Columbia International University
Columbia, South Carolina · Private Nonprofit · 94.5% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 21/100 · Poor Value
Columbia International University, a small evangelical Christian university in Columbia, South Carolina, scores 21 out of 100 on CampusROI and sits in the Poor Value tier. The financial profile reflects the mission tension at faith-formation institutions: the published tuition is $27,900 but the average net price is $26,036, meaning aid discounting is minimal and four-year total cost runs about $104,144. Median earnings at six years are just $27,900 and only climb to $38,951 by year ten, with the earnings premium of 3.8% being one of the weakest in the dataset. The modeled payback period of 61.8 years reflects how thin the wage premium is over a high-school baseline. Median debt is moderate at $20,000, producing a 0.717 debt-to-earnings ratio. The six-year completion rate of 46.8% is middling and repayment progress is reasonable at 74-78% across timepoints. The profile is consistent with a school whose graduates predominantly enter ministry, missions, and faith-based education roles where wage outcomes are intentionally modest, but where the cost-of-attendance has not been calibrated downward to match.
The data raises concerns about Columbia International University
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score21/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- Payback period>50 years - Graduates earn at or near the level of high school completers — the cost may not recoup within a working career.
Columbia International University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $27,900/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $27,900/yr |
| Average net price | $26,036/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $104,144 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $38,951 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $27,900 |
| Median debt at graduation | $20,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $212 |
| Estimated payback period | >50 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 46.8% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 716 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Columbia International University is $27,900/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $26,036/year, or roughly $104,144 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $21,955/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $29,751/year.
The median graduate leaves with $20,000 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $212 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $38,951 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.72 - within the recommended range but worth monitoring.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $21,955 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $25,644 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $23,535 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $28,722 |
| $110,001+ | $29,751 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 face a net price of $21,955 per year. Four years totals about $87,800 against $38,951 in ten-year median earnings, which is an unworkable ratio for Pell-eligible students borrowing the gap. The South Carolina LIFE Scholarship for in-state students adds material support; that should be factored before assuming the listed net price applies.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income brackets show an inversion to flag: $25,644 ($30,001-$48,000) is higher than $23,535 in the $48,001-$75,000 bracket. The pattern is likely merit-aid layering for academically stronger middle-income applicants, but middle-income families should treat published figures as indicative. The $75,001-$110,000 bracket steps up sharply to $28,722.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Households above $110,000 pay $29,751 a year, or roughly $119,000 over four years. With ten-year median earnings of $38,951, full-pay families are essentially making a mission-aligned choice rather than a financial one. The spend can be justified by religious commitment but not by labor-market outcomes.
Earnings by Major
Top 3 most popular majors at Columbia International University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Bible/Biblical Studies | $38,117 | D |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $40,432 | - |
| Teacher Education | $43,210 | - |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Bible/Biblical Studies
Bible/Biblical Studies is the largest documented program with 35 graduates, fitting the school's core mission. First-year earnings of $23,737 and four-year earnings of $38,117 against $21,500 in median debt produce a 0.906 debt-to-earnings ratio and a D ROI grade. The financial returns are weak by design: graduates predominantly enter ministry, missions, and church-based education roles where wages are structurally low. Students pursuing this path should minimize borrowing as much as possible.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration graduates 34 students with four-year earnings of $40,432; first-year earnings and debt figures are not reported. The four-year figure is low for business and suggests graduates are concentrated in nonprofit, church administration, and ministry-adjacent business roles rather than corporate pipelines. Students wanting a labor-market-oriented business credential have materially better options in South Carolina.
Teacher Education
Teacher Education graduates 6 students with $43,210 in four-year earnings. First-year earnings and debt are not reported. South Carolina teacher salaries are below the national median, and the small program scale limits the value of any sample-based analysis. Students considering teaching credentials should evaluate the in-state alternatives at USC, Clemson, or College of Charleston, where program costs are materially lower.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 67.2% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 73.8% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 67.5% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 77.8% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 94.5% |
| Enrollment | 716 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 34.2% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $6,410 |
Columbia International admits 94.5% of applicants, effectively open admission. SAT and ACT mid-ranges are not reported in current Scorecard data. The 94.5% admit rate paired with a 46.8% completion rate suggests broad accessibility paired with a typical small-private completion gap. Prospective applicants have no academic benchmark to set expectations against, but should weigh the fit of the evangelical mission against the financial profile.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Peers in the CampusROI dataset include Allen University, Anderson University (SC), Davis and Elkins College, Laguna College of Art and Design, and Be'er Yaakov Talmudic Seminary. Anderson University SC, a larger and more academically diversified Christian university, materially outperforms CIU on ROI. Davis and Elkins tracks closer to CIU on overall outcomes. The other peers serve very different student populations. Within South Carolina Christian higher education specifically, North Greenville University and Anderson are the more financially defensible alternatives for students drawn to the same mission.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia International University (this school) | 21 | $26,036 | $38,951 |
| Charleston Southern University | 24 | $21,666 | $45,898 |
| Truett McConnell University | 23 | $22,227 | $46,700 |
| Davis & Elkins College | 21 | $18,273 | $43,411 |
| Kentucky Christian University | 19 | $24,038 | $42,375 |
| Trinity Bible College and Graduate School | 18 | $19,359 | $35,604 |
Who Thrives Here
With 716 students and a Pell Grant rate of 34.2%, Columbia International serves a small, residential, mission-oriented student body drawn predominantly to ministry, missions, biblical studies, and Christian education. The right fit is a student with a defined ministry calling whose home church and family will help underwrite the cost, who values the school's intensive biblical curriculum, and who is prepared for low post-graduate earnings consistent with mission work. Pell-eligible students should compare carefully against state options like USC Aiken or Anderson's substantial merit aid before borrowing.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about Columbia International University. With a net cost of $26,036 per year and median graduate earnings of only $38,951 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds >50 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Areas of concern include weak earnings relative to cost and a 46.8% graduation rate and high debt relative to what graduates earn and a long payback period.
Median debt of $20,000 against $38,951 in earnings is reasonable, though major choice matters significantly. Students in higher-earning programs will see better returns.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.