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Columbia College

Sonora, CA · Rural · 1,984 students
WebsiteScorecard
Application deadlines: Check the admissions site
$11,316
Average net priceYour net price
In-state · 2023-24
<30
30–48
48–75
75–110
110+
By household income — tap a bar
28%
Graduation rate
Entered fall 2017 & 2018
31% typical
$39,035
Earnings 10 years on
Measured 2020 & 2021
$40,902 typical
Open admission
Acceptance rate
78% typical · not scored
Accredited by Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
About

Columbia College, nestled in the Sierra Nevada foothills near Yosemite National Park, is best known for its scenic, 280-acre wooded campus and career-focused programs that embrace its mountain environment. The college boasts premier academic pathways in fire technology, natural resources, forestry, and hospitality management, alongside reliable associate degree transfer guarantees to the UC and CSU systems. Student life is defined by a close-knit, outdoor-oriented community where small class sizes foster personal connections with faculty and staff. A major distinction of the college is its specialized wildland fire and natural resource facilities, which provide students with rare, hands-on field experience directly in the heart of California's Gold Country.

Location
Sonora, CA, 95370 · Rural campus
✈
Nearest airport from college
SMF · Sacramento
80 mi away
Cost & aid
Cost of attendance
These figures are federal data and may be out of date.
In-stateOut-of-state
Tuition & fees$1,282$9,264
Books & supplies$1,062$1,062
Cost of attendance$31,802$27,852 est.
Average net price$11,316Not published
Out-of-state prices
Tuition & fees$9,264
In-state: $1,282
Books & supplies$1,062
Cost of attendance$27,852 est.
In-state: $31,802
Average net priceNot published
In-state: $11,316
est. = the in-state cost of attendance with out-of-state tuition swapped in; no out-of-state figure is published.
Source: U.S. College Scorecard · published total: www.gocolumbia.edu
How it’s made up · in-state, 2026-27
Columbia College’s own figures for 2026-2027, newer than the 2024-25 federal figures above, so the amounts differ.
Tuition$1,194
Books & supplies$1,768
Personal expenses$5,706
Transportation$2,240
Total published by the school$31,802
Net price by family income · in-state students, 2023-24
$0–30k
$10,095
$30–48k
$10,910
$48–75k
$13,961
$75–110k
$15,762
$110k+
$12,813
Outcomes
Completion
Within 6 yrs
28%
Entered 2017–18
8 yrs after starting · first-time, full-time students
36% graduated · 18% transferred · 1% still enrolled · 45% left or unknown
Earnings · measured 2020 & 2021
6 yrs after entry$32,510
10 yrs after entry$39,035
Admissions

No admissions data available for this college.

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Essay prompts

If Columbia College asks for supplemental essays, the prompts are in the school's application.

Student Body
Gender
Men 45%Women 55%
Who enrolls
Faculty ratio
21 : 1
Pell grant
28%
First-gen
53%
Family income
$13,865
Independent
53%
Veterans
1%
Age at entry
26.0
Part-time
65%
Race & ethnicity
White
61%
Hispanic
26%
Black
4%
Asian
2%
Two or more
3%
AI/AN
2%
Unknown
2%
Varsity sports
CCCAA · EADA 2024-25
  • Basketball
    Men's
  • Volleyball
    Women's
Institutional
Resources
Endowment
$2M
Full-time faculty
43%
Faculty salary
$10,219/mo
Teaching spend
$7,370
per student
Federal loans
0%
Classification
Carnegie type
Associate's — high transfer
Undergraduate profile
Two-year, mostly part-time

Wondering if Columbia College is the right fit for you?

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