Columbia University in the City of New York vs Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences: which has better ROI?
Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $119,528 in 1.4 years versus 1.6 years at Columbia University in the City of New York, on median earnings of $131,426 vs $102,491 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Columbia University in the City of New York | Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $21,590 | $29,882 |
| Total net cost | $86,360 | $119,528 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $102,491 | $131,426 |
| Median debt | $21,500 | $25,500 |
| Payback | 1.6 yrs | 1.4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $996,260 | $1,541,792 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Columbia University in the City of New York or Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences?
Columbia University in the City of New York, at $21,590 a year after aid versus $29,882 — a gap of $8,292 a year, or $33,168 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 University in the City of New York or Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences graduates earn more?
Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences graduates report a median $131,426 ten years after entry, $28,935 more than the $102,491 at Columbia University in the City of New York. 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 University in the City of New York or Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences?
Columbia University in the City of New York: its completers carry a median $21,500 in federal loans versus $25,500 at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, a difference of $4,000. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
96% of students finish at Columbia University in the City of New York, against 68% at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. 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.