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Student Achievement Measures
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. Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School is a single‑purpose graduate institution committed to preparing future leaders in addiction and mental health counseling. In accordance with the Higher Learning Commission’s expectations for public disclosure, the Graduate School provides accurate and accessible information regarding student achievement for prospective students, current students, and the public. All student achievement information reported on this page reflects graduate‑level programs only.
Student Achievement Measures
The Graduate School evaluates student achievement using multiple indicators across the student lifecycle, including retention, completion, licensure and credentialing examination performance, and post‑graduation outcomes. These measures provide evidence of academic progress, degree completion, professional readiness, and graduate success after leaving the institution.
Retention
Retention is defined as the percentage of first‑time, full‑ and part‑time graduate students who begin their programs in a fall semester and who remain enrolled at the beginning (day 8) of the following fall semester.
Retention Rate by Year of Matriculation |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2020 | Fall 2021 | Fall 2022 | Fall 2023 | Fall 2024 | |
| Online Program | 67.6% | 91.3% | 76.0% | 69.0% | 82.2% |
| Hybrid Program | 94.1% | 64.3% | 100.0% | 87.5% | 76.9% |
Completion Rate
Completion rates represent the percentage of students in a defined academic year who complete their degree within specific timeframes appropriate to full‑time and part‑time enrollment. The completion rate for HBFGS is defined as the percentage of students who enter the program within a given academic year and complete all degree requirements within the institutionally established maximum time to degree of seven years. Because the typical HBFGS student is a working professional enrolled part‑time, the Graduate School allows up to seven years for degree completion in accordance with institutional policy.
Completion rates are reported separately for the Online Master of Arts in Addiction Counseling and the Hybrid/On‑campus Master of Arts in Addiction Counseling programs.
Completion Rates for Online Programs |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academic Year Cohort | Number of Students in Cohort | Completed Within Four Years | Four Year Completion Rate (%) | Completed Within Seven Years (max) | Maximum Completion Rate (%) |
| 2017 | 41 | 25 | 61.0% | 25 | 61.0% |
| 2018 | 57 | 29 | 50.9% | 31 | 54.4% |
| 2019 | 51 | 32 | 62.7% | 34 | 66.7% |
| 2020 | 71 | 41 | 56.9 | __* | __* |
*Note: Maximum completion is not yet reported for the 2020 cohort because students have until 2027 to complete the program.
Completion Rates for Hybrid Program |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academic Year Cohort | Number of Students in Cohort | Completed Within Four Years | Four Year Completion Rate | Completed Within Seven Years (max) | Maximum Completion Rate (%) |
| 2017 | 32 | 29 | 90.6% | 29 | 90.6% |
| 2018 | 24 | 18 | 75.0% | 18 | 75.0% |
| 2019 | 27 | 21 | 77.8% | 21 | 77.8% |
| 2020 | 37 | 34 | 91.9% | __* | __* |
*Note: Maximum completion is not yet reported for the 2020 cohort because students have until 2027 to complete the program.
Credentialing and Licensure Outcomes
Graduates of Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School consistently demonstrate strong performance on required credentialing and licensure examinations. The Graduate School reports a 99.6% pass rate on credentialing examinations for graduates who attempted required exams (2002-August 2025, n=494/496).
Because licensure requirements vary by state, discipline, and credential, the Graduate School provides additional, state‑specific licensure information for prospective and current students..
Post‑Graduation Outcomes
The Graduate School collects post‑graduation outcome information to understand how graduates apply their education following degree completion.
First Destination Outcomes (Within Six Months of Graduation)
Post‑graduation outcomes are collected approximately six months after graduation and include employment and continuing education. Based on graduate outcome surveys conducted between 2002 and 2022, 92.4% of survey respondents reported being successfully employed within six months of graduation (521 of 564 respondents). These outcomes demonstrate strong employment demand for graduates entering the addiction and mental health counseling workforce.
Number of Graduates
The Graduate School awarded 58 graduate degrees in the most recent academic year reported on this page.
Populations Included and Excluded
To ensure transparency and consistency in reporting, the following definitions apply to all student achievement measures unless otherwise stated:
Included Populations
- First‑time, degree‑seeking graduate students
- Full‑time and part‑time students
- Students who begin their programs in the fall semester
Excluded Populations
- Students who begin in non‑fall semester (e.g., winter or summer)
- Students who are deceased or permanently disabled prior to graduation (removed from initial cohorts)
- Graduates for whom post‑graduation outcomes could not be determined
These exclusions are applied in accordance with standard higher education reporting practices and federal Student Right‑to‑Know regulations.
Data Sources and Methodology
Student achievement data are compiled using institutional academic records, enrollment census data captured on day 8 of each term, credentialing and licensure agencies, and graduate outcome surveys administered by the Graduate School.
Definitions and methodologies are reviewed periodically to ensure data accuracy, consistency, and alignment with accreditation expectations.
Use of Employment Outcomes in Marketing and Recruitment
When employment or job placement information is referenced in Graduate School marketing or recruitment materials, those data are publicly disclosed on this webpage or linked directly from it. All employment outcomes are presented with appropriate explanations of methodology and response populations to ensure transparency and accuracy.
Updates
Student achievement information is updated as new data become available. Data prior to 2018 are available upon request. Please contact Registrar's office.
