Montana State University

School Overview: Acceptance Rate, Tuition, and More

Share this school

About Montana State University

School Type: Public

Religious Affiliation: Not applicable

Status: Non-profit

Military Friendly: Yes

Accreditation: regional

Montana State University is a medium-sized public university located on a rural campus in Bozeman, Montana. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 14,648, and admissions are selective, with an acceptance rate of 73%. The university offers 58 bachelor's degrees, has an average graduation rate of 55%, and a student-faculty ratio of 18:1. Tuition and fees for in-state students are $5,654, while tuition and fees for out-of-state students are $26,086.

Bozeman, MT

$5,654

Avg in-state
tuition

$26,086

Avg out-of-state
tuition

Let's Take the Next Step

Learn more about Montana State University to see if it's right for you.

Search all programs
BestColleges.com

Rankings

Learn more about how this school compares to other schools with rankings by BestColleges.

Admissions Breakdown

73%

Acceptance Rate Insight

73% of students were accepted during the 2021-2022 school year. Sometimes schools with midrange acceptance rates have higher standards of entry but are still accessible to many students who apply.

76%

Retention Rate Insight

76% of full-time students stayed to continue their studies the following academic year. These students started in Fall 2020 and returned in Fall 2021.

55%

Graduation Rate Insight

55% of students graduated out of all full-time, first-time students who began their studies in Fall 2015. Keep in mind many students who enroll are not typically first-time students, as most are adult learners. Therefore, the number of first-time students is traditionally low.

Application Considerations

Test scoresConsidered (not required)

High school transcriptRequired

High school rankConsidered (not required)

Letter of recommendationNot required or recommended

High school GPARequired

Open admissionNo

Completion of college prep programConsidered (not required)

Test of English as a foreign language (TOEFL)Required

Transfer Credit Policy

Dual enrollmentYes

Credit for qualified life experience*Yes

Advance placement (AP) creditsYes

*This can include previous jobs, trainings, licenses/credentials, or seminars. You may need to complete an exam or provide a portfolio to earn credit.

SAT & ACT

ACT 25th-75th Percentile20-27

SAT 25th-75th Percentile1070-1300

Learning Environment

Student Body Stats

17k

Students enrolled

21%

Online student enrollment

18:1

Student to faculty ratio

Ways Students Can Learn

OnlineCheck Bold
On-campusCheck Bold
HybridCheck Bold
InternationalCheck Bold

Demographics

White

83%

Unknown

1%

Black

0%

Hispanic

5%

Two or more races

5%

Non-U.S. Citizen

2%

Asian

1%

American Indian/Alaska Native

2%

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0%

Socio-economic diversity

17% of students received an income-based Federal Pell Grant intended for low-income students.

17%

Online Programs

Offers Online Programs

Yes

Online Programs

28

Total Online Enrollment

3,554

Student Location Breakout

Percent of Programs Online

84% On-campus

16% Online

Types of Online Programs Offered

CertificatesCheck Bold8% online

AssociateCheck Bold17% online

Bachelor'sCheck Bold2% online

Graduate CertificateCheck Bold59% online

Master'sCheck Bold24% online

DoctorateCheck Bold7% online

Student Charges

Tuition and Required Fees

Student LevelIn-stateOut-of-state
Undergraduate$59,784$59,784
Graduate$54,672$54,672

Cost of Undergraduate Attendance

Costs based on full-time, first-time degree or certificate-seeking undergraduates for the 2021–2022 academic year.

Costs to ConsiderPrice
Books and supplies$1,200
On-campus room and board$17,758
On-campus other expenses$2,600
Off-campus (not with family) room and boardCurrently unavailable
Off-campus (not with family) other expensesCurrently unavailable
Off-campus (with family) other expensesCurrently unavailable

Total Undergraduate Cost

Total cost by categoryIn-stateOut-of-state
On-campus$81,342$81,342
Off-campus without family$60,984$60,984
Off-campus with family$60,984$60,984

Financial Breakdown

Students Receiving Aid

Federal Grant Aid

77%

State Grant Aid

10%

Institution Grant Aid

70%

Pell Grant

17%

Average Aid Awarded

Federal Grant Aid$1,753
State Grant Aid$969
Institution Grant Aid$6,127
Pell Grant Aid$4,863

Financial Outlook

$23k

Average student debtafter graduation

$38k

Average salary 6 years after starting school

Varsity Athletic Teams

NCAA Division I-FCS

2.3%

of the overall student body is a member of an athletic team.

Participation

MenWomen
  • All Track Combined
  • Basketball
  • Football
  • Skiing
  • Tennis
  • Golf
  • Volleyball

Degrees Awarded by Program

Degrees given for the 2021-2022 academic year.

#ProgramsBAMADoc
1Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science And Related Fields.
2Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, And Related Sciences.
3Architecture And Related Services.
4Area, Ethnic, Cultural, And Gender Studies.
5Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, And Group Studies.
6Biological And Biomedical Sciences.
7Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services.
8Computer And Information Sciences And Support Services.
9Education.
10Engineering Technologies/Technicians.
11Engineering.
12Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians.
13English Language And Literature/Letters.
14Family And Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences.
15Foreign Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics.
16Health Professions And Related Clinical Sciences.
17Health Professions And Related Programs.
18History
19History.
20Liberal Arts And Sciences, General Studies And Humanities.
21Mathematics And Statistics.
22Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies.
23Natural Resources And Conservation.
24Parks, Recreation, Leisure, And Fitness Studies.
25Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, And Kinesiology.
26Philosophy And Religious Studies.
27Physical Sciences.
28Psychology.
29Public Administration And Social Service Professions.
30Social Sciences.
31Visual And Performing Arts.

Data collected from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), [2021-2022]. In the absence of IPED data, information was collected directly from the school and is accurate as of the date of collection. Contact the school directly for the most current and complete information.