Columbia, Maryland Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
Colleges in Columbia, Maryland: median public in-state tuition $4,080 (-26.0% vs national median) median graduate debt $10,875 (-18.1% vs U.S.) 7,907 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 2 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 7,907 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $4,080 (-26.0% vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $22,720 (+127.9% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $10,875 (-18.1% vs U.S. $13,271); regional median $13,000
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Overview
Colleges and universities in Columbia serve students across Maryland with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 2 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 7,907 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $4,080. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Columbia, Maryland and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Columbia vs Maryland & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia, Maryland | $4,080 | $22,720 | $10,875 | N/A | 7,907 |
| Maryland (state median) | $5,166 | $10,555 | $13,000 | 56.0% | 253,178 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Columbia, Maryland vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia, Maryland | N/A | N/A | N/A | — | — | N/A | N/A |
| Maryland (state median) | $61,797 | 86.0% | 78.1% | 4.7% | — | 77.2% | 0.40 |
| United States | $54,384 | 88.0% | 76.4% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
Other cities in Maryland (3+ campuses)
Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia, Maryland | $4,080 | $22,720 | $10,875 | N/A | 7,907 | N/A | N/A |
| Baltimore | $13,178 | $16,420 | $19,500 | 53.7% | 56,343 | $61,335 | 84.0% |
| Towson | $11,728 | $24,481 | $15,632 | 69.5% | 16,490 | $64,390 | 88.9% |
| Rockville | $5,394 | $32,449 | $7,958 | N/A | 13,855 | N/A | N/A |
| Salisbury | $7,462 | $17,743 | $16,500 | 68.2% | 8,258 | $61,515 | 92.1% |
| Salisbury | $7,462 | $17,743 | $16,500 | 68.2% | 8,258 | $61,515 | 92.1% |
| Frederick | $25,774 | $20,873 | $9,833 | 56.9% | 5,537 | $57,089 | 87.3% |
| Annapolis | $40,684 | $38,562 | $18,416 | 82.2% | 5,147 | $51,584 | 73.9% |
| Bel Air | $4,032 | $11,470 | $8,072 | N/A | 3,773 | N/A | N/A |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 | $54,384 | 88.0% |
In-state tuition: Columbia, Maryland vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Columbia, Maryland median in-state tuition is $4,080, -26.0% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Columbia, Maryland vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Columbia, Maryland is $10,875 (-18.1% vs U.S. median $13,271). Regional median: $13,000.
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Columbia, Maryland median public in-state tuition is $4,080, about -26.0% vs the national median. Versus the Mid East region, tuition is -44.7%.
Median graduate debt is $10,875 (-18.1% below the U.S. median of $13,271). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Columbia?
This city profile covers 2 campuses in Columbia, Maryland with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Columbia?
Median in-state tuition in Columbia is $4,080 and median net price is $22,720. For Maryland overall, medians are $5,166 and $10,555; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,969.
What do graduates earn in Columbia?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Columbia is N/A vs $61,797 for Maryland and $54,384 nationally.
What is student debt like for Columbia colleges?
Median completer debt in Columbia is $10,875 vs $13,000 for Maryland and $13,271 nationally.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Columbia?
Among 2 campuses in Columbia, Maryland, 1 campus with at least 25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard demographics—a common Hispanic-serving institution (HSI) eligibility proxy; examples include Lincoln College of Technology-Columbia.
Sources & related
- Maryland college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON