Federal data group related majors at the same college and degree level. One record can include several named programs or concentrations.
The short version
Reported earnings are notably above similar programs.
$21,709 above the national median for the same field and degree level.
Debt as a share of earnings
35.9% of annual earnings
Highest price with a positive payoff
$23,473 / year
Modeled 10-year payoff
−23% · Negative payoff
Available price data
College-wide context only
PRICE SENSITIVITY
The price can change the verdict.
Hold observed earnings constant and see how the modeled ten-year payoff changes as annual price rises.
← Negative payoff$0Positive payoff →
$0Annual price+$93,890
$12,000Annual price+$45,890
$24,000Annual price−$2,110
$36,000Annual price−$50,110
$44,000Current college-wide context−$82,110
$48,000Annual price−$98,110
$60,000Annual price−$146,110
OUTCOME SIGNALS
Graduate outcomes from several angles.
Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.
+259%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$20,075 → $71,979Not availableEarn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort39Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort62Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median63Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median$106,330Awarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credentialNot availableRecent awardsIPEDS 2024–25 first-major completions in this field and credential
NEW FEDERAL PROGRAM CONTEXT
Size, aid and an earnings floor.
The Department of Education’s 2026 informational preview adds current program participation and a preliminary earnings comparison. It does not make a final eligibility determination.
144Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment41Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers36Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count98Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
53Graduates not recorded as employedHistorical federal cohort, three years after completion
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$34,350Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$72,389$38,039 above the preliminary benchmark
Additional borrowing reported for this category: 27 Parent PLUS borrowers.
Source: U.S. Department of Education PPD:2026 informational preview. Program categories use OPEID, four-digit field and credential level; federal-aid counts do not represent every enrolled student. Completion and employment measures use older cohorts shown above and are not combined into the payoff estimate.
01 · PRICE CONTEXT$44,338
Institution-wide annual average net price, not this program’s price.
02 · BORROWING$26,000
Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.
03 · EARNINGS$72,389
Observed median earnings four full years after completion.
04 · REPAYMENT$276/mo
Estimated standard 10-year federal payment.
WHAT WILL IT COST?
Published college costs provide the starting point.
Your exact offering, aid, residency and time to finish determine the price you actually pay.
Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.
$20,075Year 1
$72,389Year 4
$71,979Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?
4.6% of gross monthly earnings
Estimated monthly payment divided by observed gross monthly earnings. This excludes taxes, other debts and income-driven repayment.
Gross monthly earnings$6,032
Estimated loan payment$276
63borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?
$72,389 vs. $50,680
$21,709 above the national median for the same field and credential.
Same-field national median
WHAT WORK CAN IT LEAD TO?
Related occupations, wages and outlook.
Official CIP–SOC links show careers the curriculum may prepare students for, not observed jobs held by this school’s graduates. BLS wages describe everyone working in an occupation.
BLS May 2025 wage estimates and 2025–35 employment projections.
Managers, All Other$167,200 median wageNY estimate · 18,470 jobs · 11-9199$124,530–$221,680 middle 50% of NY wages+4.9% projected U.S. growth · 100,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeHistory Teachers, Postsecondary$100,400 median wageNY estimate · 1,660 jobs · 25-1125$78,390–$132,760 middle 50% of NY wages+0.0% projected U.S. growth · 1,500 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeHistorians$62,960 median wageNY estimate · 410 jobs · 19-3093$43,920–$82,010 middle 50% of NY wages+3.0% projected U.S. growth · 300 openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeSecondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$97,070 median wageNY estimate · 70,660 jobs · 25-2031$76,050–$131,980 middle 50% of NY wages-0.2% projected U.S. growth · 63,500 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeNatural Sciences Managers$134,680 median wageNY estimate · 5,690 jobs · 11-9121$80,480–$193,690 middle 50% of NY wages+8.2% projected U.S. growth · 9,200 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeCurators$79,120 median wageNY estimate · 1,330 jobs · 25-4012$58,340–$103,240 middle 50% of NY wages+4.9% projected U.S. growth · 1,600 openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeMuseum Technicians and Conservators$74,550 median wageNY estimate · 1,050 jobs · 25-4013$58,030–$83,360 middle 50% of NY wages+3.6% projected U.S. growth · 1,600 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeArchivists$73,860 median wageNY estimate · 960 jobs · 25-4011$60,510–$94,890 middle 50% of NY wages+3.4% projected U.S. growth · 1,100 openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeTour Guides and EscortsNot available median wageU.S. estimate · Unreported jobs · 39-7011
Possible alternatives
Same degree, stronger on at least one reported measure.
Every option below reports higher earnings, lower federal debt or a lower college-wide net price. Same-state options appear first.
New York, NY
Columbia University in the City of New York
$25,690 higher earnings · $4,000 less debt · $22,748 lower annual net price