Building a Brighter Future, Together

Columbus State is delivering on its promise to transform lives by creating multiple pathways to high-quality, affordable education and training that prepares students for sustainable careers and builds a diverse and talented workforce.

We have pressed forward — leaning in to our mission, vision and values — to innovate, partner, and support our students in new ways. We’ve awarded more than 8,000 degrees and certificates since spring 2020 when, on the cusp of a global pandemic, Franklin County voters chose to invest in keeping Columbus State and the community strong. Many of those credentials are in high-demand fields our region’s employers need most, including:

Others have earned credentials in programs designed to prepare them to transfer to one of our four-year university partners to complete their bachelor's degree in the humanities, social sciences, and STEM fields, including:

Whether their goal is to enter the workforce immediately after graduation or complete the first two years of their bachelor’s degree, we’re helping students move forward by providing multiple pathways to an affordable college degree. Innovative programs like our Information Technology Flexible Apprenticeship program blend hands-on learning, on-the-job training and employer partnerships to help students earn their degree, gain valuable work experience, and earn a competitive wage to help cover tuition. Our low tuition and transferrable credit create an affordable path for students to complete the first two years of their bachelor’s degree and transfer to one of our university partners to continue their education at a fraction of the cost. Here are a few of our student success stories.

Success stories

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As students increasingly choose education that leads directly to good careers, demand is growing for short-term, skills-based certificates and accelerated training programs in fields that offer career paths with well-paying jobs. Certificates help adult students start a new career, rejoin the workforce if they’ve lost their job, and get the promotion to take their career to the next level, all while earning credit toward a college degree. Accelerated training is a free, non-credit option for adults who need an even faster track to steady employment and a living wage.

These short-term programs appeal to companies that need skilled employees to grow. Columbus State works directly with regional employers on its Workforce Advisory Council to identify market needs and adapt our programs accordingly. Through flexible, short-term certificate programs and accelerated training centers, students can continually expand their career opportunities, pursue their professional goals, and keep their employers competitive.

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As students increasingly choose education that leads directly to good careers, demand is growing for short-term, skills-based certificates and accelerated training programs in fields that offer career paths with well-paying jobs. Columbus State works directly with regional employers on our Workforce Advisory Council to identify market needs and adapt our programs accordingly.

• Certificates help adult students start a new career, rejoin the workforce if they’ve lost their job, and get the promotion to take their career to the next level. And these certificate programs appeal to companies that need skilled employees to grow. Through flexible, short-term certificate programs, students can continually expand their career opportunities, pursue their professional goals, and keep their employers competitive. Learn More
• Our new Accelerated Training Centers provide a free, non-credit option for adults who need an even faster track to steady employment and a living wage. We partnered with Dawson to provide 2-5 week programs in contact center, manufacturing & production, and logistics. Learn More

Success stories

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Columbus State is building a strong foundation for future growth in a post-pandemic world by envisioning campuses spaces and places designed for the future of work, education, and community.

In the year since voters approved Issue 21, we have put key pieces in place to refocus efforts on physical infrastructure investment at our downtown campus and other Franklin County locations. We are planning with new insight gleaned from the revolution we’ve all experienced this past year in instructional delivery, in the workplace, and in our culture. 

• We’re strengthening our core by completing deferred maintenance projects before they become more expensive, creating gathering spaces, increasing accessibility and inclusion in our buildings, and better integrating campus edges with the community.
• We’ve made college work and instructional spaces more flexible to support in-person and remote interaction equally well.
• We’re assembling a coalition of resource partners, grounded in community and equity, to help us reassess and re-envision where needed to make sure our plans will meet emerging education, work, and societal needs. We will partner with the Columbus office of AECOM team and other nationally recognized firms with Columbus operations in implementation plan development: MKSK, Moody-Nolan, Elford Construction, DLZ Engineers, and Warhol & Wall St. 

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Columbus State reflects the vibrance of Columbus’s creativity, diversity, and culture. Throughout the year, we gather to celebrate, create, learn, challenge and reflect on how we can become a stronger, brighter community together. We offer myriad educational opportunities for our community. And our beautiful facilities and conference spaces are the ideal place to hold your next event. Check out our recordings of annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Week of Celebration, Women’s HERstory Month, and Writers Conference for a sampling of what to expect from next year’s celebration. Explore other opportunities to take a class, improve your language skills, or sign your teen up for a summer camp that will introduce potential career pathways through fun, hands-on learning experiences.

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