by our College Data Analytics TeamHow long does it take to earn a degree at MSU Bozeman? 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 78% 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 | 78% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Montana | 66.19% |
There were approximately 2,095 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 25% of those students had graduated. By 2017, six years after starting their degree, 51% of the students had graduated and after eight years 54% of this class completed their degree.
The official graduation rate of MSU Bozeman is 51%. This is the percentage of students who completed their degree within 150% of the published time. That means six years for a standard bachelor's degree program.
The typical MSU Bozeman student takes 4.65 years to complete their bachelor's degree.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1,169 | 28% |
| Six Years | 2,095 | 51% |
| Eight Years | 143 | 3% |
| Did Not Complete | 1,890 | 46% |
Approximately 1890 students or 46% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1890 students who did not complete their degree?
28 are still enrolled.
360 transferred to another institution.
MSU Bozeman lost contact with the remaining 1401 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 28 | 1.5% |
| Transferred | 360 | 19.0% |
| Dropped Out | 1,401 | 74.1% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 38% |
| Asian | 50% |
| Black / African-American | 58% |
| Hawaiian | 67% |
| Hispanic | 51% |
| International | 42% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 48% |
| Unknown | 55% |
| White | 62% |
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.
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 Montana State University represent 54% of the students in the class of 2015, and 58.90% of MSU Bozeman bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 25%, first-time students in the MSU Bozeman class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the MSU Bozeman graduation rate was 56%, and by the eight year mark, 59% 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 | MSU Bozeman | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 25% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 56% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 59% | 47.82% |
897 first-time / full-time students or 41% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
28 are still enrolled.
216 transferred to another institution.
MSU Bozeman lost contact with the remaining 609 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 28 | 3.12% |
| Transferred | 216 | 24.08% |
| Dropped Out | 609 | 67.89% |
First-time / part-time students at Montana State University represent 14.64% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 25%, first-time, part-time students in the MSU Bozeman class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 31%.
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 | MSU Bozeman | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 7% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 25% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 31% | 23.72% |
418 first-time / part-time students or 69% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
20 are still enrolled.
64 transferred to another institution.
MSU Bozeman lost contact with the remaining 334 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 20 | 4.78% |
| Transferred | 64 | 15.31% |
| Dropped Out | 334 | 79.90% |
916 MSU Bozeman students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 22.10% 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 59%, 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 61%.
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 | MSU Bozeman | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 59% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 61% | 55.07% |
355 non first-time / part-time students or 39% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
22 are still enrolled.
54 transferred to another institution.
MSU Bozeman lost contact with the remaining 279 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 22 | 6.20% |
| Transferred | 54 | 15.21% |
| Dropped Out | 279 | 78.59% |
404 MSU Bozeman students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 9.75% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 43%, 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 45%.
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 | MSU Bozeman | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 43% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 45% | 37.80% |
220 non first-time / part-time students or 55% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
15 are still enrolled.
26 transferred to another institution.
MSU Bozeman lost contact with the remaining 179 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 15 | 6.82% |
| Transferred | 26 | 11.82% |
| Dropped Out | 179 | 81.36% |
