Columbus's biggest CC
does it get students to a four-year?
You're deciding whether to spend your first two years at Columbus State Community College before finishing a bachelor's elsewhere in Ohio. That choice turns on real numbers: transfer rates, what you'll earn after graduation, and what you'll actually pay out of pocket.
~28,000 undergrads, 31% transfer out by year 8, median $39k 10-yr earnings, $8,749 median debt.
Columbus's largest CC with a 31% transfer-out rate and clean debt numbers
Columbus State Community College enrolls 28,000 undergrads — the biggest community college in Ohio's capital — and sends 31% of students to a four-year institution within eight years, well above national norms. Median earnings sit at $39k ten years out, and median debt is a manageable $8,749. Liberal Arts leads program volume at 1,083 completions, followed by Nursing and Engineering Technology. In-state tuition is $5,338 and net price is $8,400. The 0% three-year loan default rate is a strong signal. For Columbus-area students, this CC's transfer track record and affordable cost structure make it a defensible starting point.
Columbus State Community College sits in Columbus, Ohio, and enrolls about 28,000 undergraduates — the largest community college in the state's capital city. Nearly 79% attend part-time, meaning most students here are managing work, family, or both alongside coursework. The top program by volume is Liberal Arts and Sciences with 1,083 completions, a field directly useful for transfer prep. Nursing-related programs collectively produced over 500 completions, and Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technology added 256. The eight-year transfer-out rate is 31%, a number that puts Columbus State above the national community college average and signals a functioning pipeline rather than a terminal credential factory. Median earnings ten years out are $39k, median debt is $8,749, and the three-year loan default rate is 0%. In-state tuition is $5,338 with a net price of $8,400. For Columbus-area students weighing the two-year path, the cost and transfer numbers together make a credible case.
What this CC teaches at scale
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies. | 1,083 |
| Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/Aide. | 333 |
| Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians, Other. | 256 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | 181 |
| Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse. | 180 |
| Plumbing Technology/Plumber. | 144 |
| Business Administration and Management, General. | 136 |
| Design and Visual Communications, General. | 127 |
| Commercial Photography. | 115 |
| Emergency Medical Technology/Technician (EMT Paramedic). | 115 |
Source · IPEDS completions (all undergraduate credentials).
Where Ohio transfers tend to go
Reflects state-aggregated IPEDS transfer-in volume — CC-specific destinations are not publicly available from IPEDS or the College Scorecard.
Frequently asked
- Is Columbus State Community College a good place to start a bachelor's degree?
- The data supports it more than most community colleges. Thirty-one percent of Columbus State students transfer to a four-year institution within eight years — above the 15–25% national community college range — and that figure holds despite 79% of the student body attending part-time. In-state tuition is $5,338 and the average net price is $8,400, which is affordable for Columbus but not negligible. Median debt for borrowers is $8,749, and the three-year loan default rate is 0%. Median earnings ten years after enrollment are $39k. The combination of a real transfer rate, low default risk, and contained debt makes Columbus State a reasonable foundation, provided you enter with a clear plan for where you intend to finish.
- How does Columbus State's transfer-out rate compare to typical community colleges?
- Columbus State's eight-year transfer-out rate is 31%. National research consistently places the average community college transfer rate in the 15–25% range, so Columbus State sits above that benchmark. The 31% figure is measured over eight years, and given that 79% of students attend part-time — which stretches timelines — it reflects genuine transfer activity rather than an inflated snapshot. An additional 1% were still enrolled at the eight-year mark, and 30% had completed a credential at Columbus State itself. Together, these numbers suggest the college is functioning as an active feeder into the four-year system, not just a stopping point for students who eventually walk away.
- What programs does Columbus State Community College offer at meaningful scale?
- Columbus State's highest-volume programs by completions are Liberal Arts and Sciences (1,083), Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care (333), Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies (256), Computer and Information Sciences (181), and Registered Nursing (180). Plumbing Technology produced 144 completions, Business Administration 136, Design and Visual Communications 127, Commercial Photography 115, and Emergency Medical Technology 115. The breadth matters for transfer-bound students: Liberal Arts and Sciences is the dominant transfer-prep pathway, while the health and technology programs — which together represent hundreds of completions — serve students entering workforce or bridge programs. If you're aiming at a STEM or health transfer path, Columbus State operates at enough volume that advising and course infrastructure are genuinely developed.
Methodology — Transfer signals reflect IPEDS Outcome Measures 8-year cohorts; earnings and debt come from the College Scorecard. Destinations are state-aggregated; we do not claim CC-specific transfer destinations without authoritative per-student tracking data.