Lower Columbia College

https://lowercolumbia.edu

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2023 Undergraduate Tuition
$3,988
3.16% growth from 2022
2023 Average Net Price
$10,613
After Financial Aid
2021 Default Rate
0%
on Student Loans
2023 Enrolled Students
2,412
52.7% Full-Time
2023 Graduation Rate
25%
57 Graduates

About

Lower Columbia College is a higher education institution located in Cowlitz County, WA. In 2023, the most popular Associates Degree concentrations at Lower Columbia College were Liberal Arts & Sciences (268 degrees awarded), Registered Nursing (116 degrees), and General Business (17 degrees).

In 2023, 584 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Lower Columbia College. 70.4% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 29.6% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (447 degrees), 7.98 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (56 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at Lower Columbia College is $3,988, which is $−4,265 less than the national average for Associates Colleges ($8,253).

In 2021 the default rate for borrower's at Lower Columbia College was 0%, corresponding to 0 out of the 281 total borrowers.

Associates Colleges: High Career & Technical-High NontraditionalAssociates Colleges

Costs

In 2023, the median undergraduate tuition at Lower Columbia College is $3,988, which is $4,265 less than the national average for Associates Colleges ($8,253).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $10,613.

In 2023, 77% of undergraduate students attending Lower Columbia College received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 18% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$3,988
2023 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2023, the cost of tuition at Lower Columbia College was $3,988. The cost of tuition at Lower Columbia College is $−4,265 less than than the overall (public and private) national average for Associates Colleges ($8,253).

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

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Average Net Price

$10,613
2023 Value
23.8%
1 Year Growth

In 2023 Lower Columbia College had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $10,613. Between 2022 and 2023, the average net price of Lower Columbia College grew by 23.8%.

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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.

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Other Student Expenses

$16,512
Room and Board
$702
Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at Lower Columbia College was of $16,512 in 2023. The cost of room and board increased by 46.5% between 2022 and 2023.

During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $702. The cost of books and supplies decreased by 25.5% during the same period.

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

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Financial Aid by Income Level

77%
Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
18%
Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

77% of undergraduate students at Lower Columbia College received financial aid through grants or loans in 2023. This represents a growth of 51% with respect to 2022, 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.

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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.
0%
2021 Default Rate
0
Number of Defaults

In 2021 the default rate for borrower's at Lower Columbia College was 0%, which represents 0 out of the 281 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.

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Enrollment

Lower Columbia College had a total enrollment of 2,412 students in 2023. The full-time enrollment at Lower Columbia College is 1,271 students and the part-time enrollment is 1,141. This means that 52.7% of students enrolled at Lower Columbia College are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at Lower Columbia College, both undergraduate and graduate, is 65.8% White, 13.6% Hispanic or Latino, 7.17% Two or More Races, 2.11% Black or African American, 2.03% Asian, 0.788% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.373% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

Students enrolled at Lower Columbia College in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Female (46.8%), followed by White Male (23%) and Hispanic or Latino Female (7.86%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

52.7%
Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Lower Columbia College in 2023, both undergraduate and graduate, is 2,412 students. The full-time enrollment at Lower Columbia College is 1,271 and the part-time enrollment is 1,141. This means that 52.7% of students enrolled at Lower Columbia College are enrolled full-time compared with 32.3% 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.

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Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity (2023)
  1. White
    1,587 enrolled students
  2. Hispanic or Latino
    329 enrolled students
  3. Two or More Races
    173 enrolled students

The enrolled student population at Lower Columbia College is 65.8% White, 13.6% Hispanic or Latino, 7.17% Two or More Races, 2.11% Black or African American, 2.03% Asian, 0.788% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.373% 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 41.7% White, 28.7% Hispanic or Latino, and 12.6% 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, 167 students (6.92%) did not report their race.

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Graduates

In 2023, 238 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 7.98 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (56 degrees).

The most common Associates Degree concentration at Lower Columbia College is Liberal Arts & Sciences (268 degrees awarded), followed by Registered Nursing (116 degrees) and General Business (17 degrees).

In 2023,  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 (268 degrees awarded), Education (61 degrees), and Health (167 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 (1,555,454 people), Registered nurses (1,509,768 people), Secondary school teachers (510,920 people), Education administrators (277,889 people), and Other managers (232,419 people).

The most specialized majors at Lower Columbia College in 2023 are Liberal Arts & Humanities (268 degrees awarded), Education (61 degrees), Health (167 degrees), Precision Production (7 degrees), and Physical Sciences (5 degrees) (as of 2023).

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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, Physicians, Skincare specialists, Correspondence clerks & order clerks, and Tool & die makers

The most specialized majors at Lower Columbia College are Liberal Arts & Humanities (268 degrees awarded), Education (61 degrees), Health (167 degrees), Precision Production (7 degrees), and Physical Sciences (5 degrees) (as of 2023).

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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 (2,971,215 people), General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals (1,716,895 people), uninformed (516,919 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (476,313 people), and Outpatient care centers (319,591 people).

The most specialized majors at Lower Columbia College are Liberal Arts & Humanities (268 degrees awarded), Education (61 degrees), Health (167 degrees), Precision Production (7 degrees), and Physical Sciences (5 degrees) (as of 2023).

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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 (2023)
  1. Liberal Arts & Sciences
    268 degrees awarded
  2. Registered Nursing
    116 degrees awarded
  3. General Business
    17 degrees awarded

In 2023, the most common associates degree concentration at Lower Columbia College was Liberal Arts & Sciences with 268 degrees awarded.

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

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Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

173
Degrees Awarded to Men
in 2023
411
Degrees Awarded to Women
in 2023

In 2023, 173 degrees were awarded to men at Lower Columbia College, which is 0.421 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (411).

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

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Most Common Male Majors

In 2023, 94 degrees were awarded to men at Lower Columbia College in Liberal Arts & Sciences, which is 0.54 times less than the 174 female recipients with that same degree.

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Most Common Female Majors

In 2023, 174 degrees were awarded to men at Lower Columbia College in Liberal Arts & Sciences, which is 1.85 times more than the 94 male recipients with that same degree.

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Time to Complete

18%
100% Completion Time
28%
150% Completion Time

In 2018, 18% of students graduating from Lower Columbia College completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 28% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 31% within 200%.

The following chart shows these completion rates over time compared to the average for the Associates Colleges Carnegie Classification group.

Graduation rate is defined as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within a specific percentage of "normal time" to completion for their program.

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Graduation Rate by Race and Sex

Showing demographic groups with ≥ 5 graduating students.
American Indian or Alaska Native Female
Highest Graduation Rate (100%)

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate in 2023 at Lower Columbia College is Female and American Indian or Alaska Native (100% graduation rate). Across all Associates Colleges, Asian Female students have the highest graduation rate (74.3%).

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.

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Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2023)
  1. White
    447 degrees awarded
  2. Hispanic or Latino
    56 degrees awarded
  3. Two or More Races
    35 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at Lower Columbia College is white (447 degrees awarded). There were 7.98 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (56 degrees).

1.71% of degree recipients (10 students) did not report their race.

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Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic (2023)
  1. White Female
    317 degrees awarded
  2. White Male
    130 degrees awarded
  3. Hispanic or Latino Female
    39 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at Lower Columbia College is white female (317 degrees awarded). There were 2.44 times more white female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white male (130 degrees).

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Operations

Lower Columbia College has an endowment valued at nearly $19.1M, as of the end of the 2023 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of −28k (−0.147%) compared to the 7.3% average return (423k on 5.8M) across all Associates Colleges.

In 2023, Lower Columbia College had a total salary expenditure of 57.3M. Lower Columbia College employs 72 No academic ranks. Most academics at Lower Columbia College are Female No academic rank (42), and Male No academic rank (30).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Lower Columbia College are: Service, with 76 employees, Office and Administrative Support, with 67 employees, and Librarians, Curators, Archivists, and Academic Affairs and Other Education Services with 38 employees.

Endowment

$19.1M
2023 Endowment
15%
growth from 2022

Lower Columbia College has an endowment valued at about $19.1M, as of the end of the 2023 fiscal year. The endowment of Lower Columbia College grew 15% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $13.3M 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.

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Government Grants and Contracts

Grants & Contracts
  1. $5.35M - Federal
  2. $4.67M - State
  3. $776k - Local

As of 2023, Lower Columbia College received $5.35M in grants and contracts from the federal government, $4.67M from state grants and contracts, and $776k from local grants and contracts.

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Salary Expenditure

$25.4M
2023 Salaries
7.93%
growth from 2022

In 2023, Lower Columbia College paid a median of $25.4M in salaries, which represents 44.2% of their overall expenditure ($57.3M) and a 7.93% growth from the previous year. This is compared to a 3.54% growth between 2021 and 2022, and a 1.57% decline between 2020 and 2021.

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Instructional Salaries

$6.14M
Instructional Salaries
72
Number of Employees

In 2023, Lower Columbia College paid a total of $6.14M to 72 employees working as instructors, which represents 24.2% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $731k (4.21%) for similar Associates Colleges.

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Occupations by Share

No academic rank
Most Common Instructor
72 Employees
Service
Most Common Non-Instructional Employee
76 Employees

In 2023, the most common positions for instructional staff at Lower Columbia College was No academic rank with 72 employees.

In 2023, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Lower Columbia College were Service with 76 employees, Office and Administrative Support with 67 employees, and Librarians, Curators, Archivists, and Academic Affairs and Other Education Services with 38 employees.

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Instructors by Academic Rank and Sex

Most Common Demographic (2023)
  1. Female No academic rank
  2. Male No academic rank

In 2023, the most common demographic for instructional staff at Lower Columbia College was Female No academic rank with 42 employees, and Male No academic rank with 30 employees.

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

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