Columbia College vs Hannibal-LaGrange University: 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 $42,643 at Hannibal-LaGrange University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Columbia College | Hannibal-LaGrange University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $22,715 | $22,814 |
| Total net cost | $90,860 | $91,256 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $45,378 | $42,643 |
| Median debt | $23,879 | $18,599 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$150,500 | -$205,596 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Columbia College or Hannibal-LaGrange University?
Columbia College, at $22,715 a year after aid versus $22,814 — a gap of $99 a year, or $396 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 Hannibal-LaGrange University graduates earn more?
Columbia College graduates report a median $45,378 ten years after entry, $2,735 more than the $42,643 at Hannibal-LaGrange University. 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 Hannibal-LaGrange University?
Hannibal-LaGrange University: its completers carry a median $18,599 in federal loans versus $23,879 at Columbia College, a difference of $5,280. 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 Hannibal-LaGrange 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.