Montana State University
Montana State University is a public research university in Bozeman, Montana, with about 14,451 students. Admission is moderately selective, with an acceptance rate of about 82.14% in federal reporting data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $53,263 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $8,460
- 2024 Average Net Price: $22,499 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 82.14% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 14,451 89.2% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 57.08%
- Average SAT Score: 1183
Montana State University: what the data shows
Common questions about Montana State University, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Montana State University?
Montana State University is located in Bozeman, MT (ZIP 59717).
NCES locale classification: Town.
Is Montana State University public or private?
Montana State University is a Public institution.
How much does Montana State University cost?
Published tuition: $8,460 in-state, $33,287 out-of-state.
Average net price after aid: $22,499.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $17,797 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $18,570 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $21,977 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $24,732 |
| $110,001+ | $25,905 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $33,840.
How hard is it to get into Montana State University?
Admission rate: 82.14%.
Among enrollees who submitted scores: average SAT 1183 and midpoint ACT 24.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is Montana State University?
Total enrollment: 14,451 students.
About 89% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Montana State University?
150%-time completion rate: 57.08%.
First-year retention: 78.5%.
What do graduates of Montana State University earn?
Median earnings: $44,757 six years after entry; $53,263 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $22,500.
16.39% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Montana State University known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Other/Unknown Programs (3,683 completions)
- Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, & Nursing Research (391 completions)
- Business Administration, Management, & Operations (366 completions)
- General Psychology (158 completions)
- Mechanical Engineering (157 completions)
- CIP 190101 (145 completions)
- General Biological Sciences (119 completions)
- Computer Science (118 completions)
- Agricultural and Food Products Processing (90 completions)
- CIP 260503 (76 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Montana State University a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 82.14%; completion rate 57.08%; median earnings $53,263 at 10 years; net price $22,499. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Costs
Tuition Costs
$8,460
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Montana State University was $8,460.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$22,499
2024 Value
In 2024 Montana State University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $22,499.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$89,996 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$22,499 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$33,840 4-Year In-State Tuition
$133,148 4-Year Out-of-State Tuition
Costs include tuition and fees. Room & board, books, and other expenses are additional.
4-year total cost breakdown for Montana State University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
16.39% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
31.41% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Montana State University 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 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 | $6,752 | $20,717 | $16,236 |
| 2014 | $6,800 | $21,391 | $16,600 |
| 2015 | $6,849 | $22,081 | $16,809 |
| 2016 | $6,887 | $23,186 | $17,050 |
| 2017 | $7,079 | $24,071 | $17,754 |
| 2018 | $7,277 | $24,993 | $18,036 |
| 2019 | $7,325 | $25,855 | $19,202 |
| 2020 | $7,371 | $27,101 | $19,453 |
| 2021 | $7,528 | $28,264 | $19,407 |
| 2022 | $7,727 | $29,604 | $19,600 |
| 2023 | $8,083 | $31,337 | $20,593 |
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.
Admissions
Acceptance Rate
82.14% Acceptance Rate
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
SAT Average: 1183
ACT Average: 24
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
Estimated GPA Range: 3.0 - 3.4
Estimated Median GPA: 3.20
Note: GPA requirements are estimated based on admission selectivity and test scores. Actual requirements may vary.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
89.2% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Montana State University in 2024 is 14,451 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
78.5%
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.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
36.65% 100% Completion Time
57.08% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 36.65% of students graduating from Montana State University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Montana State University.
Return on Investment
$22,500 Median Student Debt
$53,263 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
42.24% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
491.84% Return on Investment
4.2 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Montana State University.
Top Programs by Completions
10 Programs Reporting Data
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, & Nursing Research: 391 completions
Business Administration, Management, & Operations: 366 completions
General Psychology: 158 completions
Mechanical Engineering: 157 completions
CIP 19.0101: 145 completions
General Biological Sciences: 119 completions
Computer Science: 118 completions
Agricultural and Food Products Processing: 90 completions
CIP 26.0503: 76 completions
Other/Unknown Programs: 3,683 completions
Most popular programs at Montana State University.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Montana State University graduates.
About
Montana State University is a public institution located in Bozeman, MT, offering 109 distinct degree programs across various academic disciplines. The institution enrolls approximately 14,451 students. The admission rate is 82.14%. Average SAT scores for admitted students are 1183. The institution maintains a 57.08% graduation rate. Approximately 16.39% of students receive Pell Grants.
Institution Type
Public
Location
Bozeman, MT 59717
Region: Rocky Mountains
Insights and Analysis
Diverse Program Offerings: With over 109 distinct degree programs, Montana State University provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.
FAQ
How much does Montana State University cost?
Reported in-state tuition is $8,460 and average net price is $22,499 in the latest College Scorecard data.
How hard is it to get into Montana State University?
The admission rate is 82.1% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data.
What test scores do students need for Montana State University?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Montana State University reports midpoint SAT about 1183 and midpoint ACT about 24.
What do graduates of Montana State University earn?
Median earnings are $44,757 six years after entry and $53,263 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Montana State University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 57.1% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Montana State University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $22,500.
How big is Montana State University?
Total enrollment is about 14,451 students in the latest reporting year.
Is Montana State University public or private?
Montana State University is a public institution located in Bozeman, MT.
Is Montana State University an HBCU?
No. Montana State University is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Montana State University a tribal college?
No. Montana State University is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is Montana State University a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
Using a 25% Hispanic enrollment threshold on College Scorecard demographics, Montana State University does not meet that proxy (reported share 6.6%).
Is Montana State University religiously affiliated?
No religious affiliation is reported for Montana State University in IPEDS institutional characteristics.
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 for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.