Montana State University-Northern
Havre, MT 59501
About Montana State University-Northern
Montana State University-Northern is a public research university in Havre, Montana, enrolling about 761 students. Montana State University-Northern awards degrees and certificates tracked in federal College Scorecard and IPEDS reporting. Published tuition for full-time study is about $6,982 per year before aid; net price varies by family income. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $49,505 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- Montana State University-Northern charges 27% above the national public median tuition ($6,982).
- Versus the Montana median, sticker tuition is 41% above.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 41.11%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $49,505.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at Montana State University-Northern is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 877% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montana State University-Northern | $6,982 | $12,664 | 1 |
| Public (national median) | $5,512 | — | 1,688 |
| Montana (state median) | $4,961 | $12,030 | 24 |
| Town (locale median) | $9,600 | $14,971 | 1,517 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
How expensive is Montana State University-Northern really?
Key findings
- Montana State University-Northern charges 27% above the national public median tuition ($6,982).
- Versus the Montana median, sticker tuition is 41% above.
Montana State University-Northern tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $6,982
Finding Montana State University-Northern charges 27% above the national public median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $6,982. That is 27% above the national public median ($5,512). Versus the Montana median ($4,961), sticker tuition is 41% above. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is about 0.6×.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to public and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at Montana State University-Northern versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at Montana State University-Northern versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at Montana State University-Northern is $12,664.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $12,664 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $634 above the Montana median net price. Versus town campuses, net price runs $2,307 below the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway At Montana State University-Northern, average net price exceeds published tuition alone because net price uses a fuller cost-of-attendance base.
Montana State University-Northern: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for Montana State University-Northern—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
In-state tuition
$6,982
Out-of-state tuition
$21,875
Avg. net price
$12,664
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $9,940 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $9,242 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $12,451 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $16,315 |
| $110,001+ | $16,578 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $27,928. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What Montana State University-Northern is known for
Top program completions
- Diesel Mechanics Technology/Technician35
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse32
- Welding Technology/Welder25
- Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, Other23
- Business Administration and Management, General21
See earnings & programs for more.
Is Montana State University-Northern a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
Montana State University-Northern is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for Montana State University-Northern.
Campus
Location
Havre, MT
City / state
- ZIP
- 59501
- NCES locale
- Town remote
Compared with Town campuses nationally, net price is 15% below the median for Town campuses ($14,971 median).
Control
Institution type
Public
Control
- Region
- Rocky Mountains
- Carnegie
- Special Focus Four-Year: Faith-Related Institutions
Size
Enrollment
761
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 1,357
- Graduate
- 47
- Full-time share
- 85%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$18,500
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 33.09%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for Montana State University-Northern.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Montana State University-Northern was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Montana State University-Northern in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $5,480 | $17,312 | $14,641 |
| 2014 | $5,480 | $17,312 | $13,636 |
| 2015 | $5,329 | $17,408 | $12,784 |
| 2016 | $5,371 | $17,681 | $12,590 |
| 2017 | $5,861 | $18,171 | $12,898 |
| 2018 | $5,955 | $18,665 | $13,024 |
| 2019 | $5,955 | $18,665 | $13,174 |
| 2020 | $5,955 | $18,665 | $12,556 |
| 2021 | $5,955 | $18,665 | $13,009 |
| 2022 | $5,955 | $18,665 | $12,717 |
| 2023 | $6,269 | $19,385 | $14,194 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution.
Admissions funnel data is not available for this institution.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Score distribution is not available for this institution.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA range is not available for this institution.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Montana State University-Northern reported total enrollment of about 761 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 60% male and 40% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (67.8%), American Indian or Alaska Native (18.8%), and Hispanic or Latino (5.1%). About 33.09% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 34.4% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
84.8% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Montana State University-Northern in 2024 is 761 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 1,357 students. Graduate enrollment is about 47 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
63.9%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
18.18% 100% Completion Time
41.11% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 18.18% of students graduating from Montana State University-Northern completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Diesel Mechanics Technology/Technician: 91% male / 9% female
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 9% male / 91% female
- Welding Technology/Welder: 84% male / 16% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
Montana State University-Northern graduates earn a median of $49,505 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of Montana State University-Northern.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $49,505. Median federal loan debt: $18,500. Average net price used in cost models: $12,664.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway Montana State University-Northern graduates report median earnings of $49,505 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for Montana State University-Northern.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (25 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at Montana State University-Northern.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for Montana State University-Northern graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for Montana State University-Northern—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Institutional endowment
$11.1M
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- Montana median 1.5× the median ($7.6M)
- Rocky Mountains median 0.57× the median ($19.5M)
- U.S. median 0.42× the median ($26.4M)
- Montana median 0.90× the median ($13,979)
- Rocky Mountains median 1.2× the median ($10,274)
- U.S. median near the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 100.0%
- Montana median 30.4 pp above median (69.6%)
- Rocky Mountains median 26.7 pp above median (73.3%)
- U.S. median 42.0 pp above median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $6,179
- Montana median 0.94× the median ($6,543)
- Rocky Mountains median 0.83× the median ($7,458)
- U.S. median 0.81× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $10,357
- Montana median 1.1× the median ($9,613)
- Rocky Mountains median 1.5× the median ($6,852)
- U.S. median 1.4× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
Montana State University-Northern at a glance
Montana State University-Northern
Montana State University-Northern is a public institution in Havre, MT, classified as Special Focus Four-Year: Faith-Related Institutions.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Diesel Mechanics Technology/TechnicianRegistered Nursing/Registered NurseWelding Technology/Welder
- Largest enrollment groups
- White or Caucasian67.8%American Indian or Alaska Native18.8%Hispanic or Latino5.1%
Schools near Montana State University-Northern
Other campuses in Havre, MT when available, plus nearby institutions in Montana.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade D) within Montana, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Montana State University-Northern located?
Montana State University-Northern is located in Havre, MT.
What is Montana State University-Northern's tuition?
Montana State University-Northern tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $6,982 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $12,664 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does Montana State University-Northern cost?
Reported tuition is $6,982 and average net price is $12,664 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $7,384 annually.
What explains Montana State University-Northern's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($12,664), completion (41.1% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($49,505). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
What is the student body demographics at Montana State University-Northern?
Montana State University-Northern reports undergraduate enrollment of about 1,357 students, White (67.8%), American Indian or Alaska Native (18.8%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Montana State University-Northern?
About 34.4% of students at Montana State University-Northern are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of Montana State University-Northern earn?
Median earnings are $45,045 six years after entry and $49,505 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Montana State University-Northern?
The 150%-time completion rate is 41.1% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Montana State University-Northern students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $18,500.
Is Montana State University-Northern public or private?
Montana State University-Northern is a public institution located in Havre, MT.
Is Montana State University-Northern an HBCU?
No. Montana State University-Northern is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Montana State University-Northern a tribal college?
No. Montana State University-Northern is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology & Data Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.