College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
Back to Colleges

Columbia International University

Columbia, SC 690 Undergrads 65.5% Grad Rate
Share
Total Cost
$40,183
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$21,660
After Aid
Median Earnings
$38,951
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$21,660
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$38,951
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate65.5%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients37.7%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time82.8%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS57.5%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
97.6%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: -53875th: -
SAT Math
25th: -50075th: -
ACT Composite
25th: -2175th: -

ROI Sensitivity Analysis

This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.

Lifetime Value Added (NPV)

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$346k
-$50k
-$138k
Median Cost$22k/yr
+$269k
-$128k
-$216k
Full Cost$40k/yr
+$202k
-$195k
-$282k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$22k/yr
Never
-277%
Full Cost$40k/yr
Never
-195%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 10-year median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
  • Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
  • Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
  • NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.

Social Impact ROINew

Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.

Donor Return-249%

Gov. Pell Grant ROINew

Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.

Taxpayer Return-118%
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.

Program ROI Analysis

Bachelor's Degrees

Bible/Biblical Studies
BachCIP: 3902
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$37,083
Lifetime Value Added
-$225k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$24,035
Lifetime Value Added
-$325k
Intercultural/Multicultural and Diversity Studies
BachCIP: 3023
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$24,421
Lifetime Value Added
-$321k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$46,596
Lifetime Value Added
-$145k
Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries
BachCIP: 3907
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$23,351
Lifetime Value Added
-$331k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$31,713
Lifetime Value Added
-$271k

Professional Degrees

Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
ProfCIP: 4228
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$36,220
Lifetime Value Added
-$268k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
ProfCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Lifetime Value Added
-$269k
Theological and Ministerial Studies
ProfCIP: 3906
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$35,420
Lifetime Value Added
-$257k
Theology and Religious Vocations, Other
ProfCIP: 3999
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$28,960
Lifetime Value Added
-$314k

Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate, accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.

For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results should not be compared with those Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors starting at age 18.