MISSOULA – The University of Montana has set new goals of keeping more first-year students on campus and increasing graduation rates.
The Missoulian reports university President Seth Bodnar announced Tuesday the goals of bringing the first-year retention rate above 80% and the six-year graduation rate to 60%.
Data from the Montana Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education shows the university’s retention rate was 72% and its graduation rate was 46% as of 2017.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the average freshman retention rate was 81% nationwide and the graduation rate was 60% in 2017.
Bodnar says reaching these goals will take time, but the university is working to align its investments to reach them.
He did not say when the university aims to hit the target rates.