by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Great Falls College Montana State University first-year students return for their second year, and how many go on to graduate? Retention and graduation rates help you understand how students progress at Great Falls College Montana State University. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes and how long it takes.
Freshmen retention rate refers to the percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year.
With 56% students making it past their freshmen year, Great Falls College Montana State University has freshmen retention rates below the national average.
Nationwide, the average first to second year retention rate is 70.57%.
When looking at just colleges and universities in Montana, the average is 66.19%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Great Falls College Montana State University | 56% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Montana | 66.19% |
Of the 208 students in the class of 2023, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 32% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 36% of the students had graduated and after eight years 36% of this class completed their degree.
Any student who completes their bachelor's degree within six years is considered to have graduated on time, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. This makes the offical Great Falls College Montana State University graduation rate 36%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 189 | 32% |
| Six Years | 208 | 36% |
| Eight Years | 3 | 0% |
| Did Not Complete | 373 | 64% |
The non-completers rate is anyone who is not still enrolled at the institution after eight years. Both transfer students and drop-outs could be included in this group.
Approximately 373 students or 64% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 373 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
164 transferred to another institution.
Great Falls College Montana State University lost contact with the remaining 195 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 164 | 44.0% |
| Dropped Out | 195 | 52.3% |
Traditional first-time, full-time students under 25 tend to graduate in four years far more often than other students. Some schools serve mostly traditional students while others serve more 'non-traditional' students — part-timers or those returning after time away — who commonly take longer to finish.
Traditional Students:
First-time, full-time students under the age of 25.
Non-Traditional Students:
Any student that is not first-time, full-time, and under the age of 25.
A meaningful share of students at Great Falls College Montana State University are considered 'non-traditional students' who are not first-time, full-time, and under 25.
Examining the graduation rates of the specific cohorts shown below may be more revealing than looking at the overall graduaton rates.
First-time / full-time students at Great Falls College Montana State University represent 32.88% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Great Falls College Montana State University graduation rate was 36%, and by the eight year mark, 38% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 37.92% after four years, 46.43% after six years, and 47.82% after eight years.
| Completions | Great Falls College Montana State University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 33% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 36% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 38% | 47.82% |
119 first-time / full-time students or 62% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
6 are still enrolled.
43 transferred to another institution.
Great Falls College Montana State University lost contact with the remaining 70 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 5.04% |
| Transferred | 43 | 36.13% |
| Dropped Out | 70 | 58.82% |
First-time / part-time students at Great Falls College Montana State University represent 20.55% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Great Falls College Montana State University graduation rate was 17%, and by the eight year mark, 17% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 14.37% after four years, 21.59% after six years, and 23.72% after eight years.
| Completions | Great Falls College Montana State University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 13% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 17% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 17% | 23.72% |
100 first-time / part-time students or 83% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
28 transferred to another institution.
Great Falls College Montana State University lost contact with the remaining 70 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 2.00% |
| Transferred | 28 | 28.00% |
| Dropped Out | 70 | 70.00% |
Returning / full-time students at Great Falls College Montana State University represent 23.63% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Great Falls College Montana State University graduation rate was 48%, and by the eight year mark, 48% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 53.83% after six years, and 55.07% after eight years.
| Completions | Great Falls College Montana State University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 48% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 48% | 55.07% |
72 non first-time / part-time students or 52% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
45 transferred to another institution.
Great Falls College Montana State University lost contact with the remaining 23 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 5.56% |
| Transferred | 45 | 62.50% |
| Dropped Out | 23 | 31.94% |
Returning / part-time students at Great Falls College Montana State University represent 22.95% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Great Falls College Montana State University graduation rate was 39%, and by the eight year mark, 39% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 30.46% after four years, 36.03% after six years, and 37.80% after eight years.
| Completions | Great Falls College Montana State University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 36% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 39% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 39% | 37.80% |
82 non first-time / part-time students or 61% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
48 transferred to another institution.
Great Falls College Montana State University lost contact with the remaining 32 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 2.44% |
| Transferred | 48 | 58.54% |
| Dropped Out | 32 | 39.02% |
