Columbia College vs Evangel University-College of Online Learning: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Evangel University-College of Online Learning comes closer — median earnings $46,573 against a $90,012 total, vs $45,378 at Columbia College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Columbia College | Evangel University-College of Online Learning |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $22,715 | $22,503 |
| Total net cost | $90,860 | $90,012 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $45,378 | $46,573 |
| Median debt | $23,879 | $24,736 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$150,500 | -$125,752 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Columbia College or Evangel University-College of Online Learning?
Evangel University-College of Online Learning, at $22,503 a year after aid versus $22,715 — a gap of $212 a year, or $848 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-College of Online Learning graduates earn more?
Evangel University-College of Online Learning 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-College of Online Learning?
Columbia College: its completers carry a median $23,879 in federal loans versus $24,736 at Evangel University-College of Online Learning, 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?
50% of students finish at Evangel University-College of Online Learning, 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.