Retention, Graduation Rates and Career Outlook

Curious about our graduation and retention rates? You’ll find the data below, dating back to 2015.
A senior African American man celebrates his graduation with his famly

Our Graduates Are in Demand

You're drawn to addiction counseling because you want to help. With a degree from the Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School, your job prospects are strong.

  • Employment of substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors is projected to grow 25 percent from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations.
  • Our graduates are quickly employed—92.4% of graduates are successfully employed within six months of graduation (based on 521/564 survey respondents from 2002-2022).
  • Number of graduates for the past academic year: 45
  • Pass rate on credentialing exams: 100%
Online Master of Arts Degree Program
Fall
Cohort
Year
 Students
retained at
one year
 Graduation
Rate
2 years FT
 Graduation
Rate
2-3 years PT
 Graduation
Rate
3-5 years PT
 Graduation
Rate
5-7 years PT
 Final
Graduation
Rate
 2015  80.8%  23.1%  15.4%  34.6% 3.8% 76.9%
 2016  74.1%  25.9%  18.5%  14.8% 4.3% 73.9%
 2017  66.7%  23.8%  14.3%  14.3% 0%  52.4%
 2018  81.0%  9.5%  23.8%  9.5%  4.8% 47.6%
 2019  77.3%  9.5%  33.3% 9.5%  4.8% 57.1%
 2020 67.6%
 24.3%
  21.6% TBD
  TBD TBD
 2021 91.3% 34.8% 26.1% TBD
 TBD
 TBD
2022 76.0% 24.0% 28.0% TBD TBD TBD
2023 69.0% 34.5% TBD TBD TBD TBD
2024 82.2% TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD
Hybrid/On-campus Master of Arts Degree Program
Fall Cohort Year
 Students
retained at
one year
 Graduation
Rate
2 years FT
 Graduation
Rate
2-3 years PT
 Graduation
Rate
3-5 years PT
 Graduation
Rate
5-7 years PT
 Final
Graduation
Rate
 2015  89.5%  73.7%  10.5%  5.3%  0.0%  89.5%
 2016  73.9%  60.9%  8.7%  0.0%  4.3%  73.9%
 2017  86.7%  80.0%  0.0%  6.7% 0%  86.7%
 2018  84.6%  46.2% 30.8% 0% 0%  76.9%
 2019  92.3%  53.8%  15.4%  16.7% 0%  84.6%
 2020 94.1%  76.5% 11.8% 5.9% 0%
 94.1%
2021  64.3% 35.7%
 14.3%
 9.1%
 0% 57.1%
2022 100.0% 20.0% 60.0% 0.0% 0.0% 80.0%
2023 87.5% 62.5% TBD TBD TBD TBD
2024 76.9% TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD
  • Enrollment counts as of day 8 of each term
  • New first-time, full- and part-time students entering in the fall semester of specified year
  • Retention Rates: This gives the percentage of first-time, full- and part-time students enrolled (day 8) in a given fall semester who are still enrolled at the beginning (day 8) of the following fall semester.
  • Graduate Rates: This gives the percentage of first-time, full- and part-time students enrolled (day 8) in a given fall semester who graduate from the graduate school within specific time periods.

In accordance with Student Right to Know Act Regulations:

  • Students who are deceased or permanently disabled prior to graduation are removed from initial cohorts

Data prior to 2015 are available upon request. Please contact Registrar's office.