College Search

Columbia College

Columbia, MO · City · 4,950 students
4
Year
Private Non-profit
City
Medium (3k–10k)
Accredited by Higher Learning Commission
About

Columbia College in Columbia, Missouri, is a private liberal arts institution best known for delivering accessible degree programs to both traditional undergraduates and adult or military learners. The college boasts strong, career-focused academic programs in high-demand fields like Nursing, Criminal Justice, Business Administration, and Education. On its main campus, students enjoy an intimate, tight-knit residential culture that sits within the vibrant, energetic environment of a classic Midwestern college town. Distinctively, the institution was founded in 1851 as the first women's college west of the Mississippi River and today maintains a massive national footprint through its robust online network and military venue locations.

Location
Columbia, MO, 65216 · City campus
Nearest airport from college
STL · St. Louis
106 mi away
Cost
Cost of attendance
$37,207
Avg net price
$22,715
Room & board
$9,552
Tuition
$25,826
Books & supplies
$480/yr
Average net price by family income
$0–30k
$23,967
$30–48k
$21,168
$48–75k
$21,550
$75–110k
$23,015
$110k+
$21,545
Admissions

No admissions data available for this college.

Wondering if Columbia College is the right fit for you?

Scout builds a personalized college list — reach, match, and safety schools — tailored to your profile, grades, and goals. Get financial aid estimates, scholarship guidance, and deep dives on every school.

Personalized reach / match / safety list
Financial aid & net cost estimates
Deep dives on any school
Scholarship search
Essay Requirements

This school does not appear to use the Common Application. Check the school's admissions website directly for essay requirements and application instructions.

See the current Common App essay prompts for the personal statement options.

Outcomes
Graduation rate
44%
4-yr on-time completion
33%
1st-yr retention
75%
Transfer-out rate
0%
8-year outcomes
Graduated
31%
Transferred
24%
Still enrolled
1%
Dropped out / unknown
43%
Median earnings (6yr)
$40,747
Median earnings (10yr)
$45,378
Median debt
$23,879
Monthly loan payment
$253
Debt range (25th–75th)
$4,793$28,689
Debt (90th percentile)
$44,917
Student Body
Men 41%Women 59%
20
:
1
Student : Faculty ratio
Students   Faculty
Pell grant recipients
45%
First-generation
49%
Median family income
$25,623
Independent students
82%
Veterans
1%
Avg age at entry
29.0
Part-time students
50%
Race & ethnicity
White
53%
Hispanic
12%
Black
21%
Asian
2%
Two or more
6%
Non-resident
3%
AI/AN
1%
Unknown
1%
Programs & Earnings
Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings
Median earnings for graduates across all programs
6 years after entry
$40,747
10 years after entry
$45,378
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities223
Business/Commerce, General203
Criminal Justice and Corrections89
Psychology, General71
Human Services, General69
Accounting and Related Services61
Human Resources Management and Services58
Business Administration, Management and Operations56
Information Science/Studies40
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing38
Finance and Financial Management Services29
Health and Medical Administrative Services28
History25
Marketing23
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management18
Biology, General18
Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.
Institutional
Endowment
$159M
Classification
Master's (Large)
Undergraduate profile
Four-year, mostly part-time
Full-time faculty
100%
Avg faculty salary
$8,205/mo
Instructional spend/student
$8,042
Federal loan rate
41%

Wondering if Columbia College is the right fit for you?

Scout builds a personalized college list — reach, match, and safety schools — tailored to your profile, grades, and goals. Get financial aid estimates, scholarship guidance, and deep dives on every school.

Personalized reach / match / safety list
Financial aid & net cost estimates
Deep dives on any school
Scholarship search
Get your college list →See a sample report first