Saint Louis Community College vs Columbia 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 $35,325 at Saint Louis Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Saint Louis Community College | Columbia College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,440 | $22,715 |
| Total net cost | $16,880 | $90,860 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $35,325 | $45,378 |
| Median debt | $6,725 | $23,879 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$277,580 | -$150,500 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Saint Louis Community College or Columbia College?
Saint Louis Community College, at $8,440 a year after aid versus $22,715 — a gap of $14,275 a year, or $73,980 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Saint Louis Community College or Columbia College graduates earn more?
Columbia College graduates report a median $45,378 ten years after entry, $10,053 more than the $35,325 at Saint Louis 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, Saint Louis Community College or Columbia College?
Saint Louis Community College: its completers carry a median $6,725 in federal loans versus $23,879 at Columbia College, a difference of $17,154. 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 Saint Louis Community 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.