by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Columbia first-year students return for their second year? How many graduate and how long does it take them? On this page we'll explore Columbia retention rates, graduation rates, drop out rates and more.
The percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.
With 69% students making it past their freshmen year, Columbia has freshmen retention rates similar to the national average.
Nationwide, the average first to second year retention rate is 70.57%.
When looking at just colleges and universities in Illinois, the average is 72.64%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Columbia | 69% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Illinois | 72.64% |
How many of the estimated 1,884 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
After four years 32% of the cohort graduated. After six years 48% had completed their degree, and 49% after eight years.
The official graduation rate of Columbia is 48%. This is the percentage of students who completed their degree within 150% of the published time. That means six years for a standard bachelor's degree program.
The average length of time it takes an Columbia undergraduate student to complete their bachelor's degree is 4.17 years.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1,552 | 39% |
| Six Years | 1,884 | 48% |
| Eight Years | 44 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 2,006 | 51% |
Approximately 2006 students or 51% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 2006 students who did not complete their degree?
5 are still enrolled.
1281 transferred to another institution.
Columbia lost contact with the remaining 721 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 0.2% |
| Transferred | 1281 | 63.9% |
| Dropped Out | 721 | 35.9% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 53% |
| Black / African-American | 33% |
| Hispanic | 46% |
| International | 43% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 47% |
| Unknown | 40% |
| White | 57% |
First-time, full-time students, under the age of 25 are known as traditional students. These students are more likely to graduate in four years than so called 'non-traditional' students that includes part-time students, transfer students, or adult learners. Some schools cater to non-traditional students and it may affect their overall graduation rates.
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.
The majority of students at Columbia are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
How does this school do graduating the type of student you are most concerned bout?
First-time / full-time students at Columbia College Chicago represent 57% of the students in the class of 2015, and 50.74% of Columbia bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 32%, first-time students in the Columbia class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the Columbia graduation rate was 43%, and by the eight year mark, 44% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for first-time undergraduates attending classes full-time is 37.92% after four years, 46.43% after six years, and 47.82% after eight years.
| First-Time / Full-Time Completions | Columbia | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 32% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 43% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 44% | 47.82% |
1263 first-time / full-time students or 56% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
5 are still enrolled.
848 transferred to another institution.
Columbia lost contact with the remaining 413 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 0.40% |
| Transferred | 848 | 67.14% |
| Dropped Out | 413 | 32.70% |
First-time / part-time students at Columbia College Chicago represent 3.28% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 12%, first-time, part-time students in the Columbia class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 13%.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for first-time undergraduates attending classes part-time is: 14.37% after four years, 21.59% after six years, 23.72% after eight years.
| First-Time / Part-Time Completions | Columbia | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 6% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 12% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 13% | 23.72% |
112 first-time / part-time students or 87% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
71 transferred to another institution.
Columbia lost contact with the remaining 40 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.89% |
| Transferred | 71 | 63.39% |
| Dropped Out | 40 | 35.71% |
1389 Columbia students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 35.31% of the students in the class of 2015.
Non first-time students could include transfer students or adults who have returned to school after an absense.
With a six year graduation rate of 61%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate higher than the national average for students in this category.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 62%.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for non first-time undergraduates attending classes full-time is: 49.57% after four years, 53.83% after six years, and 55.07% after eight years.
| Returning / Full-Time Completions | Columbia | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 61% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 62% | 55.07% |
526 non first-time / part-time students or 38% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
306 transferred to another institution.
Columbia lost contact with the remaining 219 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.19% |
| Transferred | 306 | 58.17% |
| Dropped Out | 219 | 41.63% |
171 Columbia students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 4.35% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 37%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate higher than the national average.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 39%.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for non first-time undergraduates attending classes part-time is: 36.03% after six years, 36.03% after eight years.
| Returning / Part-Time Completions | Columbia | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 37% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 39% | 37.80% |
105 non first-time / part-time students or 61% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
56 transferred to another institution.
Columbia lost contact with the remaining 49 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 56 | 53.33% |
| Dropped Out | 49 | 46.67% |
