Columbia College vs Culver-Stockton College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Culver-Stockton College comes closer — median earnings $46,092 against a $87,932 total, vs $45,378 at Columbia College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Columbia College | Culver-Stockton College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $22,715 | $21,983 |
| Total net cost | $90,860 | $87,932 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $45,378 | $46,092 |
| Median debt | $23,879 | $26,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$150,500 | -$133,292 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Columbia College or Culver-Stockton College?
Culver-Stockton College, at $21,983 a year after aid versus $22,715 — a gap of $732 a year, or $2,928 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 Culver-Stockton College graduates earn more?
Culver-Stockton College graduates report a median $46,092 ten years after entry, $714 more than the $45,378 at Columbia 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, Columbia College or Culver-Stockton College?
Columbia College: its completers carry a median $23,879 in federal loans versus $26,000 at Culver-Stockton College, a difference of $2,121. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
42% of students finish at Columbia College, against 39% at Culver-Stockton 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.