Montana State University’s fall ‘Report Card’ shows that MSU is bucking a nationwide trend of drops in university enrollment.
According to Wednesday's release of MSU's Report Card, this fall saw the second biggest increase in enrollment in MSU history. Officials say there is a multitude of reasons, “we're seeing a lot of positive indicators at Montana State University," says Michael Becker, MSU News Service director.
According to MSU officials, this one is one of their best reports in a decade.
"We're seeing high retention rates," Becker said. "We are seeing increases in our graduation rate and if you look at our performance over the past 10 years, we are seeing marked jumps."
According to the report, enrollment has climbed almost exactly 4,000 students over the last 10 years from 12,764 to 16,766.
"Those are signs of student success that we're getting students to their degrees successfully, so they can go out and start their careers," Becker said.
“Many students here that came from out of state say it is access to technology that attracted them here in the first place, especially in engineering studies and as well as other subjects."
When you look at the numbers, other good news for MSU emerges -- take the number of graduating students, for example. The percentage of students who graduated in six years climbed from about 48%-to-56%. As for students who made the trip in four years -- about 21% to about 30%.
"We are spending more, I should say a higher proportion of our state fund dollars on education than many of our peer universities," Becker says.
MSU officials are hoping that the next 10 years on campus are just as good as the last 10, in terms of enrollment and employment.
Meanwhile in Missoula, The University of Montana has reported that total enrollment is down again this year. It’s the eighth year in a row UM has seen less students than the previous school year, causing less revenue, the streamlining of staff and the cutting of programs.
