Columbia Basin College vs UEI College-Tacoma: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Columbia Basin College comes closer — median earnings $46,680 against a $16,634 total, vs $30,848 at UEI College-Tacoma. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Columbia Basin College | UEI College-Tacoma |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,317 | $36,850 |
| Total net cost | $16,634 | $147,400 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $46,680 | $30,848 |
| Median debt | $14,829 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$50,234 | -$497,640 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Columbia Basin College or UEI College-Tacoma?
Columbia Basin College, at $8,317 a year after aid versus $36,850 — a gap of $28,533 a year, or $130,766 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Columbia Basin College or UEI College-Tacoma graduates earn more?
Columbia Basin College graduates report a median $46,680 ten years after entry, $15,832 more than the $30,848 at UEI College-Tacoma. 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, Columbia Basin College or UEI College-Tacoma?
UEI College-Tacoma: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $14,829 at Columbia Basin College, a difference of $5,329. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
58% of students finish at UEI College-Tacoma, against 33% at Columbia Basin 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.