Head-to-head comparison
Columbia College vs Harris-Stowe State University: 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 Saint Louis, MO
Harris-Stowe State University
- Net price / year
- $9,922
- Earnings, 10 years
- $31,088
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Columbia College comes closer — median earnings $45,378 against a $90,860 total, vs $31,088 at Harris-Stowe State University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Columbia College | Harris-Stowe State University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $22,715 | $9,922 |
| Total net cost | $90,860 | $39,688 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $45,378 | $31,088 |
| Median debt | $23,879 | $25,930 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$150,500 | -$385,128 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Columbia College or Harris-Stowe State University?
Harris-Stowe State University, at $9,922 a year after aid versus $22,715 — a gap of $12,793 a year, or $51,172 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 Harris-Stowe State University graduates earn more?
Columbia College graduates report a median $45,378 ten years after entry, $14,290 more than the $31,088 at Harris-Stowe State 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, Columbia College or Harris-Stowe State University?
Columbia College: its completers carry a median $23,879 in federal loans versus $25,930 at Harris-Stowe State University, a difference of $2,051. 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?
42% of students finish at Columbia College, against 28% at Harris-Stowe State 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.