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Montana State University

Public Graduate Good 59/100

Montana State University

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Bozeman, Montana

About Montana State University

Montana State University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Bozeman, Montana. It enrolls 14,451 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Official website: montana.edu

Acceptance: 82.1%
Graduation: 50%
Net Price: $22,499
Median Earnings (10yr): $53,263
Enrollment: 14,451
Student : Faculty: 18:1

Accreditor Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities

Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Good

59/100

UCD Score · 4-Year Selective

Outcomes 53

Value 36

Affordability 25

Selectivity 46

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

With an acceptance rate of 82.1%, Montana State University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.

Acceptance Rate

82.1%

Easy

SAT Range (25th–75th)

1065 – 1285

Reading + Math combined

ACT Range (25th–75th)

21 – 27

Cumulative composite

Test Policy Not Considered Standardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.

5-Year Admission Trend

Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Montana State University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.

Stable ↑ 4.9 pts since 2019

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Montana State University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $22,499 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for public colleges nationally.

Average Net Price

$22,499

Per year, after typical aid

Receive Pell Grants

16%

Need-based federal aid

Receive Federal Loans

31%

Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees (in-state): $8,460
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state): $33,287
Room & Board (on-campus): $14,000
Room & Board (off-campus): $14,000
Books & Supplies: $1,450
Other Expenses (on-campus): $4,026
Other Expenses (off-campus): $4,026
Total Cost of Attendance: $25,905

Application fee: $38 (one-time, due at submission)

Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

Under $30,000

$17,797
$30,001 – $48,000

$18,570
$48,001 – $75,000

$21,977
$75,001 – $110,000

$24,732
Over $110,000

$25,905

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$3,500

10% percentile

$5,500

25% percentile

$22,500

Median percentile

$26,000

75% percentile

$36,500

90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median

Pell recipients $16,500 ↓ $6,000

No Pell $11,000 ↓ $11,500

Dependent students $12,500 ↓ $10,000

Independent students $19,000 ↓ $3,500

Female students $14,221 ↓ $8,279

Male students $13,000 ↓ $9,500

Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,250, less than completers ($22,500), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

50% of full-time students who enrolled at Montana State University graduate within six years, and 78% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate

50%

Of students who graduate within six years

First-Year Retention

78%

Returning for their second year

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Montana State University earn a median of $53,263 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)

$53,263

Earning > $25K

77%

10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

By Gender

Female graduates

$41,300

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates

$55,500

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.

By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)

$45,700

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)

$48,400

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)

$52,500

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $14,200, about 26% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.

Loan Repayment Progression

Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.

Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑ 13.0 pts across 6 years

What this signals: Excellent. 93% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Montana State University is home to 14,451 students, a large student community.

Total Enrolled

14,451

Part-Time

11%

First-Generation

23%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents

White 83.4% 12,051

Other 7.0% 1,016

Hispanic 6.6% 949

Asian 1.0% 145

International 0.8% 113

Black 0.6% 87

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Montana State University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting

Small City Bozeman, Montana

Housing

Partly residential 4,764 beds available

Adult Learners

8% of students are 25 or older

Athletics

NCAA athletic-conference member

Academic Calendar

Semester scheduling structure

What You Can Study

Montana State University offers an extensive catalog of programs: 144 distinct programs across 31 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

19 Programs

Engineering

Mechanical Engineering $92K ($78K–$109K)
Civil Engineering $87K ($74K–$101K)
Chemical Engineering $98K ($80K–$118K)

10 Programs

Health

Nursing $89K ($68K–$114K)
Nursing $89K ($68K–$114K)
Dietetics & Nutrition $56K ($41K–$68K)

7 Programs

Business

Business $68K ($48K–$95K)
Entrepreneurship $61K ($38K–$88K)
Accounting $76K ($56K–$97K)

12 Programs

Biology

Biology $57K ($39K–$79K)
Cell Biology $67K ($45K–$93K)
Microbiology $63K ($44K–$83K)

6 Programs

Visual & Performing Arts

Film & Video Production $44K ($26K–$63K)
Fine Arts $41K ($26K–$57K)
Design $51K ($33K–$71K)

14 Programs

Physical Sciences

Geosciences $60K ($44K–$78K)
Chemistry $65K ($48K–$84K)
Physics $77K ($52K–$103K)

View all majors View all programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Montana State University is 18:1, on the higher side.

Student : Faculty

18:1

Students per instructional faculty member

Instruction / Student

$9,729

Annual instructional spending per enrolled student

Endowment

$289M

Solid financial position

Avg Faculty Salary

$83,670

9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

629 instructional faculty across 5 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank	Faculty Count	Share	Avg Salary
Full Professors	191	30%	$110,082
Associate Professors	160	25%	$83,515
Assistant Professors	138	22%	$72,821
Instructors	25	4%	$60,718
No Rank	115	18%	$58,029

Pros & Cons of Montana State University

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Montana State University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS

Accessible admissions for most applicants
Solid post-graduation earnings

CONS

Above-average net price
Class sizes are on the higher side
Below-average completion rate
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families

Best for: Based on the data, Montana State University is a fit for students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.

Frequently Asked Questions about Montana State University

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Montana State University.

Is Montana State University hard to get into?

Montana State University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 82.1%.

What is the acceptance rate at Montana State University?

Montana State University has an acceptance rate of 82.1%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.

What SAT score do you need for Montana State University?

The middle 50% of admitted students at Montana State University scored between 1065 and 1285 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.

What ACT score do you need for Montana State University?

The middle 50% of admitted students at Montana State University scored between 21 and 27 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.

How much does Montana State University cost?

The average net price after aid at Montana State University is $22,499 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.

Is Montana State University worth it?

Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $53,263 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $22,499 per year. That's roughly 2.4x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.

What is Montana State University known for?

Montana State University is best known for its programs in Business, Nursing, Mechanical Engineering. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

What do Montana State University graduates earn?

Median earnings 10 years after entering Montana State University are $53,263, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.

Is Montana State University accredited?

Yes. Montana State University is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

How many students attend Montana State University?

Montana State University enrolls 14,451 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.

What is the graduation rate at Montana State University?

Montana State University graduates 50% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

Is Montana State University a public or private college?

Montana State University is a Public institution.

Where is Montana State University located?

Montana State University is located in Bozeman, Montana.

What programs does Montana State University offer?

Montana State University offers 144 distinct programs. The most popular include Business, Nursing, Mechanical Engineering.

What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Montana State University?

The student-to-faculty ratio at Montana State University is 18:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.