Montana State University
Montana State University (MSU) is a public land-grant research university in Bozeman, Montana, United States. It enrolls more students than any other college or university in the state. MSU offers baccalaureate degrees in 60 fields, master's degrees in 68 fields, and doctoral degrees in 35 fields through its nine colleges. More than 16,700 students attended MSU in the fall 2019, taught by 796 full-time and 547 part-time faculty. In the Carnegie Classification, MSU is placed among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity", one of only two universities in Montana to receive this distinction with a "very high undergraduate" enrollment profile. The university had research expenditures of $257.9 million in 2024.
At a glance
- Acceptance rate: 82%
- Average net price: $20,142
- Undergraduate enrollment: 16,436
- Graduation rate (150%): 57%
- Graduation rate (200%): 56%
- 8-year Outcome Measures award rate: 60%
- Student to faculty ratio: 18:1
- Median earnings (10 years): $53,263
- Median earnings (8 years): $48,622
- Median earnings (6 years): $44,757
- Control: Public
- Locale: City, small
- Calendar: Semester
- City: Bozeman, MT
Majors and programs
The most common programs at Montana State University include Nursing, Business, Psychology.
- Nursing (374 bachelor's) · median earnings $76,146 4 years after graduation · median debt $22,802
- Business (364 bachelor's) · median earnings $71,578 4 years after graduation · median debt $20,735
- Psychology (147 bachelor's) · median earnings $53,623 4 years after graduation · median debt $21,477
- Mechanical Engineering (143 bachelor's) · median earnings $88,653 4 years after graduation · median debt $24,980
- Family and Consumer Sciences (129 bachelor's) · median earnings $52,702 4 years after graduation · median debt $23,646
- Biology (109 bachelor's) · median earnings $50,711 4 years after graduation · median debt $24,000
- Computer Science (99 bachelor's) · median earnings $111,728 4 years after graduation · median debt $21,750
- Medical Microbiology and Bacteriology (65 bachelor's) · median earnings $60,221 4 years after graduation · median debt $20,399
- Art (62 bachelor's) · median earnings $46,741 4 years after graduation · median debt $25,125
- Sociology (61 bachelor's) · median earnings $48,273 4 years after graduation · median debt $21,987
Degree mix: Business 23%, Engineering 23%, Computer Science 6%, Health 25%, Biological Sciences 14%, Psychology 9%.
Award levels offered: Certificates, Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, Doctoral.
Cost
Montana State University students from families earning $0 to $30,000 pay about $17,797 a year after aid.
- Net price, $0 to $30,000: $17,797
- Net price, $30,001 to $48,000: $18,570
- Net price, $48,001 to $75,000: $21,977
- Net price, $75,001 to $110,000: $24,732
- Net price, $110,001 and above: $25,905
- In-state tuition and fees: $8,460
- Out-of-state tuition and fees: $33,287
- Books and supplies: $1,450
- On-campus room and board: $14,000
- Off-campus room and board: $14,000
- Off-campus with family: $4,026
- Typical cost of attendance: $25,905
- Sticker vs net gap: 22%
- Students receiving any aid: 100%
- Pell Grant recipients: 16%
- Federal loan recipients: 31%
- Average institutional grant: $10,909
- Average federal loan: $6,193
- Median debt at graduation: $22,500
Admissions
Montana State University admits 82% of applicants. Of students admitted, 20% enrolled.
- Applications: 21,652
- Admitted: 17,786
- Enrolled: 3,612
- Yield (first-choice signal): 20%
Who actually goes here
- Undergraduates: 16,436
- Women: 49%
- Commuter share (estimated): 68%
- Part-time undergraduates: 11%
- Age 25 and older: 8%
- Graduate students: 1,269
- Graduation rate: 57%
- Come back after freshman year: 79%
- First-generation: 23%
Faculty and campus
- Full-time faculty: 55%
- Student to faculty: 18:1
- Professor salary: $115,909
- Associate professor salary: $87,747
- Assistant professor salary: $75,761
- On-campus housing capacity: 5,273
- Average SAT: 1,170
- Average ACT: 24
- Study abroad: Available
- Online programs: Available
Common questions
What is the Montana State University acceptance rate? Montana State University admits 82% of applicants, based on the latest IPEDS admissions file.
How much does Montana State University cost? Students from families earning $0 to $30,000 pay about $17,797 a year after aid. Average net price is $20,142.
What majors does Montana State University offer? Popular programs include Nursing, Business, Psychology, Mechanical Engineering, Family and Consumer Sciences.
What is the average salary after Montana State University? Median earnings 10 years after entry are $53,263 for Title IV aid recipients in College Scorecard.
What is the Montana State University graduation rate? In the IPEDS Outcome Measures cohort, 60% earned an award within eight years. The first-time, full-time 150% graduation rate is 57%.
Scorecard earnings and debt cover Title IV aid recipients, not cash-pay or private-loan students. Montana State University official site: https://montana.edu.