Graduates earn among the highest incomes nationally, with outcomes that significantly exceed peer expectations.
What graduates earn 10 years after enrollment.
Annual salary at 10 years
Lower quartile earnings
Upper quartile earnings
How graduate earnings grow in the decade after enrollment.
Columbia graduates experience steady earnings growth throughout their early careers, with median income rising from $88,535 at six years to $98,435 at eight years and reaching $102,491 at ten years after enrollment. This 15.8% growth from the six to ten-year mark indicates consistent career advancement and skill development in the labor market.
How outcomes compare to similar institutions.
Graduates from this institution significantly outperform peers — earnings are 63% higher than similar schools.
Financial justification for the investment.
Excellent affordability. Median debt of $21,500 is well under annual earnings, enabling comfortable repayment.
Columbia graduates demonstrate manageable debt levels despite the institution's high sticker price, with median debt of $21,500 falling $2,681 below the peer median of $24,181. Debt levels range from $8,636 at the 25th percentile to $28,500 at the 75th percentile, indicating that most students avoid excessive borrowing relative to their earning potential.
Columbia University ranks at the 98.7th percentile nationally for return on investment, achieving exceptional tier performance among all four-year institutions. Graduates earn $17,798 beyond expectations compared to similar students, placing Columbia at the 93.2nd percentile for earnings uplift and demonstrating the university's effectiveness in creating economic value.
Approximately 24.4% of Columbia graduates continue to graduate or professional study, with high confidence in this estimate based on program mix analy...
Program mix explains much of the earnings story.
Computer Science drives Columbia's strongest individual program outcomes with $160,457 median earnings for 341 graduates, ranking #10 nationally and contributing significantly to overall institutional performance. Applied Economics produces $117,355 for 338 graduates while ranking #13 nationally, demonstrating both quality and scale.
Engineering programs including Operations Research ($84,653) and Mechanical Engineering ($88,498) provide additional high-earning pathways. Even liberal arts programs contribute meaningfully, with American Government and Politics earning $79,220 and American History reaching $70,499, both achieving top-10 national rankings.
See which programs drive the strongest earnings and career trajectories
Earnings distribution at Columbia spans from $62,687 at the 25th percentile to $162,279 at the 75th percentile, creating a 2.6:1 ratio that reflects meaningful career diversity. Low-income graduates earn $113,500, ranking in the top 5% nationally and demonstrating that Columbia's strong outcomes extend across different socioeconomic backgrounds.
