Head-to-head comparison
Columbus State Community College vs Franklin University: which has better ROI?
Option A Columbus, OH
Columbus State Community College
- Net price / year
- $8,400
- Earnings, 10 years
- $39,435
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Columbus, OH
Franklin University
- Net price / year
- $25,243
- Earnings, 10 years
- $51,892
- Payback
- 28.6 yrs
Franklin University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $100,972 in 28.6 years versus not at all at Columbus State Community College, on median earnings of $51,892 vs $39,435 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Columbus State Community College | Franklin University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,400 | $25,243 |
| Total net cost | $33,600 | $100,972 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $39,435 | $51,892 |
| Median debt | $8,749 | $20,836 |
| Payback | — | 28.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$212,100 | -$30,332 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Columbus State Community College or Franklin University?
Columbus State Community College, at $8,400 a year after aid versus $25,243 — a gap of $16,843 a year, or $67,372 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 Columbus State Community College or Franklin University graduates earn more?
Franklin University graduates report a median $51,892 ten years after entry, $12,457 more than the $39,435 at Columbus State Community 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, Columbus State Community College or Franklin University?
Columbus State Community College: its completers carry a median $8,749 in federal loans versus $20,836 at Franklin University, a difference of $12,087. 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?
28% of students finish at Columbus State Community College, against 11% at Franklin 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.