Do Students Succeed at Otero College?
Graduation rates, transfer data, and student outcome analysis for Otero College in La Junta, CO.
Student Success at Otero College at a Glance
Otero College is a public institution offering at least 2 but less than 4 years programs located in La Junta, CO. Current enrollment is 959 students.
- 38.1% overall graduation rate (IPEDS)
- 41.4% of all entering students earn their award within 8 years
- 64% of exiters from its largest program (NURSING) were employed within 6 months — verified by the U.S. Department of Labor
- DOL-verified median earnings of $18,291 per quarter after exiting NURSING
- 299 graduates across 68 programs in 2024
- VA-approved for GI Bill benefits — 21 students used them here
Program-Level Results · Verified by the U.S. Department of Labor
Verified Program Outcomes
Completion and employment results reported to the U.S. Department of Labor for Otero College programs on the state Eligible Training Provider List. Missing values ("—") mean the state suppressed or did not report that metric — they never mean zero.
| Program | Completion rate | Employed 6 mo after exit | Employed 1 yr after exit | Median quarterly earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NURSING | 23% | 64% | 69% | $18,291 |
| NURSE AIDE | 84% | 51% | 56% | $8,598 |
| PRACTICAL NURSING | 74% | 63% | 63% | $8,632 |
| LAW ENFORCEMENT ACADEMY | 97% | 77% | 83% | $8,549 |
| EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES | 87% | 57% | 51% | $11,875 |
| MEDICAL LABORATORY TECHNICIAN | 45% | 64% | 61% | $7,752 |
| PHLEBOTOMY | 61% | 65% | 59% | $7,147 |
| LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION 2 | 19% | 48% | 48% | $3,628 |
| HEALTH NAVIGATOR | 26% | 37% | 41% | $4,981 |
| WELDING TECHNOLOGY/WELDER 3 | 89% | 19% | 19% | $3,656 |
| LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION 3 | 70% | — | — | — |
| WELDING TECHNOLOGY/WELDER 2 | 23% | 38% | 31% | $4,394 |
| LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION 1 | 100% | 45% | 36% | $3,773 |
| LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION 4 | — | — | 38% | — |
| WELDING TECHNOLOGY/WELDING 4 | 90% | — | 30% | — |
| COSMETOLOGY | 71% | 71% | — | $3,011 |
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, WIOA participant outcomes (trainingproviderresults.gov), PY 2023.
College-Wide Statistics · IPEDS Federal Survey
What Are the Student Outcomes at Otero College?
Unlike the program-level results above, the figures below cover all students at Otero College, tracked over eight years by the federal IPEDS survey.
Overall Completion Rate
41.4%
Working Student Success
41%
Transfer Out Rate
26.6%
Still Enrolled Rate
0.2%
How Otero College Compares
41% completion at Otero College is mid-pack for the trade-school landscape. The 27% transfer-out rate adds important context — many trade students intentionally use their first credential as a stepping stone to a four-year school, so transfer often signals success rather than dropout.
What Happens After Students Enroll at Otero College?
Eight-Year Student Outcomes
Eight-year outcomes for students who entered Otero College. This shows what happened to students in their cohort by the end of the tracking period.
Understanding These Outcomes
Completed: Students who earned a certificate, diploma, or degree from this institution.
Still Enrolled: Students who remain enrolled at this institution after the tracking period.
Transferred Out: Students who transferred to another institution and may have completed there.
No Award: Students who left without earning a credential and are not enrolled elsewhere.
Combined completion and transfer rate of 52.7% indicates strong student success pathways.
These outcomes track what happened to students eight years after they first enrolled. Completion rates include certificates, diplomas, and degrees earned at this institution. Transfer rates show students who continued their education at other colleges. Understanding these pathways helps prospective students set realistic expectations and plan their educational journey.
What Are the Transfer and Continuation Patterns at Otero College?
Success Rates by Student Entry Pathway
Comparing completion rates across different student entry pathways helps understand which groups succeed and how transfer experience impacts outcomes.
Key Insights
Transfer students outperform first-time students by 6.0 percentage points, suggesting the institution provides strong support for transfer pathways and recognizes prior learning effectively.
Combined 33.5% transfer-out rate suggests this institution may serve as a stepping stone for students continuing their education elsewhere.
Cohort Composition
Understanding Student Pathways
First-Time Students: Beginning postsecondary education for the first time at this institution.
Transfer-In Students: Previously attended another postsecondary institution before enrolling here.
Continuing Students: Returned to this institution after a break in enrollment.
Completion rates tracked over 8 years from initial entry.
Different student entry pathways lead to varying success rates. First-time students enter directly from high school or are starting college for the first time. Transfer students bring prior college experience and credits. Understanding these patterns helps you identify which pathway aligns best with your situation and predict your likelihood of success.
What Are the Completion Rates by Student Type at Otero College?
What does this mean for you? These completion rates show how different types of students succeed at this institution. Full-time students have a higher completion rate (41.8%) compared to part-time students (41%). Consider your work and life commitments when deciding on your enrollment status. First-time students are those new to college, while transfer students have attended another institution before.
What Are the Cohort Outcomes Over Time at Otero College?
Tracking outcomes for the 2015-16 cohort of 503 students
After 4 Years
After 6 Years
After 8 Years (Final)
Final Student Status
Completion Breakdown by Cohort
Part-time Non-first-time Transfer Students
Full-time First-time Transfer Students
All First-time Transfer Students
All Non-first-time Transfer Students
Full-time First-time Students
Part-time First-time Transfer Students
Full-time Non-first-time Transfer Students
All First-time Students
Time to Completion
About This Data
Outcome measures data tracks student cohorts over 4, 6, and 8-year periods. Data is sourced from IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) and reflects the most recent available reporting year.