Student outcome measures

Retention rates from 2017 to 2021

This graph shows retention rates for new full-time degree-seeking students through the years 2017-2021.

Retention rates from 2017 to 2021

2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
New First Time Students, 1st Fall to 2nd Fall 64.78 58.62 65.15 61.74 62.45
New First Time Students, 1st Fall to 3rd Fall 48.66 44.20 52.27 48.86 -
New Transfer Students, 1st Fall to 2nd Fall 65.21 58.12 56.67 60.09 62.13
New Transfer Students, 1st Fall to 3rd Fall 36.30 32.29 30.22 32.60 -

Excluded from data are students who left Columbia College due to death, became totally and permanently disabled, to serve in the armed forces, to serve with a foreign aid service of the Federal Government, or to serve on official church missions.

This graph shows retention rates for new full-time, bachelor degree-seeking students through the years 2017-2021.

Retention rates for new full-time, bachelor degree-seeking students from 2017-2021.

2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
New First Time Students, 1st Fall to 2nd Fall 69.20 63.93 70.62 65.22 61.97
New First Time Students, 1st Fall to 3rd Fall 53.61 51.23 60.19 54.11 -
New Transfer Students, 1st Fall to 2nd Fall 68.22 60.95 61.34 62.69 67.48
New Transfer Students, 1st Fall to 3rd Fall 37.85 34.09 32.77 34.26 -

Excluded from data are students who left Columbia College due to death, became totally and permanently disabled, to serve in the armed forces, to serve with a foreign aid service of the Federal Government, or to serve on official church missions.

Graduation rates from 2016 to 2020

This graph shows graduation rates for undergraduate degree-seeking students as well as bachelor degree-seeking students through the years 2016-2020.

Graduation rates from 2016-2020

2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Graduation Rate, Undergraduate Degree Seeking 31 26 30 28 28
Graduation Rate, Bachelors Degree Seeking 30 20 25 25 23

Rates of students graduating within 150% of standard time e.g., 6 years for a bachelors degree.

Reported to the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System.

Degrees awarded from 2016 to 2020

This graph shows the quantity of certificates, associates, bachelors, and masters degree completing students, as well as the total for all. This info is represented through the years 2016-2020.

Degrees awarded from 2016 to 2020

2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Associates 1605 1334 1419 1184 839
Bachelors 2558 2318 2743 2388 1841
Certificates 27 24 49 31 22
Masters 323 307 315 258 211
Total 4513 3983 4526 3861 2913

Total degree completers of each type for all terms during academic year.

Only transcripted certificates are included.

Placement and career outcomes from 2017 to 2020

This graph shows Columbia College student career outcome rate trends through academic years 2017-2020.

Placement and career outcomes from 2017 to 2020

2017 2018  2019    2020
Career outcomes 94.85% 96.52%  96.59% 89.87%

Source: Student Exit Survey.

Career Outcomes Rate: This is the number of graduates who have landed in any of the employment categories plus service and military plus continuing education divided by the number of students for whom an outcome is known minus those graduates identified as not seeking an outcome.

(updated 06/15/2022)