by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Columbia College South Carolina first-year students return for their second year, and how many go on to graduate? Retention and graduation rates help you understand how students progress at Columbia College South Carolina. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes and how long it takes.
The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 60% students making it past their freshmen year, Columbia College South Carolina has freshmen retention rates below the national average.
Nationwide, the average first to second year retention rate is 70.57%.
When looking at just colleges and universities in South Carolina, the average is 65.91%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Columbia College South Carolina | 60% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| South Carolina | 65.91% |
There were approximately 347 students in the class of 2023. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 51% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 53% of the students had graduated and after eight years 53% of this class completed their degree.
Any student who completes their bachelor's degree within six years is considered to have graduated on time, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. This makes the offical Columbia College South Carolina graduation rate 53%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 337 | 51% |
| Six Years | 347 | 53% |
| Eight Years | 3 | 0% |
| Did Not Complete | 309 | 47% |
The non-completers rate is anyone who is not still enrolled at the institution after eight years. Both transfer students and drop-outs could be included in this group.
Approximately 309 students or 47% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 309 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
165 transferred to another institution.
Columbia College South Carolina lost contact with the remaining 140 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 165 | 53.4% |
| Dropped Out | 140 | 45.3% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 100% |
| Black / African-American | 46% |
| Hispanic | 50% |
| International | 100% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 45% |
| Unknown | 86% |
| White | 57% |
First-time, full-time students under the age of 25 are much more likely to graduate in four years. Some schools cater to mostly traditional students while others cater to 'non-traditional' students. So called 'non-traditional' students include part-time students or those who may be returning after an absense. It is common for part-time and/or adult students to take longer to graduate.
Traditional Students:
First-time, full-time students under the age of 25.
Non-Traditional Students:
Any student that is not first-time, full-time, and under the age of 25.
A meaningful share of students at Columbia College South Carolina are considered 'non-traditional students' who are not first-time, full-time, and under 25.
Looking at the individual cohorts below may tell you more than the overall graduation rate alone.
First-time / full-time students at Columbia College represent 22.31% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Columbia College South Carolina graduation rate was 55%, and by the eight year mark, 56% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 37.92% after four years, 46.43% after six years, and 47.82% after eight years.
| Completions | Columbia College South Carolina | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 52% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 55% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 56% | 47.82% |
64 first-time / full-time students or 44% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
48 transferred to another institution.
Columbia College South Carolina lost contact with the remaining 16 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 48 | 75.00% |
| Dropped Out | 16 | 25.00% |
Unfortunately, we don’t have access to data for this cohort at Columbia College.
Returning / full-time students at Columbia College represent 47.04% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Columbia College South Carolina graduation rate was 61%, and by the eight year mark, 61% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 53.83% after six years, and 55.07% after eight years.
| Completions | Columbia College South Carolina | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 61% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 61% | 55.07% |
120 non first-time / part-time students or 39% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
53 transferred to another institution.
Columbia College South Carolina lost contact with the remaining 64 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 2.50% |
| Transferred | 53 | 44.17% |
| Dropped Out | 64 | 53.33% |
Returning / part-time students at Columbia College represent 30.65% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Columbia College South Carolina graduation rate was 38%, and by the eight year mark, 38% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 30.46% after four years, 36.03% after six years, and 37.80% after eight years.
| Completions | Columbia College South Carolina | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 37% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 38% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 38% | 37.80% |
125 non first-time / part-time students or 62% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
64 transferred to another institution.
Columbia College South Carolina lost contact with the remaining 60 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.80% |
| Transferred | 64 | 51.20% |
| Dropped Out | 60 | 48.00% |
