Lower Columbia College

https://lowercolumbia.edu/

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2021 Undergraduate Tuition

$3,817

3.08% growth from 2020

2021 Average Net Price

$8,171

After Financial Aid

2019 Student Loan

4.51%

Default Rate

2021 Enrolled Students

4,328

56.7% Full-Time

2021 Graduation Rate

22.4%

94 Graduates

About

Lower Columbia College is a higher education institution located in Cowlitz County, WA. In 2021, the most popular Associates Degree concentrations at Lower Columbia College were Liberal Arts & Sciences (310 degrees awarded), Registered Nursing (111 degrees), and Medical Administrative Assistant (13 degrees).

In 2021, 593 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Lower Columbia College. 70% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 30% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (447 degrees), 6.48 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (69 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at Lower Columbia College is $3,817, which is $−4,151 less than the national average for Associates Colleges ($7,968).

Associates Colleges: High Career & Technical-High Nontraditional Associates Colleges

Costs

In 2021, the median undergraduate tuition at Lower Columbia College is $3,817, which is $−4,151 less than the national average for Associates Colleges ($7,968).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $8,171.

In 2021, 49% of undergraduate students attending Lower Columbia College received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 14% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$3,817

2021 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2021, the cost of tuition at Lower Columbia College was $3,817. The cost of tuition at Lower Columbia College is $−4,151 less than than the overall (public and private) national average for Associates Colleges ($7,968).

This chart compares the tuition costs of Lower Columbia College (in red) with those of other similar universities.

Average Net Price

$8,171

2021 Value

11.1%

1 Year Growth

In 2021 Lower Columbia College had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $8,171. Between 2020 and 2021, the average net price of Lower Columbia College grew by 11.1%.

This chart compares the average net price of Lower Columbia College (in red) with that of other similar universities.

Average net price is calculated from full-time beginning undergraduate students who were awarded a grant or scholarship from federal, state or local governments, or the institution.

Other Student Expenses

$11,118

Room and Board

$930

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at Lower Columbia College was of $11,118 in 2021. The cost of room and board increased by 3.23% between 2020 and 2021.

During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $930. The cost of books and supplies increased by 3.33% during the same period.

This chart compares the average student costs at Lower Columbia College (in red) with that of similar universities.

Financial Aid by Income Level

49%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

14%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

49% of undergraduate students at Lower Columbia College received financial aid through grants or loans in 2021. This represents a decline of 3.92% with respect to 2020, when 51% of undergraduate students received financial aid.

This chart compares the average award discount at Lower Columbia College (in red) with that of other similar universities.

The average award discount is the ratio between the average grant or scholarship value, and the cost, which is the sum of out-of-state tuition, room, board, book, supplies, and other expenses.

Student Loan Default Rate

Cohort default rates only account for borrowers who default in the first three years, and some schools only have a small proportion of borrowers entering repayment. These rates should be interpreted with caution, as they may not be reflective of the entire school population.

4.51%

2019 Default Rate

Number of Defaults

In 2019 the default rate for borrower's at Lower Columbia College was 4.51%, which represents 17 out of the 377 total borrowers.

A cohort default rate is the percentage of a school's borrowers who enter repayment on certain Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program or William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program loans during a particular federal fiscal year (FY), October 1 to September 30, and default or meet other specified conditions prior to the end of the second following fiscal year.

Enrollment

Lower Columbia College had a total enrollment of 4,328 students in 2021. The full-time enrollment at Lower Columbia College is 2,454 students and the part-time enrollment is 1,874. This means that 56.7% of students enrolled at Lower Columbia College are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at Lower Columbia College, both undergraduate and graduate, is 72.9% White, 12% Hispanic or Latino, 6.28% Two or More Races, 2.26% Asian, 1.52% Black or African American, 0.832% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.37% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

Students enrolled at Lower Columbia College in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Female (50.8%), followed by White Male (23.3%) and Hispanic or Latino Female (7.5%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

56.7%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Lower Columbia College in 2021, both undergraduate and graduate, is 4,328 students. The full-time enrollment at Lower Columbia College is 2,454 and the part-time enrollment is 1,874. This means that 56.7% of students enrolled at Lower Columbia College are enrolled full-time compared with 32.5% at similar Associates Colleges.

This chart shows the full-time vs part-time enrollment status at Lower Columbia College (in red) compares to similar universities.

Retention Rate over Time

54%

2018 Retention Rate

Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall. The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at Lower Columbia College was 54%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Associates Colleges (60%), Lower Columbia College had a retention rate lower than its peers.

This chart shows the retention rate over time at Lower Columbia College (highlighted in red) compares to similar universities.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity (2021)

White
3,156 enrolled students
Hispanic or Latino
520 enrolled students
Two or More Races
272 enrolled students

The enrolled student population at Lower Columbia College is 72.9% White, 12% Hispanic or Latino, 6.28% Two or More Races, 2.26% Asian, 1.52% Black or African American, 0.832% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.37% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders. This includes both full-time and part-time students as well as graduate and undergraduates. By comparison, enrollment for all Associates Colleges is 44.1% White, 26.8% Hispanic or Latino, and 12.5% Black or African American.

Any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis is categorized as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the share of those students are shown in the chart below. Additionally, 108 students (2.5%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2021, 237 more women than men received degrees from Lower Columbia College. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at Lower Columbia College is white (447 degrees awarded). There were 6.48 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (69 degrees).

The most common Associates Degree concentration at Lower Columbia College is Liberal Arts & Sciences (310 degrees awarded), followed by Registered Nursing (111 degrees) and Medical Administrative Assistant (13 degrees).

In 2021, the most specialized majors across all degree types at Lower Columbia College, meaning they have significantly more degrees awarded in that concentration than the national average across all institutions, are Liberal Arts & Humanities (310 degrees awarded), Precision Production (12 degrees), and Health (160 degrees).

Common Jobs by Major

Elementary & middle school teachers

Most Common Job

The most common jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Lower Columbia College are Elementary & middle school teachers (1,689,605 people), Registered nurses (1,385,510 people), Secondary school teachers (434,266 people), Education administrators (272,983 people), and Postsecondary teachers (223,661 people).

The most specialized majors at Lower Columbia College in 2021 are Liberal Arts & Humanities (310 degrees awarded), Precision Production (12 degrees), Health (160 degrees), Mechanical Technologies (10 degrees), and Education (29 degrees) (as of 2021).

Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Surgeons

Highest Paying Job

The highest paying jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Lower Columbia College are Surgeons, Broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys, Physicians, Magnetic resonance imaging technologists, and Chief executives & legislators

The most specialized majors at Lower Columbia College are Liberal Arts & Humanities (310 degrees awarded), Precision Production (12 degrees), Health (160 degrees), Mechanical Technologies (10 degrees), and Education (29 degrees) (as of 2021).

Common Industries by Major

Elementary & secondary schools

Most Common Industry

The most common industries for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Lower Columbia College are Elementary & secondary schools (2,935,776 people), General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals (1,612,432 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (453,809 people), Outpatient care centers (267,277 people), and Offices of physicians (246,257 people).

Majors Awarded

IPEDS uses the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) standard, so the categories may not match the exact concentrations offered by Lower Columbia College.

Most Common (2021)

Liberal Arts & Sciences
310 degree-majors awarded
Registered Nursing
111 degree-majors awarded
Medical Administrative Assistant
13 degree-majors awarded

In 2021, the most common associates degree concentration at Lower Columbia College was Liberal Arts & Sciences with 310 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of degree-majors recipients from associates degree programs at Lower Columbia College according to their major.

Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

178

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2021

415

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2021

In 2021, 178 degrees were awarded to men at Lower Columbia College, which is 0.429 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (415).

This chart displays the sex disparity between the top 5 majors at Lower Columbia College by degrees awarded.

Most Common Male Majors

In 2021, 107 degrees were awarded to men at Lower Columbia College in Liberal Arts & Sciences, which is 0.527 times less than the 203 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2021, 203 degrees were awarded to men at Lower Columbia College in Liberal Arts & Sciences, which is 1.9 times more than the 107 male recipients with that same degree.

Graduation Rate by Race and Sex

Showing demographic groups with ≥ 5 graduating students.

Black or African American Female

Highest Graduation Rate (100%)

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate in 2021 at Lower Columbia College is Female and Black or African American (100% graduation rate). Across all Associates Colleges, Asian Female students have the highest graduation rate (72.9%).

The department of education defines graduation rate as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within 150% of "normal time" to completion.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2021)

White
447 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
69 degrees awarded
Two or More Races
32 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at Lower Columbia College is white (447 degrees awarded). There were 6.48 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (69 degrees).

2.7% of degree recipients (16 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic (2021)

White Female
310 degrees awarded
White Male
137 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino Female
53 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at Lower Columbia College is white female (310 degrees awarded). There were 2.26 times more white female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white male (137 degrees).

Operations

Lower Columbia College has an endowment valued at nearly $18.5M, as of the end of the 2021 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of 169k (0.913%) compared to the 1.65% average return (87.6k on 5.29M) across all Associates Colleges.

In 2021, Lower Columbia College had a total salary expenditure of 51.5M. Lower Columbia College employs 140 Instructors. Most academics at Lower Columbia College are Female Instructor (80), and Male Instructor (60).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Lower Columbia College are: Service, with 130 employees, Office and Administrative Support, with 114 employees, and Management with 68 employees.

Endowment

$18.5M

2021 Endowment

29.3%

growth from 2020

Lower Columbia College has an endowment valued at about $18.5M, as of the end of the 2021 fiscal year. The endowment of Lower Columbia College grew 29.3% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $13.2M higher than than the median endowment of Associates Colleges according to the Carnegie Classification grouping.

This line chart shows how the endowment at Lower Columbia College (in red) compares to that of some similar universities.

The small bar chart below shows the endowment quintiles for all universities in the Associates Colleges: High Career & Technical-High Nontraditional Carnegie Classification grouping.

Government Grants and Contracts

Grants & Contracts

$11.1M - Federal
$9.14M - State
$8.26M - Local

As of 2021, Lower Columbia College received $11.1M in grants and contracts from the federal government, $9.14M from state grants and contracts, and $8.26M from local grants and contracts.

Salary Expenditure

$22.7M

2021 Salaries

1.57%

decline from 2020

In 2021, Lower Columbia College paid a median of $22.7M in salaries, which represents 44.1% of their overall expenditure ($51.5M) and a 1.57% decline from the previous year.

The median for similar Associates Colleges is 16.4M (41.6% of overall expenditures).

Instructional Salaries

$9.98M

Instructional Salaries

140

Number of Employees

In 2021, Lower Columbia College paid a total of $9.98M to 140 employees working as instructors, which represents 22% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $10.2M (62.3%) for similar Associates Colleges.

Occupations by Share

Instructor

Most Common Instructor

140 Employees

Service

Most Common Non-Instructional Employee

130 Employees

In 2021, the most common positions for instructional staff at Lower Columbia College was Instructor with 140 employees.

In 2021, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Lower Columbia College were Service with 130 employees, Office and Administrative Support with 114 employees, and Management with 68 employees.

Instructors by Academic Rank and Sex

Most Common Demographic (2021)

Female Instructor
Male Instructor

In 2021, the most common demographic for instructional staff at Lower Columbia College was Female Instructor with 80 employees, and Male Instructor with 60 employees.

This chart shows the sex split between each academic rank present at Lower Columbia College.