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Columbia International University
Columbia, SC 716 Undergrads 74.9% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$43,045
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$26,036
After Aid
Median Earnings
$40,332
4yr Post-Grad
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$26,036
Peer Midpoint: $20,080.5
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)$40,332
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Graduation Rate74.9%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients40.0%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time91.8%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS57.5%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
94.5%
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
+$371k
-$95k
-$113k
Median Cost$26k/yr
+$278k
-$189k
-$207k
Full Cost$43k/yr
+$217k
-$250k
-$268k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$26k/yr
Never
-221%
Full Cost$43k/yr
Never
-173%
Analysis Assumptions:
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation 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-212%
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-112%
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
Associate's Degrees
Bible/Biblical Studies
AssocCIP: 3902
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,884
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
AssocCIP: 2401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Bachelor's Degrees
Bible/Biblical Studies
BachCIP: 3902
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$38,117
Natl Median: $44,533
Lifetime Value Added
-$226k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$40,432
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
-$206k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$24,035
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$340k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Human Services, General
BachCIP: 4400
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,597
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Intercultural/Multicultural and Diversity Studies
BachCIP: 3023
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$24,421
Natl Median: $41,492
Lifetime Value Added
-$337k
International/Globalization Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,972
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$46,596
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$161k
Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1611
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,612
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology
BachCIP: 3903
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $40,103
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries
BachCIP: 3907
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$23,351
Natl Median: $42,915
Lifetime Value Added
-$347k
Philosophy and Religious Studies, General
BachCIP: 3800
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $47,213
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$31,713
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$287k
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication
BachCIP: 0907
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,497
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Religious Education
BachCIP: 3904
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,633
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Religious Music and Worship
BachCIP: 3905
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,456
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$43,210
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$182k
Theological and Ministerial Studies
BachCIP: 3906
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,535
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Master's Degrees
Theological and Ministerial Studies
MastCIP: 3906
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,300
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Graduate Certificates
Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries
Gr-CertCIP: 3907
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,515
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Doctoral Degrees
Business Administration, Management and Operations
DocCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $113,566
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Educational Administration and Supervision
DocCIP: 1304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Professional Degrees
Business Administration, Management and Operations
ProfCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $214,836
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
ProfCIP: 4228
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$42,129
Natl Median: $70,514
Lifetime Value Added
-$444k
Curriculum and Instruction
ProfCIP: 1303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,870
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Educational Administration and Supervision
ProfCIP: 1304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $78,026
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries
ProfCIP: 3907
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,502
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Religion/Religious Studies
ProfCIP: 3802
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,771
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
ProfCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Natl Median: $53,973
Lifetime Value Added
-$501k
Theological and Ministerial Studies
ProfCIP: 3906
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$48,301
Natl Median: $63,395
Lifetime Value Added
-$393k
Theology and Religious Vocations, Other
ProfCIP: 3999
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$28,960
Natl Median: $28,960
Lifetime Value Added
-$546k
Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate (for undergraduate programs) or a median bachelor's degree holder (for graduate programs), 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 for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.