Columbia College vs Missouri Baptist University: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Missouri Baptist University comes closer — median earnings $46,660 against a $108,024 total, vs $45,378 at Columbia College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Columbia College | Missouri Baptist University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $22,715 | $27,006 |
| Total net cost | $90,860 | $108,024 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $45,378 | $46,660 |
| Median debt | $23,879 | $22,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$150,500 | -$142,024 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Columbia College or Missouri Baptist University?
Columbia College, at $22,715 a year after aid versus $27,006 — a gap of $4,291 a year, or $17,164 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 Missouri Baptist University graduates earn more?
Missouri Baptist University graduates report a median $46,660 ten years after entry, $1,282 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 Missouri Baptist University?
Missouri Baptist University: its completers carry a median $22,500 in federal loans versus $23,879 at Columbia College, a difference of $1,379. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
48% of students finish at Missouri Baptist 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.