Northern retention rates up from last year

An evaluation of Montana State University-Northern revealed the university is sitting at the tail-end of the race for student retention, but that the numbers saw a jump from last year’s.

The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities review showed one of Northern’s weakest areas is retention of students. The retention rate represents the number of first-time, full-time freshman who returned to Northern. Out of 14 universities and colleges that were studied in Montana, Northern had the one of the worst retention rates for 2012.

The 2012 institutional retention rates for students seeking associate degrees at Northern was 50 percent, and the bachelor’s group rate was 58 percent. The average institutional rate for bachelor’s degree students at all the universities and colleges studied was 77 percent; 19 points higher than Northern’s. The average rate for two-year programs was 57 percent, 7 points higher than Northern’s.

The retention rate for Northern has jumped up 6.49 percent for the 2013-2014 school year, said Tracey Jette, director of student success.

Northern’s retention rates for its associate degree program was dropped substantially from a 2009 peak of 67 percent. In 2010, it dropped to 65 percent, and then 58 percent in 2011.

The bachelor’s programs saw a jump to 65 percent retention in 2008 but has been floating in the 56-58 percent range since.

The Northern 2012 graduate survey showed 94 percent of the 2012 graduates who responded to the survey are employed in a field related to their degree, their chosen field or are continuing their education.

Of the responses, 96 percent of those with a bachelor’s degree and 92 percent of associate degree graduates are employed or continuing their education. The average salary of graduates with bachelor’s degrees was lower than those with an associate’s at $35,842 to the associate’s $37,500.

The survey also showed that 67 percent of these graduates are working in Montana, and 18 percent are working out-of-state.