by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Columbus State first-year students return for their second year? How many graduate and how long does it take them? On this page we'll explore Columbus State retention rates, graduation rates, drop out rates and more.
The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 60% students making it past their freshmen year, Columbus State 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 Ohio, the average is 69.84%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Columbus State | 60% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Ohio | 69.84% |
Of the 2,006 students in the class of 2015, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 12% of those students had graduated. By 2017, six years after starting their degree, 16% of the students had graduated and after eight years 17% of this class completed their degree.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, a student is considered to have graduated on time if they complete their degree within six years, making the official Columbus State graduation rate 16%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1,606 | 13% |
| Six Years | 2,006 | 16% |
| Eight Years | 167 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 10,449 | 83% |
Approximately 10449 students or 83% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 10449 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
3908 transferred to another institution.
Columbus State lost contact with the remaining 6362 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 3908 | 37.4% |
| Dropped Out | 6,362 | 60.9% |
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.
The majority of students at Columbus State are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Examining the graduation rates of the specific cohorts shown below may be more revealing than looking at the overall graduaton rates.
First-time / full-time students at Columbus State Community College represent 40% of the students in the class of 2015, and 39.18% of Columbus State bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 12%, first-time students in the Columbus State class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the Columbus State graduation rate was 15%, and by the eight year mark, 17% 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 | Columbus State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 12% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 15% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 17% | 47.82% |
4229 first-time / full-time students or 83% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
1472 transferred to another institution.
Columbus State lost contact with the remaining 2685 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 1472 | 34.81% |
| Dropped Out | 2,685 | 63.49% |
First-time / part-time students at Columbus State Community College represent 33.60% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 10%, first-time, part-time students in the Columbus State class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 11%.
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 | Columbus State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 7% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 10% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 11% | 23.72% |
3772 first-time / part-time students or 89% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
70 are still enrolled.
1130 transferred to another institution.
Columbus State lost contact with the remaining 2572 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 70 | 1.86% |
| Transferred | 1130 | 29.96% |
| Dropped Out | 2,572 | 68.19% |
1619 Columbus State students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 12.82% 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 27%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate lower than the national average for students in this category.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 29%.
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 | Columbus State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 27% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 29% | 55.07% |
1151 non first-time / part-time students or 71% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
19 are still enrolled.
638 transferred to another institution.
Columbus State lost contact with the remaining 494 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 19 | 1.65% |
| Transferred | 638 | 55.43% |
| Dropped Out | 494 | 42.92% |
1680 Columbus State students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 13.31% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 22%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate lower than the national average.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 23%.
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 | Columbus State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 22% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 23% | 37.80% |
1297 non first-time / part-time students or 77% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
18 are still enrolled.
668 transferred to another institution.
Columbus State lost contact with the remaining 611 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 18 | 1.39% |
| Transferred | 668 | 51.50% |
| Dropped Out | 611 | 47.11% |
