by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Montclair State 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 Montclair State. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes and how long it takes.
The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 78% students making it past their freshmen year, Montclair State 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 New Jersey, the average is 74.83%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Montclair State | 78% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| New Jersey | 74.83% |
Of the 3531 students in the class of 2023, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 54% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 68% of the students had graduated and after eight years 69% 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 Montclair State graduation rate 68%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 2802 | 54% |
| Six Years | 3531 | 68% |
| Eight Years | 66 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 1592 | 31% |
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 1592 students or 31% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1592 students who did not complete their degree?
8 are still enrolled.
987 transferred to another institution.
Montclair State lost contact with the remaining 583 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 8 | 0.5% |
| Transferred | 987 | 62.0% |
| Dropped Out | 583 | 36.6% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 75% |
| Asian | 67% |
| Black / African-American | 58% |
| Hawaiian | 71% |
| Hispanic | 61% |
| International | 50% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 56% |
| Unknown | 62% |
| White | 70% |
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.
The majority of students at Montclair State 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 Montclair State University represent 57.95% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Montclair State graduation rate was 65%, and by the eight year mark, 66% 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 | Montclair State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 45% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 65% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 66% | 47.82% |
1019 first-time / full-time students or 34% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
12 are still enrolled.
703 transferred to another institution.
Montclair State lost contact with the remaining 304 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 12 | 1.18% |
| Transferred | 703 | 68.99% |
| Dropped Out | 304 | 29.83% |
First-time / part-time students at Montclair State University represent 0.42% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Montclair State graduation rate was 14%, and by the eight year mark, 14% 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 | Montclair State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 14% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 14% | 23.72% |
19 first-time / part-time students or 86% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
10 transferred to another institution.
Montclair State lost contact with the remaining 9 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 10 | 52.63% |
| Dropped Out | 9 | 47.37% |
Returning / full-time students at Montclair State University represent 34.10% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Montclair State graduation rate was 77%, and by the eight year mark, 78% 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 | Montclair State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 77% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 78% | 55.07% |
394 non first-time / part-time students or 22% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
208 transferred to another institution.
Montclair State lost contact with the remaining 184 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 0.51% |
| Transferred | 208 | 52.79% |
| Dropped Out | 184 | 46.70% |
Returning / part-time students at Montclair State University represent 7.53% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Montclair State graduation rate was 58%, and by the eight year mark, 59% 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 | Montclair State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 48% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 58% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 59% | 37.80% |
160 non first-time / part-time students or 41% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
8 are still enrolled.
66 transferred to another institution.
Montclair State lost contact with the remaining 86 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 8 | 5.00% |
| Transferred | 66 | 41.25% |
| Dropped Out | 86 | 53.75% |
