MISSOULA Mont.
University of Montana enrollment is down compared to last year, but students are taking more class credits than before, and officials say that may increase the rate at which students graduate within four years of university entrance.
Enrollment stands at 13,858 students. That is 103 fewer than in the fall of 2006, when UM hit record enrollment of 13,961.
President George Dennison said that for the first time in the school’s history, more than 12,000 students are attending classes full time.
“This is really significant because it means more students are more likely to graduate on time within four years and that means more students will reduce the cost of their education because they are graduating on time,” Dennison said.
UM administrators and faculty have encouraged students to increase their class loads.
Studies find that those taking more credits have a greater chance of graduating than do students with lighter loads, Dennison said.
