by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Columbus State 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 Columbus State. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes and how long it takes.
At this time we lack retention rate information for Columbus State Community College.
How many of the estimated 2487 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 26% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 29% of the students had graduated and after eight years 31% 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 Columbus State graduation rate 29%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 2171 | 26% |
| Six Years | 2487 | 29% |
| Eight Years | 107 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 5846 | 69% |
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 5846 students or 69% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 5846 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
2460 transferred to another institution.
Columbus State lost contact with the remaining 3269 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 2460 | 42.1% |
| Dropped Out | 3269 | 55.9% |
Traditional first-time, full-time students under 25 tend to graduate in four years far more often than other students. Some schools serve mostly traditional students while others serve more 'non-traditional' students — part-timers or those returning after time away — who commonly take longer to finish.
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 Columbus State are considered 'non-traditional students' who are not first-time, full-time, and under 25.
Comparing the graduation rates of the specific cohorts below can be more revealing than the overall graduation rates.
First-time / full-time students at Columbus State Community College represent 24.88% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Columbus State graduation rate was 34%, and by the eight year mark, 36% 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 | Columbus State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 30% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 34% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 36% | 47.82% |
1350 first-time / full-time students or 64% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
34 are still enrolled.
523 transferred to another institution.
Columbus State lost contact with the remaining 793 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 34 | 2.52% |
| Transferred | 523 | 38.74% |
| Dropped Out | 793 | 58.74% |
First-time / part-time students at Columbus State Community College represent 34.47% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Columbus State graduation rate was 24%, and by the eight year mark, 25% 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 | Columbus State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 19% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 24% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 25% | 23.72% |
2181 first-time / part-time students or 75% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
55 are still enrolled.
626 transferred to another institution.
Columbus State lost contact with the remaining 1500 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 55 | 2.52% |
| Transferred | 626 | 28.70% |
| Dropped Out | 1500 | 68.78% |
Returning / full-time students at Columbus State Community College represent 13.34% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Columbus State graduation rate was 39%, and by the eight year mark, 40% 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 | Columbus State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 39% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 40% | 55.07% |
672 non first-time / part-time students or 60% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
8 are still enrolled.
381 transferred to another institution.
Columbus State lost contact with the remaining 283 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 8 | 1.19% |
| Transferred | 381 | 56.70% |
| Dropped Out | 283 | 42.11% |
Returning / part-time students at Columbus State Community College represent 27.31% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Columbus State graduation rate was 28%, and by the eight year mark, 29% 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 | Columbus State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 25% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 28% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 29% | 37.80% |
1643 non first-time / part-time students or 71% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
20 are still enrolled.
930 transferred to another institution.
Columbus State lost contact with the remaining 693 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 20 | 1.22% |
| Transferred | 930 | 56.60% |
| Dropped Out | 693 | 42.18% |
