Gazette opinion: Building Montana’s success by degrees

There are 1,249 newly minted college graduates in circulation today.

Rocky Mountain College honored its 254 graduates Saturday afternoon at Fortin Education Center.

A few hours earlier at MetraPark’s Rimrock Auto Arena, Montana State University Billings awarded 995 students with degrees, including 148 master’s degrees and 286 associate degrees from City College.

We know that enrollment has declined in the past couple of years at most Montana university units. We know that too many students drop out before completing a degree; and many leave before finishing an academic year. Montana students depart college — with or without a degree – carrying a high debt load in a state with below-average family income.

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