Columbia University in the City of New York vs St Paul's School of Nursing-Staten Island: which has better ROI?
Columbia University in the City of New York has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $86,360 in 1.6 years versus 1.9 years at St Paul's School of Nursing-Staten Island, on median earnings of $102,491 vs $86,693 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Columbia University in the City of New York | St Paul's School of Nursing-Staten Island |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $21,590 | $35,666 |
| Total net cost | $86,360 | $71,332 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $102,491 | $86,693 |
| Median debt | $21,500 | $25,729 |
| Payback | 1.6 yrs | 1.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $996,260 | $695,328 |
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 St Paul's School of Nursing-Staten Island?
Columbia University in the City of New York, at $21,590 a year after aid versus $35,666 — a gap of $14,076 a year, or $15,028 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 St Paul's School of Nursing-Staten Island graduates earn more?
Columbia University in the City of New York graduates report a median $102,491 ten years after entry, $15,798 more than the $86,693 at St Paul's School of Nursing-Staten Island. 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 St Paul's School of Nursing-Staten Island?
Columbia University in the City of New York: its completers carry a median $21,500 in federal loans versus $25,729 at St Paul's School of Nursing-Staten Island, a difference of $4,229. 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 46% at St Paul's School of Nursing-Staten Island. 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.