57%
Graduation Rate
1%
Transfer-out Rate
79%
Retention Rate
[updated for 2024-2025 graduation data]
At Montana State University, the graduation rate is 57 % within 150% normal time, the retention rate is 79 %, and the transfer-out rate is 1 %, as of August 31, 2025.
Its graduation rate is relatively lower than the average rate when comparing similar colleges' rate of 72.57% (public Research University with very high research activity).
Graduation Rates in Reasonable Completion Time
For the academic year 2024-2025, 1,600 students out of 2,803 candidates have completed their courses within 150% normal time (i.e. in 6 years for 4-year BS degree) at Montana State University.
By gender, 814 male and 786 female students graduated the school last year completing their jobs in the period.
| Candidates | Completers | Graduation Rates |
|---|
| Total | 2,803 | 1,600 | 57.08% |
|---|
| Men | 1,559 | 814 | 52.21% |
|---|
| Women | 1,244 | 786 | 63.18% |
|---|
Graduation Rate By Race/Ethnicity
The following table shows graduation rate by race and at Montana State University.
- American Indian or Alaska Native: 30.43%
- Asian: 46.15%
- Black (Non-Hispanic): 33.33%
- Hispanic: 40.00%
- White: 59.13%
- Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander: 25.00%
- Two or More Race: 46.58%
- Unknown: 82.35%
Graduation Rate by Gender
| Total | Male | Female |
|---|
| American Indian or Alaska Native | 30.43%(7/23) |
33.33%(3/9) |
28.57%(4/14) |
|---|
| Asian | 46.15%(18/39) |
36.84%(7/19) |
55.00%(11/20) |
|---|
| Black (Non-Hispanic) | 33.33%(4/12) |
- |
57.14%(4/7) |
|---|
| Hispanic | 40.00%(50/125) |
29.17%(21/72) |
54.72%(29/53) |
|---|
| White | 59.13%(1,422/2,405) |
54.80%(731/1,334) |
64.52%(691/1,071) |
|---|
| Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | 25.00%(1/4) |
33.33%(1/3) |
- |
|---|
| Two or More Race | 46.58%(68/146) |
41.67%(35/84) |
53.23%(33/62) |
|---|
| Unknown | 82.35%(14/17) |
75.00%(9/12) |
100.00%(5/5) |
|---|
Transfer-out and Retention Rates
At MSU, the transfer-out rate is 23.51%. Its transfer-out rate is much lower than the average rate when comparing similar colleges' rate of 13.49%.
MSU's retention rate is 79% for full-time students and 55 % for part-time students last year. Its retention rate is around the average rate when comparing similar colleges' rate of 87.20%.
Non-Resident Alien Graduation Rate
A non-resident alien student is not a US citizen/green card holder and studies with a student visa, such as an F visa, in the United States. At Montana State University, 16 of 32 non-resident alien students completed their studies and the graduation rate was 50.00%.