by our College Data Analytics TeamOn this page you'll get a better understanding of what college costs you'll actually have to pay out of pocket, which can vary widely based on where you live and your income level.
Few students will pay the full advertised sticker price of Columbia College. The Net Price is an estimate of how much the average student actually pays to attend college for one year.
To calculate this number we take the total cost of attendance of Columbia College including tuition, fees, room, board and other expenses. Then we subtract out the average amount of aid awarded per student.
We wanted to talk about the net price for all undergraduates (not just freshmen), but that information was not available for Columbia College.
96% of freshman students paid in-state tuition. Of these in-state students, 77% received an average of $5,048 in grants and scholarships. This resulted in an average annual net price of $18,564 for off-campus students.
The following table explores the likelihood that you too will receive some common price-reducing aid, based on percentages.
| Net Price by Aid Group | On Campus | Off Campus | At Home |
|---|---|---|---|
| 224 Total Freshmen | |||
| 51 (23%) did not receive any grants or scholarships. | N/A | $29,880 | $13,300 |
| 173 (77%) split a total of $865,692 for an average of $5,004 each | N/A | $24,876 | $8,296 |
| 216 In-State Students | |||
| 49 (23%) did not receive any grants or scholarships. | N/A | $23,612 | $7,032 |
| 167 (77%) split a total of $843,016 for an average of $5,048 each | N/A | $18,564 | $1,984 |
The above refers to grants and scholarships from the college and/or the state, federal or local governments. Other sources of grant aid such as private scholarships are not included.
Family income can have a large impact on the amount of aid you receive, and thus, your net price.
The table below shows the average net price freshmen paid based on income level. Note that if the school offers in-state tuition, the lower in-state tuition has been used in the calculation.
| Net Price by Family Income Level | In-State Net Price |
|---|---|
| 0-30k | $7,675 |
| 30k-48k | $7,517 |
| 48k-75k | $10,330 |
| 75k-110k | N/A |
| 110k + | N/A |
The above table only includes the calculated net price for students that received some form of Title IV aid.
Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 establishes general rules that apply to the student financial assistance programs covering grants and loans.
Over a period of three years, the average net price paid by all freshmen at Columbia College has increased by an average of 13.7% per year.
An overall average net price of $18,608 puts Columbia College on par with the national average of $20,398.
Many schools offer more aid to first year students (freshmen) than they do to other undergraduates. Is that the case with this school?
