by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Columbus Technical 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 Columbus Technical College. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes and how long it takes.
The percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.
With 52% students making it past their freshmen year, Columbus Technical 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 Georgia, the average is 65.40%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Columbus Technical College | 52% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Georgia | 65.40% |
There were approximately 417 students in the class of 2023. How many of them actually completed 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 30% 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 Technical College graduation rate 29%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 368 | 26% |
| Six Years | 417 | 29% |
| Eight Years | 19 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 1000 | 70% |
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 1000 students or 70% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1000 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
410 transferred to another institution.
Columbus Technical College lost contact with the remaining 557 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 410 | 41.0% |
| Dropped Out | 557 | 55.7% |
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 Technical 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 Columbus Technical College represent 28.97% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Columbus Technical College 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 Technical College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 31% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 34% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 36% | 47.82% |
268 first-time / full-time students or 64% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
12 are still enrolled.
118 transferred to another institution.
Columbus Technical College lost contact with the remaining 138 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 12 | 4.48% |
| Transferred | 118 | 44.03% |
| Dropped Out | 138 | 51.49% |
First-time / part-time students at Columbus Technical College represent 43.87% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Columbus Technical College graduation rate was 21%, and by the eight year mark, 23% 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 Technical College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 18% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 21% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 23% | 23.72% |
485 first-time / part-time students or 77% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
11 are still enrolled.
167 transferred to another institution.
Columbus Technical College lost contact with the remaining 307 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 11 | 2.27% |
| Transferred | 167 | 34.43% |
| Dropped Out | 307 | 63.30% |
Returning / full-time students at Columbus Technical College represent 11.42% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Columbus Technical College graduation rate was 52%, and by the eight year mark, 52% 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 Technical College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 52% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 52% | 55.07% |
79 non first-time / part-time students or 48% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
47 transferred to another institution.
Columbus Technical College lost contact with the remaining 29 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 3.80% |
| Transferred | 47 | 59.49% |
| Dropped Out | 29 | 36.71% |
Returning / part-time students at Columbus Technical College represent 15.74% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Columbus Technical College graduation rate was 26%, and by the eight year mark, 26% 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 Technical College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 22% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 26% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 26% | 37.80% |
168 non first-time / part-time students or 74% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
7 are still enrolled.
78 transferred to another institution.
Columbus Technical College lost contact with the remaining 83 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 7 | 4.17% |
| Transferred | 78 | 46.43% |
| Dropped Out | 83 | 49.40% |
