indicates how many first-time, full-time students return for a second year. When a high number return, researchers see that students have found a good value in terms of curriculum, faculty, and campus resources. Indeed, Columbia College reports very strong numbers in this regard, as their retention rate is a very healthy 71%.

On the other hand, CC's graduation rate is reported at only 28%, with no transfer-out numbers available to mitigate the low number of graduates. However, the school does report that up to 35% of its students enroll in other institutions. This would indicate that they were inspired by Columbia College and then decided to continue their education elsewhere. Assuming that is the case, it would appear that Columbia College prepares around 63% of its students for success on its campuses or elsewhere.

Student Population Total


Student Population 9,913

Undergraduate
9,387
Graduate
526
Evening Classes : Yes
Online Learning : Yes

Most Popular Programs & Majors

(# of Diplomas Awarded by Subject)


All Business Majors 731 Total Graduates / 40%
Business/Commerce, General 292 Graduates
Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration, General 104 Graduates
Business Administration and Management, General 98 Graduates
Accounting 87 Graduates
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities 377 Total Graduates / 20%
General Studies 377 Graduates
Public Administration and Social Service Professions 177 Total Graduates / 10%
Human Services, General 172 Graduates
Public Administration 5 Graduates
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services 152 Total Graduates / 8%
Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration 145 Graduates
Forensic Science and Technology 7 Graduates
All Psychology Majors 119 Total Graduates / 6%
Psychology, General 119 Graduates
All Other Diplomas 16%

Outcome & Salary


Columbia College lives up to its reputation for outstanding academics, and researchers found the numbers to prove it. Columbia's top earning alumni are currently led by students from the international business degree program. These business professionals report a median entry-level salary of over $57,000, which does not include bonuses, benefits, or other compensation. At the lower end were students who graduated with Columbia's finance degree. Their median salary was reported at $45,000, but it is well-known that most finance professionals earn the bulk of their money through bonuses.

Graduates Salary
College Grads Early Career Salary $39,500
College Grads Average Salary $63,111
College Grads Mid Career Salary $61,400
Return on Investment (ROI)
10 Year Salary Earnings Potential $631,110
20 Year Salary Earnings Potential $1,245,110
Cost of Education (Net Price) 4 Year $100,260
10 Year Projected ROI $530,850
20 Year Projected ROI $1,144,850
No College Education Salary Comparison
National Average Salary $38,792
10 Year Projected Income $387,920
20 Year Projected Income $775,840

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