Columbia College vs College of the Ozarks: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Columbia College comes closer — median earnings $45,378 against a $90,860 total, vs $41,592 at College of the Ozarks. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Columbia College | College of the Ozarks |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $22,715 | $6,100 |
| Total net cost | $90,860 | $24,400 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $45,378 | $41,592 |
| Median debt | $23,879 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$150,500 | -$159,760 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Columbia College or College of the Ozarks?
College of the Ozarks, at $6,100 a year after aid versus $22,715 — a gap of $16,615 a year, or $66,460 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 College or College of the Ozarks graduates earn more?
Columbia College graduates report a median $45,378 ten years after entry, $3,786 more than the $41,592 at College of the Ozarks. 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 graduates more of its students?
64% of students finish at College of the Ozarks, against 42% at Columbia 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.