Head-to-head comparison
Columbia College vs Evangel University-College of Online Learning: which has better ROI?
Option A Columbia, MO
Columbia College
- Net price / year
- $22,715
- Earnings, 10 years
- $45,378
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Springfield, MO
Evangel University-College of Online Learning
- Net price / year
- $22,503
- Earnings, 10 years
- $46,573
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Evangel University-College of Online Learning comes closer — median earnings $46,573 against a $90,012 total, vs $45,378 at Columbia College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Columbia College | Evangel University-College of Online Learning |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $22,715 | $22,503 |
| Total net cost | $90,860 | $90,012 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $45,378 | $46,573 |
| Median debt | $23,879 | $24,736 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$150,500 | -$125,752 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Columbia College or Evangel University-College of Online Learning?
Evangel University-College of Online Learning, at $22,503 a year after aid versus $22,715 — a gap of $212 a year, or $848 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 Columbia College or Evangel University-College of Online Learning graduates earn more?
Evangel University-College of Online Learning graduates report a median $46,573 ten years after entry, $1,195 more than the $45,378 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, Columbia College or Evangel University-College of Online Learning?
Columbia College: its completers carry a median $23,879 in federal loans versus $24,736 at Evangel University-College of Online Learning, a difference of $857. 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?
50% of students finish at Evangel University-College of Online Learning, against 42% 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.