Marketing at Columbia College

Columbia, MO · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
46 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
47
Optimistic
46
Base Case
41
Pessimistic
Earnings $40,263/yr (-11% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (54% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (204,300 openings/yr)
ROI 5.5x earnings multiple
Ranked #405 of 502 Marketing programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Marketing graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $541K $535K $492K
Earnings Multiple 5.6x 5.5x 5.1x
Probability of Field Employment 50% 44% 32%
DegreeOutlook Score 47 46 41

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$97,304
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$96,204
1% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$22,000
6.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$55,136
37% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $40,263 track close to the $45,450 national median for Marketing programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 5.5x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

Some AI exposure exists in Marketing's typical career paths, with 54% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 9% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $22,000 represents roughly 7 months of the $40,263 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #405 of 502 Marketing programs, Columbia College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $40,263 to $55,136 over five years — a 37% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Columbia College

enrolling 5,359 students in Columbia, MO. 44% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating strong socioeconomic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at Columbia College →

Top Career Paths

Marketing managers $161,030/yr
Sales managers $138,060/yr
Advertising and promotions managers $126,960/yr
View all 9 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

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Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Marketing at Columbia College?
A score of 46/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Marketing. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Marketing careers?
With 54% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $492,148 in decade earnings vs $540,864 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →