Financeat Columbia College
Graduates earn $56,104/yr in their first year — about 1.0% above the national Finance average. Base-case 10-year earnings $574K; scenarios range from $527K to $586K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Columbia College
At $56,104/yr, Finance graduates from Columbia College land near the $55,340 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.
The earnings-to-cost ratio of 5.9x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.
Some AI exposure exists in Finance's typical career paths, with 55% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 10% gap from the optimistic case.
The median debt load of $18,750 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.
Ranked #328 of 431 Finance programs, Columbia College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.
Five-year earnings of $61,765 are relatively flat compared to the $56,104 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Columbia College's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Finance
How Columbia College stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Columbia College
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Columbia College, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Finance offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Finance trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Finance at Columbia College
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Finance at Columbia College?
This program scores 66/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Finance programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
Will AI replace Finance careers?
With 55% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $527,245 in decade earnings vs $585,689 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.