by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Montana State University - Northern 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 Montana State University - Northern. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes and how long it takes.
The percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.
With 64% students making it past their freshmen year, Montana State University - Northern 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 | |
|---|---|
| Montana State University - Northern | 64% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Montana | 66.19% |
Of the 217 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, 37% of the students had graduated and after eight years 37% 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 Montana State University - Northern graduation rate 37%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 191 | 32% |
| Six Years | 217 | 37% |
| Eight Years | 3 | 0% |
| Did Not Complete | 372 | 63% |
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 372 students or 63% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 372 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
22 transferred to another institution.
Montana State University - Northern lost contact with the remaining 344 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 22 | 5.9% |
| Dropped Out | 344 | 92.5% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 27% |
| Black / African-American | 33% |
| Hispanic | 50% |
| International | 100% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 33% |
| White | 45% |
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 Montana State University - Northern 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 Montana State University-Northern represent 40.20% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Montana State University - Northern graduation rate was 34%, and by the eight year mark, 34% 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 | Montana State University - Northern | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 27% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 34% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 34% | 47.82% |
156 first-time / full-time students or 66% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
15 transferred to another institution.
Montana State University - Northern lost contact with the remaining 137 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 2.56% |
| Transferred | 15 | 9.62% |
| Dropped Out | 137 | 87.82% |
First-time / part-time students at Montana State University-Northern represent 6.59% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Montana State University - Northern graduation rate was 18%, and by the eight year mark, 21% 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 | Montana State University - Northern | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 13% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 18% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 21% | 23.72% |
31 first-time / part-time students or 79% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
1 transferred to another institution.
Montana State University - Northern lost contact with the remaining 30 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 1 | 3.23% |
| Dropped Out | 30 | 96.77% |
Returning / full-time students at Montana State University-Northern represent 33.61% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Montana State University - Northern graduation rate was 45%, and by the eight year mark, 46% 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 | Montana State University - Northern | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 45% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 46% | 55.07% |
108 non first-time / part-time students or 54% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
5 transferred to another institution.
Montana State University - Northern lost contact with the remaining 103 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 5 | 4.63% |
| Dropped Out | 103 | 95.37% |
Returning / part-time students at Montana State University-Northern represent 19.59% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Montana State University - Northern graduation rate was 34%, and by the eight year mark, 34% 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 | Montana State University - Northern | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 31% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 34% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 34% | 37.80% |
77 non first-time / part-time students or 66% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
1 transferred to another institution.
Montana State University - Northern lost contact with the remaining 74 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 2.60% |
| Transferred | 1 | 1.30% |
| Dropped Out | 74 | 96.10% |
