Central Carolina Technical College vs Columbia International University: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Columbia International University comes closer — median earnings $38,951 against a $104,144 total, vs $32,603 at Central Carolina Technical College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Central Carolina Technical College | Columbia International University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,571 | $26,036 |
| Total net cost | $22,284 | $104,144 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $32,603 | $38,951 |
| Median debt | $9,977 | $20,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$337,424 | -$292,324 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Central Carolina Technical College or Columbia International University?
Central Carolina Technical College, at $5,571 a year after aid versus $26,036 — a gap of $20,465 a year, or $81,860 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Central Carolina Technical College or Columbia International University graduates earn more?
Columbia International University graduates report a median $38,951 ten years after entry, $6,348 more than the $32,603 at Central Carolina Technical College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Central Carolina Technical College or Columbia International University?
Central Carolina Technical College: its completers carry a median $9,977 in federal loans versus $20,000 at Columbia International University, a difference of $10,023. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
47% of students finish at Columbia International University, against 34% at Central Carolina Technical College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.