Head-to-head comparison
Bob Jones University vs Columbia College: which has better ROI?
Option A Greenville, SC
Bob Jones University
- Net price / year
- $16,641
- Earnings, 10 years
- $44,354
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Columbia, SC
Columbia College
- Net price / year
- $18,408
- Earnings, 10 years
- $41,338
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Bob Jones University comes closer — median earnings $44,354 against a $66,564 total, vs $41,338 at Columbia College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Bob Jones University | Columbia College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $16,641 | $18,408 |
| Total net cost | $66,564 | $73,632 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,354 | $41,338 |
| Median debt | $16,585 | $22,750 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$146,684 | -$214,072 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Bob Jones University or Columbia College?
Bob Jones University, at $16,641 a year after aid versus $18,408 — a gap of $1,767 a year, or $7,068 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 Bob Jones University or Columbia College graduates earn more?
Bob Jones University graduates report a median $44,354 ten years after entry, $3,016 more than the $41,338 at Columbia 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, Bob Jones University or Columbia College?
Bob Jones University: its completers carry a median $16,585 in federal loans versus $22,750 at Columbia College, a difference of $6,165. 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?
65% of students finish at Bob Jones University, against 37% at Columbia 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.