Graduation Rate Trends for Montana Colleges

-1%

Graduation Rate

-7%

Transfer-out Rate

9%

Retention Rate

-3

Students to Faculty

Montana Colleges Graduation Rate Summary (2015-2025)

  • Graduation Rate Trends:
    • Current Rate : The average graduation rate for Montana four-year colleges is 45%.
    • 10-Year Change: The graduation rate has changed by -1%.
  • Other Key Indicators:
    • Transfer-out Rate: The rate has remained relatively stable over the 10-year period, averaging 22.36%.
    • Retention Rate: The rate has been consistently high, with a current rate of 73% and an 10-year average of 68.55%.
    • Students to Faculty Ratio: The students to faculty ratio has worsened, with 3 more students for every faculty member.

Graduation Rate Changes

The average graduation rate of the last 12 years is 43.73%, and the current academic year rate is 45%. The following table and chart show the changes of graduation rate at Montana Colleges over the past 12 years (2014-2025).

YearTotalMenWomen
2014-15 46%44%49%
2015-16 45%43%47%
2016-17 41%39%42%
2017-18 45%40%50%
2018-19 46%46%47%
2019-20 40%40%44%
2020-21 45%40%48%
2021-22 45%43%47%
2022-23 40%38%44%
2023-24 43%41%44%
2024-25 45%42%47%
Average43.73%41.45%46.27%
Montana Colleges Graduation Rate Trends Chart

Transfer-out Rate Changes

The average transfer-out rate of the last 12 years is 22.36%, and the current year rate is 20%. The following table and chart illustrate the change of transfer-out rate at Montana Colleges from 2014 to 2025.

YearTransfer-out Rate
2014-1527%
2015-1621%
2016-1729%
2017-1824%
2018-1923%
2019-2021%
2020-2119%
2021-2224%
2022-2318%
2023-2420%
2024-2520%
Average22.36%

Retention Rate Changes

The average retention rate of the last 12 years is 68.55% for full-time students and 48.27% for part-time students.

The following table and chart show the changes of retention rate at Montana Colleges from 2014 to 2025.

YearFull-timePart-time
2014-1564%46%
2015-1668%39%
2016-1767%41%
2017-1868%60%
2018-1966%45%
2019-2068%39%
2020-2166%49%
2021-2271%52%
2022-2371%50%
2023-2472%62%
2024-2573%48%
Average68.55%48.27%

Students to Faculty Ratio Changes

The average students to faculty ratio over the last 12 years is 13.36 to 1, and the current academic year ratio is 12 to 1. The following table and chart illustrate the change of students to faculty ratio at Montana Colleges since 2015.

YearStudents to Faculty Ratio
2014-1515:1
2015-1616:1
2016-1715:1
2017-1814:1
2018-1914:1
2019-2012:1
2020-2112:1
2021-2212:1
2022-2313:1
2023-2412:1
2024-2512:1
Average13.36:1