Columbia College - Missouri

In 2022, tuition for full-time Columbia College students was $24,326 a year.

Usually, college tuition goes up about 3% every year.

If this information makes going to college seem daunting, remember, the "sticker price" of tuition does not mean much if you plan to use financial aid to help pay for college. Many students find the actual cost of college is a lot less than the total tuition after grants, scholarships, and tuition discounts are applied. And, student loans can make thecost of college more manageable until you're done with college.

Columbia College meets 76.36% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates. The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student at Columbia College is around $21,935.63 a year.

Students in the class of 2023 who had taken out student loans graduated with an average of $28,531.64 of debt.

Columbia College: In-state vs. Out-of-State Tuition

Columbia College is a private, religious institution, so it has the same tuition for students from Missouri as it does for residents from other states.

Public schools receive funds from the state to help them cover costs. Public insitutions often offer reduced tuition for those who qualify as Missouri residents.

Choosing a college where you qualify for in-state tuition can cut the cost of college tuition. Take the time to check your state's requirements for as an in-state resident. Each state has different requirements to qualify as in-state resident. In many states, students must have lived in the state for 12 months before starting school to qualify for in-state tuition. There may be additional requirements as well, depending on where you live.

Explore other Missouri colleges

Is Columbia College's Tuition Different for International Students?

Tuition at Columbia College is the same for every student.

International students usually do not qualify for for loans or grants from the U.S. government, but should research private or Columbia College-specific grants, scholarships, and other funding opportunities. International students with need may qualify for the following types of financial support at Columbia College:

•On-campus jobs •Loans from outsideColumbia College

International students without financial need may be eligible for merit-based institutional scholarships and athletic awards.

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Columbia College Living Expenses, Fees, and More

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In addition to the cost of tuition, there are other costs associated with college, like room and board, facility fees, and books and supplies. Let's take a look at what impacts these costs, and what to expect at Columbia College.

House and Food Costs at Columbia College

Room and board at Columbia College is $8,874 a year. This covers the cost of living in dorms or other on-campus housing, plus a meal plan that allows you to eat all or some of your meals the Columbia College's on-campus cafeterias and dining halls.

Meal-plan costs may vary depending on the number of meals you intend to eat on-campus

Cost of Books at Columbia College

First-year students are sometimes surprised by how much books and supplies cost–and not in a good way. The real cost of books and supplies depends on the courses you take and the textbooks, computer programs, or other materials are required.. To save money, many students choose to use books from the library or buy used textbooks and materials.

Yearly Fees

Most schools also have fees to offsets cost associated with maintaining facilties, like the computer labs and libraries, athletic facilities, and more.

There may be optional fees associated with participating in certain activities, like joining a fraternity or sorority, or participating in sports or other extracurriculars. Many schools have resources so that those who may struggle to participate because of cost can get help covering these costs.

The Cost of Transportation at Columbia College

The cost of getting around in college depends on a few key factors. Will you drive, fly, or take public transportation to school? Is on-campus parking free, or will you need to budget for parking? Is the campus small enough that you can easily walk from class-to-class?? Do you own a car, or are you planning to use busses, subways, or other modes of transportation? All of these questions can drastically impact your transportation budget. At Columbia College, freshman are allowed to park on campus.

Where are a college is located can impact transportation costs. Small, rural schools may be easier to get around, but the cost of getting to campus may be higher. On the other hand getting around in an urban area is sometimes pricey, but cities may offer more buses, trains or affordable flights to actually get to school. Columbia Collegeis located in a city in Missouri, not far from St. Louis and Kansas City.

Other Costs

When creating a budget for college, be sure to consider personal expenses, like going out to eat or see shows, furnishing your living space, and things like haircuts, clothes and, yes, even toilet paper and shampoo.

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Total Tuition and Expenses at Columbia College

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Now, let’s do a rundown of all of the costs associated with college, to get a better estimate of how much students can expect to shell out for Columbia College.

Total Cost of Columbia College

What will the cost of attending Columbia College be? Here is a breakdown of tuition and expenses.

2023 Total Tuition and Expenses
Tuition	$24,326
Room and Board	$8,874
Other expenses	$6,784

The total estimated cost will vary depending on whether you are going to live on-campus or off-campus.

Total Estimated Costs
On-Campus	$39,984
Off-Campus	$28,070

The breakdowns above provide a good estimate of the total cost of attendance before financial aid and scholarships. Tuition and fees may vary depending on program, course level, location, and more.

Columbia College’s tuition and fees change based on: •Campus location for full-time and part-time students •Academic program for both full and part-time students •Class time for both full and part-time students •Course load for both full and part-time students

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Columbia College Financial Aid

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The majority of Columbia College undergrads use financial aid to to cover the cost of tuition. In 2023, 483 of the 849 undergrads enrolled received financial aid. Columbia College meets 76.36% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates.

The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student is around $21,935.63 a year. Around 66.67% of Columbia College undergrads take out student loans to cover any remaining costs. Columbia College graduates who have student loans graduate with an average of $28,531.64 of student loan debt.

The average debt for each loan type varies.

Average Debt By Loan Type
Federal Loans	$21,303.11
Private Loans	$27,616

Most Common Loans for Columbia College Students
Federal Loans	65.59%
Private loans	18.28%

Most students take out institutional or government loans, because they tend to have lower interest rates and more flexible repayment options than private loans. Loans from the federal government can be subsidized or unsubsidized. Subsidized loans do not accrue interest during school, while unsubsidized loans begin accruing interest at the time the loan is issued. If students do no qualify for enough federal loans to cover the cost of tuition, some take out private loans. Parents can also take out ParentPLUS loans, which are government loans for parents who are helping their children pay for college.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) helps colleges determine how much financial need students and their familes have, so they can offer a financial aid package that meets, or come close to meeting, their need. For more information on Columbia College financial aid, keep reading, or visit their financial aid website.

Scholarships at Columbia College

Some students may receive grants and scholarships to help pay for college. Unlike loans, scholarships and grants do not have to be paid back.

In 2023, Columbia College awarded 339 need-based scholarships to students, giving away total of $2.2 million to help students with financial need cover the cost of school. An additional $5.91 million in merit-based scholarship money was awarded to students without demonstrated financial need.

Net Cost of Columbia College

The net price of college is the actual cost of attending a school for one year. Net cost is calculated by subtracting any scholarships, grants or other aid that does not need to be paid back from the total cost. Student loans are not part of the calculation, because they need to be repaid.

Now that we have a sense of the total estimated costs for Columbia College students, we can subtract the average financial aid package to find the estimated net cost. Net cost can vary depending on a students’ need and the financial aid award received.

When considering whether a school fits your budget, it is important to consider the estimated net cost, not just the sticker price of tuition. Often, schools with the highest tuition also offer the most generous aid packages, so estimate your net cost before eliminating a school because it does fit your budget.

The average amount of financial aid received by a full-time first year student with demonstrated need at Columbia College was $21,935.63 in 2023. By substracting the average financial aid package from the estimated costs, we get a number that may make the cost of Columbia College seem more manageable.

Estimated Net Cost for Full-Time Students
On-Campus	$18,048.37
Off-Campus	$6,134.37

What will attending Columbia College really cost you? The answer depends on several factors.

As of 2011, colleges are required to have a net price calculator on their website to help prospective students and their families understand the actual cost of attending that school, based on their financial situation. You can find the Columbia College's net cost calculator on their website.

Columbia College Tuition Payment Plans

Some students choose to use payment plans to make the cost of tuition fit more comfortably in their budget.

Columbia College offers an Installment Payment Plan, which allows students to pay tuition in a series of smaller chunks instead of one lump sum.

Does Columbia College Offer Tuition Waivers?

Schools sometimes offer tuition waivers to certain groups, to offset the cost of attending. Some schools offer tuition waivers for faculty, staff, and their families , underrepresented students, or military students. Even with a tuition waiver, students are usually responsible for housing, meal plans, and other expenses.

Columbia College has some full or partial tuition waivers available for: - Employees or Children of Employees

Check the financial aid website for more information on payment plans and tuition waivers.

Columbia College's Endowment

An endowment is the total value of a school's investments, donations, and assets. Endowment is not necessarily an indicator of the quality of a school, but it can give you a sense of how much money a college can afford to invest in expanding programs, improving facilities, and supporting students.

Columbia College's endowment was valued at $179.7 million in 2023, compared to a national average of $905 million. For each full-time student, Columbia College spends about $8,123 a year.

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Learn More About Columbia College

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