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Is Columbia International University worth it?
A first pass affordability and outcome read for Columbia International, using national average inputs. Run your own numbers for a personalized score.
Worth-It Score
Heavy lift
Columbia International lands in the heavy lift band for a typical family. The combination of $26,036 in yearly net price and $20,000 in median debt asks a lot relative to median earnings of $38,951. For context, Columbia International's net price is about 7% below the typical 4-year, private nonprofit school. This does not make the school wrong for every student, but it does mean the price deserves a closer test.
Is the price fair?
Compared to 1237 similar 4-year, private nonprofit schools
This school
$21,320
/yrAverage school like this
$22,837
/yrThis helps your Worth-It Score
You'd pay about $1,517 less per year than the typical student at a similar school. Over 4 years that's roughly $6,000 in savings.
Score breakdown
The public version of the score weighs affordability, after graduation outcomes, and repayment burden.
Affordability
40% weight
The yearly net price is doing real work against the score and raises the financing burden quickly.
Outcome
40% weight
The outcome data does not create enough margin to fully offset the cost.
Repayment
20% weight
Median debt stays in a more comfortable repayment range for a typical graduate.
The numbers behind the score
Median net price per year
$26,036
Median earnings 10 years out
$38,951
Median debt at graduation
$20,000
Graduation rate
55%
At Columbia International, a typical graduate carries about $20,000 in student debt and earns roughly $38,951 ten years after enrolling. On a standard 10-year repayment plan, that works out to about $227 per month, or 7% of pre-tax income. That sits inside a borrower comfort range for many graduates.
What this means for your family
Columbia International is a private nonprofit four year school in Columbia, SC. Private pricing can swing more dramatically based on aid, so your personalized score matters more here than the national average view alone.
Similar schools worth comparing
These schools share a similar sector, geography, or price range.
Private nonprofit 4-year
Anderson
Anderson, SC
Worth-It Score: 46/100
Median net price: $23,544
Private nonprofit 4-year
Converse
Spartanburg, SC
Worth-It Score: 38/100
Median net price: $23,283
Private nonprofit 4-year
Furman
Greenville, SC
Worth-It Score: 68/100
Median net price: $30,308
Private nonprofit 4-year
Charleston Southern
Charleston, SC
Worth-It Score: 45/100
Median net price: $21,666
Private nonprofit 4-year
Newberry
Newberry, SC
Worth-It Score: 45/100
Median net price: $21,656
Common questions about Columbia International
The median net price at Columbia International is $26,036 per year. That is the average yearly price after typical grant aid for students in the public federal data, not the published sticker price.
Get your personalized Worth-It score
National averages are a starting point. Plug in your actual aid offer, intended major, and family situation to get a score that reflects your specific picture.
Looking at private colleges options in South Carolina? See the most affordable private colleges in South Carolina →
The Worth-It Score weighs affordability (40%), after graduation outcomes (40%), and repayment burden (20%). Underlying data points come from publicly available federal higher education reporting. See full methodology →