by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Helena College 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 Helena College. 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 55% students making it past their freshmen year, Helena College 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 | |
|---|---|
| Helena College | 55% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Montana | 66.19% |
How many of the estimated 178 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 35% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 38% of the students had graduated and after eight years 38% 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 Helena College graduation rate 38%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 163 | 35% |
| Six Years | 178 | 38% |
| Eight Years | 0 | 0% |
| Did Not Complete | 291 | 62% |
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 291 students or 62% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 291 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
110 transferred to another institution.
Helena College lost contact with the remaining 175 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 110 | 37.8% |
| Dropped Out | 175 | 60.1% |
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 Helena College are considered 'non-traditional students' who are not first-time, full-time, and under 25.
Looking at the individual cohorts below may tell you more than the overall graduation rate alone.
First-time / full-time students at Helena College University of Montana represent 42.64% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Helena College graduation rate was 41%, and by the eight year mark, 41% 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 | Helena College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 39% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 41% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 41% | 47.82% |
118 first-time / full-time students or 59% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
33 transferred to another institution.
Helena College lost contact with the remaining 84 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.85% |
| Transferred | 33 | 27.97% |
| Dropped Out | 84 | 71.19% |
First-time / part-time students at Helena College University of Montana represent 18.98% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Helena College graduation rate was 22%, and by the eight year mark, 22% 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 | Helena College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 16% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 22% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 22% | 23.72% |
69 first-time / part-time students or 78% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
20 transferred to another institution.
Helena College lost contact with the remaining 46 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 4.35% |
| Transferred | 20 | 28.99% |
| Dropped Out | 46 | 66.67% |
Returning / full-time students at Helena College University of Montana represent 21.32% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Helena College graduation rate was 50%, and by the eight year mark, 50% 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 | Helena College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 50% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 50% | 55.07% |
50 non first-time / part-time students or 50% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
31 transferred to another institution.
Helena College lost contact with the remaining 18 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 2.00% |
| Transferred | 31 | 62.00% |
| Dropped Out | 18 | 36.00% |
Returning / part-time students at Helena College University of Montana represent 17.06% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Helena College graduation rate was 33%, and by the eight year mark, 33% 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 | Helena College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 30% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 33% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 33% | 37.80% |
54 non first-time / part-time students or 67% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
26 transferred to another institution.
Helena College lost contact with the remaining 27 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 1.85% |
| Transferred | 26 | 48.15% |
| Dropped Out | 27 | 50.00% |
