Columbia College vs State Fair Community College: 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 $35,562 at State Fair Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Columbia College | State Fair Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $22,715 | $7,985 |
| Total net cost | $90,860 | $15,970 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $45,378 | $35,562 |
| Median debt | $23,879 | $10,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$150,500 | -$271,930 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Columbia College or State Fair Community College?
State Fair Community College, at $7,985 a year after aid versus $22,715 — a gap of $14,730 a year, or $74,890 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 State Fair Community College graduates earn more?
Columbia College graduates report a median $45,378 ten years after entry, $9,816 more than the $35,562 at State Fair Community 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 State Fair Community College?
State Fair Community College: its completers carry a median $10,500 in federal loans versus $23,879 at Columbia College, a difference of $13,379. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
44% of students finish at State Fair Community College, 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.