Montana State business college overhauls curriculum, sees record enrollment

BOZEMAN - A year after overhauling the curriculum for Montana State University business students, the Jake Jabs College of Business and Entrepreneurship set records for enrollment and retention rates.

According to university data released in September, from fall 2024 to fall 2025, enrollment in the business college jumped by 5.25% to a total of 2,427 students. Of those students, 623 are new first-years, an 8.7% increase from the freshman class size last fall. Additionally, the college saw 80% of first-year students stay at MSU for their sophomore year, a record-high retention rate that increased by 6.2% from last year. Jabs remains the largest business school in the region, which includes Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota and South Dakota.

First-year retention rates are a key indicator of success for MSU, according to business dean Brian Gillespie. Gillespie said the numbers indicate to what extent students saw value in their first year of higher education or if there were barriers to continuing their academics.

"We want our students to succeed and feel supported academically at MSU, and that starts the minute that freshmen walk into their first class," Gillespie said. "A year out from our curriculum changes, every indicator shows that our introductory courses equip students with the skills they need to feel confident in continuing their education and professional pursuits."

Two current students spoke highly of the introductory business courses they took last year, which was when the new curriculum was implemented. The fall course, BGEN 104, has a renewed focus on professional development and helping students navigate the expectations of college, including academic writing and how to craft resumes, cover letters and elevator pitches. The new spring course, BGEN 204, is closely aligned with BGEN 104 to focus on written and verbal communication skills and critical thinking while providing an overview of introductory business topics.

Sofia Ierardi, a sophomore studying business marketing, said her first-year business classes were of huge value and helped her solidify her interest in marketing. BGEN 104 provided real-life experiences, she said, that helped her build skills and confidence in the business realm.

One assignment tasked students with doing an informational interview for a company they might want to work for in the future. Ierardi reached out to the beverage brand Poppi, which has gained popularity in recent years, and spoke with its former head of marketing. She was thrilled to network with such a high-profile person and later connected with him on LinkedIn.

"I learned that having the courage to put myself out there was worth it," Ierardi said. "Now I'm excited to see everything else I can accomplish from working hard and taking risks."

Chloe Johnson, a sophomore studying business management, said her freshman year business classes taught her foundational skills such as public speaking, delivering effective presentations, collaborating with peers and conflict management. The introductory classes provided a broad overview of different business areas, and that context is now allowing Johnson to dive deeper into specific topics in her sophomore year coursework. She commended the support and kindness of professors in the business college and said the student-to-faculty ratio allows for building personal connections.

One memorable assignment from the intro classes was brainstorming ideas for a new product and pitching to investors. Her group developed one idea for a system that would deliver real-time data about parking space availability on campus, and she learned about collaboration and entrepreneurship during the project.

"In the business major, the classes really build off each other. I feel like the (intro) classes give a solid overview of business principles and help students figure out if business is right for them," Johnson said.

Brenda Truman, assistant dean of the business college, said the curriculum changes focused on removing barriers to make the initial years of college more accessible, engaging and supportive for students. MSU business college faculty formed a committee to workshop the curriculum changes based on student feedback, a process that took more than a year.

In addition to tweaking the intro courses, another change was removing the "admission gate" for students entering their junior year, a set of criteria that included a GPA requirement, minimum grades in first- and second-year courses, 60 earned credits and in the past, a business writing exam, Truman said. This change removed an excessive barrier to students graduating, she said, and opened the door to more students interested in switching to a business major.

Additionally, the business college removed calculus as a requirement. That decision was made in reference to other top business programs and recognizes that statistics and data analytics are the topics that now better serve the future career needs of students, Truman said.

"Taken together, these changes shift the focus from hurdles to opportunities," Truman said. "We're creating a first-year experience that prioritizes professional development, connection, confidence and curiosity - building the foundation students need to thrive at Jabs and beyond."

Gillespie added, "It's been a year since we've implemented these curriculum changes, and the growing enrollment and retention numbers are a key indicator we are doing something right. Students are interested in studying business here, and it's our goal to remove as many barriers as possible preventing someone from getting a competitive education here at MSU."