Columbia College vs Evangel University: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Evangel University comes closer — median earnings $46,573 against a $74,676 total, vs $45,378 at Columbia College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Columbia College | Evangel University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $22,715 | $18,669 |
| Total net cost | $90,860 | $74,676 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $45,378 | $46,573 |
| Median debt | $23,879 | $24,736 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$150,500 | -$110,416 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Columbia College or Evangel University?
Evangel University, at $18,669 a year after aid versus $22,715 — a gap of $4,046 a year, or $16,184 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 Evangel University graduates earn more?
Evangel University graduates report a median $46,573 ten years after entry, $1,195 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 Evangel University?
Columbia College: its completers carry a median $23,879 in federal loans versus $24,736 at Evangel University, a difference of $857. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
65% of students finish at Evangel University, 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.