by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Columbia Gorge Community College 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 Gorge Community College. 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 52% students making it past their freshmen year, Columbia Gorge Community College 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 Oregon, the average is 67.48%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Columbia Gorge Community College | 52% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Oregon | 67.48% |
How many of the estimated 385 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 31% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 33% of the students had graduated and after eight years 34% 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 Gorge Community College graduation rate 33%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 361 | 31% |
| Six Years | 385 | 33% |
| Eight Years | 8 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 775 | 66% |
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 775 students or 66% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 775 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
291 transferred to another institution.
Columbia Gorge Community College lost contact with the remaining 466 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 291 | 37.5% |
| Dropped Out | 466 | 60.1% |
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 Gorge Community College 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 Gorge Community College represent 12.07% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Columbia Gorge Community College graduation rate was 18%, and by the eight year mark, 18% 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 Gorge Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 18% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 18% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 18% | 47.82% |
115 first-time / full-time students or 82% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
42 transferred to another institution.
Columbia Gorge Community College lost contact with the remaining 69 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 3.48% |
| Transferred | 42 | 36.52% |
| Dropped Out | 69 | 60.00% |
First-time / part-time students at Columbia Gorge Community College represent 25.86% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Columbia Gorge Community College graduation rate was 6%, and by the eight year mark, 7% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 14.37% after four years, 21.59% after six years, and 23.72% after eight years.
| Completions | Columbia Gorge Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 4% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 6% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 7% | 23.72% |
281 first-time / part-time students or 93% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
5 are still enrolled.
105 transferred to another institution.
Columbia Gorge Community College lost contact with the remaining 171 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 1.78% |
| Transferred | 105 | 37.37% |
| Dropped Out | 171 | 60.85% |
Returning / full-time students at Columbia Gorge Community College represent 19.09% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Columbia Gorge Community College graduation rate was 57%, and by the eight year mark, 57% 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 Gorge Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 57% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 57% | 55.07% |
96 non first-time / part-time students or 43% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
36 transferred to another institution.
Columbia Gorge Community College lost contact with the remaining 56 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 4.17% |
| Transferred | 36 | 37.50% |
| Dropped Out | 56 | 58.33% |
Returning / part-time students at Columbia Gorge Community College represent 42.98% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Columbia Gorge Community College graduation rate was 43%, and by the eight year mark, 44% 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 Gorge Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 40% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 43% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 44% | 37.80% |
283 non first-time / part-time students or 56% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
5 are still enrolled.
108 transferred to another institution.
Columbia Gorge Community College lost contact with the remaining 170 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 1.77% |
| Transferred | 108 | 38.16% |
| Dropped Out | 170 | 60.07% |
