by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding MSU Bozeman retention and graduation rates. First year retention rates let you know how many first-time, full-time students students come back for their second year. Graduation rates tell you how many students complete their degree and how long it takes.
The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 79% students making it past their freshmen year, MSU Bozeman has freshmen retention rates above 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 | |
|---|---|
| MSU Bozeman | 79% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Montana | 66.19% |
There were approximately 2598 students in the class of 2023. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 36% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 54% of the students had graduated and after eight years 57% 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 MSU Bozeman graduation rate 54%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1720 | 36% |
| Six Years | 2598 | 54% |
| Eight Years | 160 | 3% |
| Did Not Complete | 2044 | 43% |
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 2044 students or 43% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 2044 students who did not complete their degree?
28 are still enrolled.
1152 transferred to another institution.
MSU Bozeman lost contact with the remaining 853 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 28 | 1.4% |
| Transferred | 1152 | 56.4% |
| Dropped Out | 853 | 41.7% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 26% |
| Asian | 56% |
| Black / African-American | 14% |
| Hawaiian | 67% |
| Hispanic | 48% |
| International | 60% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 50% |
| Unknown | 73% |
| White | 59% |
First-time, full-time students under the age of 25 are much more likely to graduate in four years. Some schools cater to mostly traditional students while others cater to 'non-traditional' students. So called 'non-traditional' students include part-time students or those who may be returning after an absense. It is common for part-time and/or adult students to take longer to graduate.
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.
The majority of students at MSU Bozeman are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Comparing the graduation rates of the specific cohorts below can be more revealing than the overall graduation rates.
First-time / full-time students at Montana State University represent 62.31% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the MSU Bozeman graduation rate was 58%, and by the eight year mark, 62% 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 | MSU Bozeman | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 37% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 58% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 62% | 47.82% |
1150 first-time / full-time students or 38% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
29 are still enrolled.
688 transferred to another institution.
MSU Bozeman lost contact with the remaining 433 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 29 | 2.52% |
| Transferred | 688 | 59.83% |
| Dropped Out | 433 | 37.65% |
First-time / part-time students at Montana State University represent 12.98% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the MSU Bozeman graduation rate was 26%, and by the eight year mark, 32% 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 | MSU Bozeman | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 9% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 26% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 32% | 23.72% |
422 first-time / part-time students or 68% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
6 are still enrolled.
203 transferred to another institution.
MSU Bozeman lost contact with the remaining 213 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 1.42% |
| Transferred | 203 | 48.10% |
| Dropped Out | 213 | 50.47% |
Returning / full-time students at Montana State University represent 19.13% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the MSU Bozeman graduation rate was 63%, and by the eight year mark, 65% 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 | MSU Bozeman | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 63% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 65% | 55.07% |
319 non first-time / part-time students or 35% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
179 transferred to another institution.
MSU Bozeman lost contact with the remaining 138 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 0.63% |
| Transferred | 179 | 56.11% |
| Dropped Out | 138 | 43.26% |
Returning / part-time students at Montana State University represent 5.57% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the MSU Bozeman graduation rate was 41%, and by the eight year mark, 43% 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 | MSU Bozeman | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 28% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 41% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 43% | 37.80% |
153 non first-time / part-time students or 57% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
82 transferred to another institution.
MSU Bozeman lost contact with the remaining 69 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 1.31% |
| Transferred | 82 | 53.59% |
| Dropped Out | 69 | 45.10% |
