BACCALAUREATE DEGREE COMPLETION TIME OF STUDENTS AT THE TWO-YEAR COLLEGE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA

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Those students choosing the two-year college system as an entry point for completing the baccalaureate degree may experience additional time for degree completion. The problem with this delay is the financial burden placed on students by incurring additional expenses and prolonging the time required to enter careers in their chosen discipline. This non-experimental quantitative study examines the difference in baccalaureate degree completion time for students using the embedded two-year college at The University of Montana Missoula. Using a public data method based upon directory information, the difference in time to completion for students completing at least one semester at the embedded two-year college is compared with the general population at the University. The study revealed that 141 students (9%, N = 1508), conferred during 2014, used the two-year college, while only 39 (27%, n=141) completed the associate degree. Using the chi-square as a goodness of fit test, it was determined that a statistically significant difference in degree completion time between students using the two-year college and the overall UM population, X² (6, n = 141) = 27.64, p = 0.005 with a confidence level of 95% and effect size of 0.198. Based upon the findings of this early study, further assessment of the efficacy in public policy promoting transfer education in the State of Montana should be considered.