Head-to-head comparison
Benedict College vs Columbia International University: which has better ROI?
Option A Columbia, SC
Benedict College
- Net price / year
- $18,250
- Earnings, 10 years
- $31,902
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Columbia, SC
Columbia International University
- Net price / year
- $26,036
- Earnings, 10 years
- $38,951
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Columbia International University comes closer — median earnings $38,951 against a $104,144 total, vs $31,902 at Benedict College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Benedict College | Columbia International University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $18,250 | $26,036 |
| Total net cost | $73,000 | $104,144 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $31,902 | $38,951 |
| Median debt | $32,500 | $20,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$402,160 | -$292,324 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Benedict College or Columbia International University?
Benedict College, at $18,250 a year after aid versus $26,036 — a gap of $7,786 a year, or $31,144 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Benedict College or Columbia International University graduates earn more?
Columbia International University graduates report a median $38,951 ten years after entry, $7,049 more than the $31,902 at Benedict College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Benedict College or Columbia International University?
Columbia International University: its completers carry a median $20,000 in federal loans versus $32,500 at Benedict College, a difference of $12,500. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
47% of students finish at Columbia International University, against 24% at Benedict College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.