Columbia College vs Lincoln 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 $39,463 at Lincoln University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Columbia College | Lincoln University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $22,715 | $19,092 |
| Total net cost | $90,860 | $76,368 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $45,378 | $39,463 |
| Median debt | $23,879 | $28,875 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$150,500 | -$254,308 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Columbia College or Lincoln University?
Lincoln University, at $19,092 a year after aid versus $22,715 — a gap of $3,623 a year, or $14,492 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 Lincoln University graduates earn more?
Columbia College graduates report a median $45,378 ten years after entry, $5,915 more than the $39,463 at Lincoln 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 Lincoln University?
Columbia College: its completers carry a median $23,879 in federal loans versus $28,875 at Lincoln University, a difference of $4,996. 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 21% at Lincoln University. 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.