by our College Data Analytics TeamHow long does it take to earn a degree at Montclair State? Find out how many students return after their freshman year, how long it takes to graduate, and what happens to the students who don't.
The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 83% 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 | 83% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| New Jersey | 74.83% |
There were approximately 2,996 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 42% of those students had graduated. By 2017, six years after starting their degree, 68% of the students had graduated and after eight years 70% of this class completed their degree.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, a student is considered to have graduated on time if they complete their degree within six years, making the official Montclair State graduation rate 68%.
The typical Montclair State student takes 4.39 years to complete their bachelor's degree.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 2,308 | 52% |
| Six Years | 2,996 | 68% |
| Eight Years | 75 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 1,339 | 30% |
Approximately 1339 students or 30% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1339 students who did not complete their degree?
9 are still enrolled.
907 transferred to another institution.
Montclair State lost contact with the remaining 401 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 9 | 0.7% |
| Transferred | 907 | 67.7% |
| Dropped Out | 401 | 29.9% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 50% |
| Asian | 66% |
| Black / African-American | 70% |
| Hawaiian | 57% |
| Hispanic | 63% |
| International | 63% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 56% |
| Unknown | 66% |
| White | 72% |
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 Montclair State are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
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 Montclair State University represent 54% of the students in the class of 2015, and 51.44% of Montclair State bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 42%, first-time students in the Montclair State class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the Montclair State graduation rate was 65%, and by the eight year mark, 67% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for first-time undergraduates attending classes full-time is 37.92% after four years, 46.43% after six years, and 47.82% after eight years.
| First-Time / Full-Time Completions | Montclair State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 42% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 65% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 67% | 47.82% |
786 first-time / full-time students or 33% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
9 are still enrolled.
582 transferred to another institution.
Montclair State lost contact with the remaining 185 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 9 | 1.15% |
| Transferred | 582 | 74.05% |
| Dropped Out | 185 | 23.54% |
First-time / part-time students at Montclair State University represent 0.57% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 4%, first-time, part-time students in the Montclair State class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 8%.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for first-time undergraduates attending classes part-time is: 14.37% after four years, 21.59% after six years, 23.72% after eight years.
| First-Time / Part-Time Completions | Montclair State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 4% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 4% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 8% | 23.72% |
23 first-time / part-time students or 92% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
9 transferred to another institution.
Montclair State lost contact with the remaining 11 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 13.04% |
| Transferred | 9 | 39.13% |
| Dropped Out | 11 | 47.83% |
1718 Montclair State students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 38.91% of the students in the class of 2015.
Non first-time students could include transfer students or adults who have returned to school after an absense.
With a six year graduation rate of 75%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate higher than the national average for students in this category.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 76%.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for non first-time undergraduates attending classes full-time is: 49.57% after four years, 53.83% after six years, and 55.07% after eight years.
| Returning / Full-Time Completions | Montclair State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 75% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 76% | 55.07% |
405 non first-time / part-time students or 24% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
263 transferred to another institution.
Montclair State lost contact with the remaining 138 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 0.99% |
| Transferred | 263 | 64.94% |
| Dropped Out | 138 | 34.07% |
294 Montclair State students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 6.66% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 54%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate higher than the national average.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 57%.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for non first-time undergraduates attending classes part-time is: 36.03% after six years, 36.03% after eight years.
| Returning / Part-Time Completions | Montclair State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 54% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 57% | 37.80% |
125 non first-time / part-time students or 43% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
5 are still enrolled.
53 transferred to another institution.
Montclair State lost contact with the remaining 67 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 4.00% |
| Transferred | 53 | 42.40% |
| Dropped Out | 67 | 53.60% |
