Columbia College Tuition, Demographics & Completion (2026)
Columbia College is a public community college in Sonora, California, enrolling about 1,984 students. The college offers associate degrees, career certificates, and transfer pathways to four-year universities. Typical net price after grant aid is about $11,316 for students who receive it, compared with published tuition near $1,282. Student demographics in federal data include White (61.1%) and Hispanic or Latino (26.0%) among the largest enrollment groups.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $1,282
- 2024 Average Net Price: $11,316 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: N/A Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 1,984 35.1% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 26.53%
- Carnegie Classification: Associate's Colleges: High Transfer-High Traditional
- First-Generation Students: 53.4%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 14.1% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price increase of 258.3% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 43.1%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 4,292
- Room & Board: $22,086 annual estimate
Columbia College: what the data shows
Common questions about Columbia College, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Columbia College?
Columbia College is located in Sonora, CA (ZIP 95370).
Is Columbia College public or private?
Columbia College is a Public institution.
How much does Columbia College cost?
Published tuition: $1,282 in-state, $9,264 out-of-state.
Average net price after aid: $11,316.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $10,095 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $10,910 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $13,961 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $15,762 |
| $110,001+ | $12,813 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $5,128.
How big is Columbia College?
Total enrollment: 1,984 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 4,292 students.
About 35% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Columbia College?
150%-time completion rate: 26.53%.
First-year retention: 57.9%.
What do graduates of Columbia College earn?
Median earnings: $32,510 six years after entry; $39,035 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
28.37% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Columbia College known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies (149 completions)
- Culinary Arts and Related Services (32 completions)
- Business Administration and Management, General (32 completions)
- Humanities/Humanistic Studies (28 completions)
- Biological and Physical Sciences (27 completions)
- Psychology, General (22 completions)
- Health Professions and Related Programs (22 completions)
- Fire Prevention and Safety Technology/Technician (21 completions)
- Geographic Information Science and Cartography (19 completions)
- Natural Resources/Conservation, General (16 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Columbia College a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show completion rate 26.53%; median earnings $39,035 at 10 years; net price $11,316. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$1,282
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Columbia College was $1,282.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$11,316
2024 Value
In 2024 Columbia College had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $11,316.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$45,264 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$11,316 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$5,128 4-Year In-State Tuition
$37,056 4-Year Out-of-State Tuition
$22,086 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$1,062 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$24,430 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$97,720 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for Columbia College.
Financial Aid by Income Level
28.37% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
0.00% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
Not reported
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Columbia College was not reported in the College Scorecard extract for this institution.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Columbia College in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $1,150 | $6,046 | $6,540 |
| 2014 | $1,150 | $6,406 | $5,337 |
| 2015 | $1,162 | $6,370 | $7,386 |
| 2016 | $1,162 | $6,658 | $6,252 |
| 2017 | $1,162 | $6,778 | $5,552 |
| 2018 | $1,166 | $7,358 | $5,297 |
| 2019 | $1,176 | $7,536 | $7,990 |
| 2020 | $1,270 | $7,538 | $7,921 |
| 2021 | $1,270 | $7,442 | $5,836 |
| 2022 | $1,356 | $7,308 | $4,317 |
| 2023 | $1,547 | $8,870 | $15,468 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Columbia College reported total enrollment of about 1,984 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 45% male and 55% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (61.1%), Hispanic or Latino (26.0%), and Black or African American (3.8%). About 28.37% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 53.4% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
35.1% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Columbia College in 2024 is 1,984 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 4,292 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
57.9%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is White at 61.1%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
11.56% 100% Completion Time
26.53% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 11.56% of students graduating from Columbia College completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 29% male / 71% female
- Culinary Arts and Related Services: 75% male / 25% female
- Business Administration and Management, General: 25% male / 75% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Columbia College.
Return on Investment
$39,035 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
762.39% Return on Investment
Financial value analysis for Columbia College.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 38 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 149 completions
2. Culinary Arts and Related Services: 32 completions
3. Business Administration and Management, General: 32 completions
4. Humanities/Humanistic Studies: 28 completions
5. Biological and Physical Sciences: 27 completions
6. Psychology, General: 22 completions
7. Health Professions and Related Programs: 22 completions
8. Fire Prevention and Safety Technology/Technician: 21 completions
9. Geographic Information Science and Cartography: 19 completions
Most popular programs at Columbia College.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Columbia College graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Columbia College from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 43.1%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $10,219
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $7,370
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
Columbia College is a public institution located in Sonora, CA, classified as Associate's Colleges: High Transfer-High Traditional. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies, Culinary Arts and Related Services, Business Administration and Management, General. Enrollment is approximately 1,984 students. Student body composition includes White (61.1%), Hispanic or Latino (26.0%), Black or African American (3.8%). The 150%-time completion rate is 26.53%. Approximately 28.37% of students receive Pell Grants. About 53.4% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Public
Carnegie Classification: Associate's Colleges: High Transfer-High Traditional
Location
Sonora, CA 95370
Region: Far West
Insights and Analysis
Graduation Rate Considerations: The 26.53% graduation rate at Columbia College falls below the national average. Prospective students should carefully consider factors such as academic preparation, support services, and career outcomes when evaluating this institution.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Columbia College located?
Columbia College is located in Sonora, CA.
How much does Columbia College cost?
Reported tuition is $1,282 and average net price is $11,316 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $22,086 annually.
What is the student body demographics at Columbia College?
Columbia College reports undergraduate enrollment of about 4,292 students, White (61.1%), Hispanic or Latino (26.0%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Columbia College?
About 53.4% of students at Columbia College are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of Columbia College earn?
Median earnings are $32,510 six years after entry and $39,035 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Columbia College?
The 150%-time completion rate is 26.5% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
Is Columbia College public or private?
Columbia College is a public institution located in Sonora, CA.
Is Columbia College an HBCU?
No. Columbia College is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Columbia College a tribal college?
No. Columbia College is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is Columbia College a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
By the common federal eligibility proxy used here (≥25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard), yes—Columbia College reports 26.0% Hispanic enrollment share.
Is Columbia College religiously affiliated?
No religious affiliation is reported for Columbia College in IPEDS institutional characteristics.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- California college costs
- California colleges by ROI
- California trade schools profile
- Far West regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in California
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.