Montana State University
A good fit for students who want accessible admissions and in-state Montana residents. no major red flags in the data. a public school with 14,451 students.
About This School
Montana State University is a public institution located in Bozeman, Montana with approximately 14,451 undergraduate students enrolled. Montana State University has an open or accessible admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 82%. The average net price after financial aid is $22,499 per year. The graduation rate is 57%, and the typical graduate earns $48,900 within 10 years of enrollment.
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, and doctoral degrees in 35 through its nine colleges. More than 16,700 students attended MSU in 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.
The numbers tell a mixed story here: the affordable average net price of $20,593 and low median debt of $13,748 are genuinely appealing, but only 57% of students graduate, which is a real red flag worth asking about before committing. Worth considering if you're drawn to outdoor-oriented campus life in Bozeman, engineering, agriculture, or research opportunities at a legitimate R1 university — MSU punches above its weight academically for a state school. Just go in with a plan to stay on track, because the retention and graduation data suggest a lot of students struggle to finish.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Notable Alumni
Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
What This School Looks For
From the school's most recent Common Data Set (2024-25). What the admissions office actually weighs:
Early vs. Regular Decision
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 19% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
Will This School Pay Off?
Solid return. Earnings outpace debt, though major choice matters.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (14,451 undergraduates).
In the Classroom & On Campus
Class size distribution
Source: Montana State University Common Data Set (2024-25).
Contact & Location
Official Links
Other Schools in Montana
The University of Montana
Missoula, MT · Public
Montana State University Billings
Billings, MT · Public
Montana Technological University
Butte, MT · Public
Flathead Valley Community College
Kalispell, MT · Public
The University of Montana-Western
Dillon, MT · Public
Carroll College
Helena, MT · Private nonprofit
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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