Due to limited research on the experiences of students of colour in counselling programmes, counsellor educators are ill-equipped to implement strategies to promote the graduation of students of colour. In this case study, we explored the protective and risk factors for students of colour enrolled in a counselling programme in the Western U.S. Participants identified three protective factors (diversity, faculty support, and family and friends) and three risk factors (balancing family and school, disconnect from programme, and White dominance) that impacted their post-graduate experience. Implications for the retention of students of colour are discussed.