After Columbia College: graduation, pay and debt
Columbia, South Carolina · Private · 1,343 undergrads
53% of Columbia College students finish within six years, the typical student earns $46,266 ten years after starting and graduates leave with $21,944 in federal loans at the median.
The short answers
$46.3k
median pay 10 years after starting college.
53%
finish within six years.
48%
finish in four years.
60%
of first-years come back for year two.
$21.9k
median federal debt at graduation.
45%
of borrowers were paying down their loans three years after leaving.
All the federal numbers
Finishing
Finished in four yearsIPEDS, fall 2023
48%
Finished within six yearsIPEDS, fall 2023
53%
First-years who came back for year twoCollege Scorecard, fall 2024
60%
Women who finished within six yearsIPEDS, students who started in 2017
53%
Students in that six-year groupIPEDS, students who started in 2017
159
Earned a degree or certificate here within eight yearsIPEDS, full-time students who started in 2015
52%
Still enrolled here after eight yearsIPEDS, full-time students who started in 2015
36%
Students in that eight-year groupIPEDS, full-time students who started in 2015
193
Transferred to another collegeCollege Scorecard, earlier release
25%
Pay after college
Median pay 6 years after starting collegeCollege Scorecard
$49,117
Median pay 10 years after starting collegeCollege Scorecard, 2022-23
$46,266
Earning more than $25,000 six years after startingCollege Scorecard, earlier release
54%
Debt and paying it back
Median federal debt, students who graduatedCollege Scorecard, 2024-25
$21,944
Median federal debt, everyone who borrowed (finished or not)College Scorecard, earlier release
$14,750
Median federal debt, students with a Pell GrantCollege Scorecard, earlier release
$14,270
Median federal debt, students without a Pell GrantCollege Scorecard, earlier release
$15,648
Paying down their loans 3 years after leavingCollege Scorecard, 2024-25
45%
Paying down their loans 5 years after leavingCollege Scorecard, earlier release
51%
Paying down their loans 7 years after leavingCollege Scorecard, earlier release
52%
Where these numbers come from
- Admit rate and applicants: IPEDS, fall 2024 (checked Oct 31, 2026)
- Cost, pay and debt: College Scorecard, 2024-25 (checked Oct 31, 2026)
Updated Oct 31, 2026Spot a mistake?How we get our numbers