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Columbia College

⌖ Sonora, CA · 1 reportable field-and-credential outcomes

MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff

−$117,144 over 10 years

Modeled from observed year-5 institution earnings and the institution-wide average net price over four years.

At these assumptions, the estimated earnings premium does not recover the modeled economic investment within ten years.

20.8 yrsModeled economic break-even

−52%Modeled 10-year ROI

$55,812Observed earnings · year 5

Economic ROI includes direct price and earnings forgone during study · $45,000 comparison earnings · values held flat · see the formula

ECONOMIC INVESTMENT → PAYBACK

Estimated payoff over ten years.

The scenario counts direct price and earnings forgone upfront, then applies the reported annual earnings premium.

10-YEAR PAYOFF CURVECumulative economic payoff after graduation

−$117,144at year 10

Net gainInvestment not yet recovered

NET GAIN$0UNRECOVERED

−$225,2640

−$117,14410

FEDERAL COST DATA

Four ways to read college price.

Annual college-wide figures from the current College Scorecard release. Average net price covers full-time, first-time undergraduates receiving federal aid; public-college figures use in-state students. Program tuition and individual aid offers may differ.

Published in-state tuition$1,282

Sticker price

Published out-of-state tuition$9,264

Sticker price

Average net price$11,316

Title IV student average

Cost of attendance$19,870

Tuition + living budget

OBSERVED FEDERAL MEASURES

Cost, completion and earnings context

$11,316Average net price / year

$19,870Cost of attendance

$55,812Median earnings · year 5 after completion

26.5%Completion rate

Not availableAdmission rate

1,984Student size

NATIONAL CONTEXT

How this college compares

Percentiles compare this institution with currently operating colleges that report the same federal measure.

74thEarnings percentile

8thCompletion percentile

EARNINGS PATH

Reported earnings over time

$58,867Year 1

$45,420Year 4

$55,812Year 5

Separate federal cohorts may underlie different measurement years.

PROGRAM PAYOFF SPREAD

The college average is not the whole story.

Observed earnings vary substantially by field and credential at the same institution.

1Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities · Associate's Degree$31,449

Observed year-4 earnings · compare like fields and credentials before deciding

BUILD A REAL SHORTLIST

Comparable colleges in CA

Currently operating public institutions with the closest combination of annual net price and observed year-5 earnings. Similarity is descriptive—not a quality ranking.

Monterey, CA

Monterey Peninsula College

Annual net price: $11,373
Observed earnings · year 5: $55,075
Modeled 10-year ROI: -55%

Open college profile →Santa Barbara, CA

Santa Barbara City College

Annual net price: $11,315
Observed earnings · year 5: $54,220
Modeled 10-year ROI: -59%

Open college profile →Kentfield, CA

College of Marin

Annual net price: $12,351
Observed earnings · year 5: $54,326
Modeled 10-year ROI: -59%

Open college profile →Carson, CA

California State University, Dominguez Hills

Annual net price: $8,615
Observed earnings · year 5: $56,700
Modeled 10-year ROI: -45%

Open college profile →

ALL REPORTABLE PROGRAM CATEGORIES

Explore exact field-and-credential outcomes

Federal field	Credential	Earnings, year 4	Federal debt
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities	Associate's Degree	$31,449	Not available

Earnings, price, completion and enrollment are observed federal measures. ROI, payoff and break-even are modeled scenarios built from those measures and fixed assumptions. College payoff is not the payoff of every degree at this school; use the program table for a more precise comparison.