How much money do Columbia College graduates make and which majors earn the most upon graduating? Six years after enrolling, alumni who are working have average earnings of $27,400 per year. After ten years, graduates earn $34,700 on average.
In terms of specific areas of study, the following is a ranking of degree programs by the median first-year starting salaries for Columbia College graduates.
The undergraduate degree which initially pays the highest is Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services, Other with a median starting salary of $44,700 followed by Business Administration, Management and Operations paying $36,100 and Communication and Media Studies graduates who have a median starting income of $34,100 .
Looking at post-graduate and doctorate students, those completing the Education, Other (Master's Degree) program rank first with a median initial income of $39,400 .
Note about salary data: First year earnings data are aggregated by the US Department of Education and analyzes IRS reported income for Columbia College graduates who received federal financial aid in the form of grants or loans. Not all graduates or fields of study are represented as data for some degree programs are omitted for privacy purposes.
| Major | Earnings |
|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services, Other (Bachelor’s Degree) | $44,700 |
| Education, Other (Master's Degree) | $39,400 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor’s Degree) | $36,100 |
| Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor’s Degree) | $34,100 |
| Social Work (Bachelor’s Degree) | $31,100 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor’s Degree) | $29,600 |
| Behavioral Sciences (Bachelor’s Degree) | $23,100 |
| Psychology (Bachelor’s Degree) | $19,700 |
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=217934 IPEDS survey and College Scorecard data for Columbia College.