Student success rates are determined by monitoring the progress of new entering students (a cohort) who begin attending MCTC in the fall of an academic year. Their progress is measured after one year (persistence to second fall) and after three years (transfer and completion). Additionally, the success rates for students of color within a cohort are monitored.

Disparity rates are determined by subtracting the success rates for students of color from the success rates of white students. The goals set for cohorts starting in the fall of academic years 2008-09 and 2010-11 are to reduce the level of disparity in achievement between the two groups of students.