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Columbia State Community College
Columbia, Tennessee
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Columbia State Community College Graduation Rate & Retention Rates

Why are Retention and Graduation Rates Important?

Make an informed decision about your education by understanding how Columbia State Community College's retention and graduation rates impact you. First year retention rates let you know how many students come back for their sophomore year. Graduation rates tell you how long it takes to complete a degree at Columbia State Community College . Remember, every extra semester it takes to graduate will increase the cost of your degree.

Students Coming into College and Leaving as Graduates Assembly Line Illustration

On This Page You'll Find:

  • What These Rates Have To Do With You
  • First to Second Year Retention Rate at Columbia State Community College
  • Graduation Rates at Columbia State Community College
    • First-Time Undergrads Attending Full-Time
    • First-Time Undergrads Attending Part-Time
    • Returning Adults Attending Full-Time
    • Returning Adults Attending Part-Time

Columbia State Community College Has One of the Lowest Freshman Retention Rates in the Country

You have to make it past freshman year in order to graduate. With only 54.0% of students staying on to become sophomores, Columbia State Community College has among the worst freshman retention rates in the country.

Nationwide, the average first year to second year retention rate is 69.0% . When looking at just colleges and universities in Tennessee , the average is 67.0% .

Columbia State Community College Freshmen Retention Rate Rankings

Nationwide Ranking  (2,837 out of 3,392 )
worse
better
Tennessee Ranking  (55 out of 73 )
worse
better
Columbia State Community CollegeFreshman Retention Rate

Any Questions?

  • When you attend a school that is high quality and a good fit for you, it is more likely you'll return for another year. Read more about why retention is so important.
  • How many students make it past freshman year? You might be surprised at the answer.
  • Low retention rates may be a signal that a lot of students plan on transferring after a year or two. Is that the case here?

Overall, 21.9% of Columbia State Community College Undergrads Finish Within Six Years

At Columbia State Community College , there were 2,501 bachelors degree candidates in the class of 2016 . By 2018 , six years after beginning their degree, 21.9% of these students had graduated. After an additional two years, 23.0% of this class eventually completed their degree.

We consider the "on-time" graduation rate for a bachelor's degree to be four years, but colleges typically report their graduation rates after six or even eight years.

Overall Columbia State Community College Six Year Graduation Rate  (21.9% )
0%
100%
Overall Columbia State Community College Eight Year Graduation Rate  (23.0% )
0%
100%
Columbia State Community CollegeUndergraduate Graduation Rate

This implies that 77.0% did not graduate within eight years. Of these 1,928 students, 31 were still working towards their degree, 318 had transferred to a different institution, and Columbia State Community College lost contact with the remaining 1,578 whom we assume dropped out.

dropouts & other students who failed to graduate from Columbia State Community College

Some Students Take More Time to Graduate

First-time, full-time students under the age of 25 are much more likely to graduate in four years (on-time). Some schools cater mostly to traditional students while others cater to “non-traditional” students who may be attending part time and thus are likely to take longer to graduate.

Comparing the graduation rates of specific cohorts shown below will be more revealing than the overall statistics shared above.

First-Time / Full-time Students at Columbia State Community College Represent 43.1% of the Class of 2016 and 48.3% of all Their Bachelor's Degree Graduations.

With a four year graduation rate of N/A , first-time students in the Columbia State Community College class of 2016 who attended classes full-time After six years, the graduation rate was 24.8% and by 2020 ,25.7% of this class had completed their degree.

Nationwide, the average graduation rate for first-time undergraduates attending classes full-time is: 35.8% after four years, 46.4% after six years, and 47.8% after eight years.

Nationwide Rankings for First-Time / Full-time Graduation Rates at Columbia State Community College

Four Year Graduation Rate Ranking  (N/A out of 1,970 )
worse
better
Six Year Graduation Rate Ranking  (2,960 out of 3,581 )
worse
better
Eight Year Graduation Rate Ranking  (2,994 out of 3,581 )
worse
better
Graduation rates for first-time / full-time students at Columbia State Community College

74.3% of the First-Time / Full-time Class of 2016 had not Completed Their Degree by 2020

Of these 802 students, 7 were still working towards their degree, 132 had transferred to a different institution, and Columbia State Community College lost contact with the remaining 663 whom we assume dropped out.

Non-completion rates for first-time / full-time students at Columbia State Community College

First-Time / Part-time Students at Columbia State Community College Represent 23.5% of the Class of 2016 and 15.5% of all Their Bachelor's Degree Graduations.

With a six year graduation rate of 14.0% , first-time students in the Columbia State Community College class of 2016 who attended classes part-time had a graduation rate similar to the national average. After eight years, the graduation rate was 15.1% .

Nationwide, the average graduation rate for first-time undergraduates attending classes part-time is: 21.6% after six years and 23.7% after eight years.

Nationwide Rankings for First-Time / Part-time Graduation Rates at Columbia State Community College

Six Year Graduation Rate Ranking  (1,495 out of 2,697 )
worse
better
Eight Year Graduation Rate Ranking  (1,590 out of 2,697 )
worse
better
Graduation rates for first-time / part-time students at Columbia State Community College

84.9% of the First-Time/ Part-time Class of 2016 had not Completed Their Degree by 2020

Of these 499 students, 14 were still working towards their degree, 37 had transferred to a different institution, and Columbia State Community College lost contact with the remaining 448 whom we assume dropped out.

Non-completion rates for first-time / part-time students at Columbia State Community College

Returning / Full-time Students at Columbia State Community College Represent 14.5% of the Class of 2016 and 16.4% of all Their Bachelor's Degree Graduations.

With a six year graduation rate of 24.8% , returning students in the Columbia State Community College class of 2016 who attended classes full-time were among the least likely in the nation to graduate in a reasonable time. After eight years, the graduation rate was 25.9% .

Nationwide, the average graduation rate for returning undergraduates attending classes full-time is: 53.8% after six years and 55.1% after eight years.

Nationwide Rankings for Returning / Full-time Graduation Rates at Columbia State Community College

Six Year Graduation Rate Ranking  (3,254 out of 3,613 )
worse
better
Eight Year Graduation Rate Ranking  (3,265 out of 3,613 )
worse
better
Graduation rates for returning / full-time students at Columbia State Community College

74.1% of the Returning / Full-time Class of 2016 had not Completed Their Degree by 2020

Of these 269 students, 4 were still working towards their degree, 65 had transferred to a different institution, and Columbia State Community College lost contact with the remaining 200 whom we assume dropped out.

Non-completion rates for returning / full-time students at Columbia State Community College

Returning / Part-time Students at Columbia State Community College Represent 18.8% of the Class of 2016 and 19.9% of all Their Bachelor's Degree Graduations.

With a six year graduation rate of 23.1% , returning students in the Columbia State Community College class of 2016 who attended classes part-time were less likely than average to graduate in a reasonable time. After eight years, the graduation rate was 24.2% .

Nationwide, the average graduation rate for returning undergraduates attending classes part-time is: 36.0% after six years and 37.8% after eight years.

Nationwide Rankings for Returning / Part-time Graduation Rates at Columbia State Community College

Six Year Graduation Rate Ranking  (2,019 out of 2,972 )
worse
better
Eight Year Graduation Rate Ranking  (2,066 out of 2,972 )
worse
better
Graduation rates for returning / part-time students at Columbia State Community College

75.8% of the Returning / Part-time Class of 2016 had not Completed Their Degree by 2020

Of these 357 students, 6 were still working towards their degree, 84 had transferred to a different institution, and Columbia State Community College lost contact with the remaining 267 whom we assume dropped out.

Non-completion rates for returning / part-time students at Columbia State Community College

Additional Considerations

  • Is it common to transfer colleges?
  • Are non traditional students graduating at the same rate as traditional students?
  • How many people drop out of college?

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