Head-to-head comparison
Bob Jones University vs Columbia International University: 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 International University
- Net price / year
- $26,036
- Earnings, 10 years
- $38,951
- 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 $38,951 at Columbia International University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Bob Jones University | Columbia International University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $16,641 | $26,036 |
| Total net cost | $66,564 | $104,144 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,354 | $38,951 |
| Median debt | $16,585 | $20,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$146,684 | -$292,324 |
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 International University?
Bob Jones University, at $16,641 a year after aid versus $26,036 — a gap of $9,395 a year, or $37,580 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 International University graduates earn more?
Bob Jones University graduates report a median $44,354 ten years after entry, $5,403 more than the $38,951 at Columbia International University. 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 International University?
Bob Jones University: its completers carry a median $16,585 in federal loans versus $20,000 at Columbia International University, a difference of $3,415. 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 47% at Columbia International University. 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.