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Montana State University
Montana State University says yes to 82.1% of applicants. Focus less on getting in and more on what's below — starting with the $53,263 median earnings.
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Montana State University sits in Bozeman proper — a public campus woven into the city rather than walled off from it. It carries a land-grant charter — the 1862 mandate that ties it to agricultural and practical education.
Its highest-earning path is Computer Science, where graduates median $111,728 four years out. 16.4% of undergraduates carry Pell grants — a plain read on who the campus actually serves. With 14,451 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 78.5% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 1060 and 1270 — near the MT middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on Montana State University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Montana State University received 21,975 applications and admitted 19,081 (86.8%), with 3,634 enrolling.
Scores help here but aren't the gate. If your SAT sits inside the 1060–1270 submitter range, sending it likely helps; below it, Montana State University's own policy says you can leave it out.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 530 | 590 | 640 |
| SAT Math | 530 | 570 | 630 |
| ACT Composite | 20 | 23 | 27 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
How Montana State University compares
| Montana State University | Montana median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 82.1% | 82.1% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $8,460 | $8,506 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $53,263 | $49,036 | $53,781 |
Earnings data favors Montana State University: $53,263 median at year ten, versus $49,036 across Montana institutions.
Cost, size & completion
In-state students pay $8,460 in tuition; crossing a state border raises that to $33,287. For non-residents, Montana State University's $33,287 is the number to weigh against private options before assuming public means cheaper.
At 14,451 undergrads, Montana State University is a mid-sized campus by U.S. standards.
57.1% graduate within six years. Roughly 43% don't — ask a Montana State University tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.
Top majors by earnings at Montana State University
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Computer Science | $111,728 |
| Computer Engineering | $99,411 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $98,331 |
| Construction Engineering Technology/Technician | $89,002 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $88,653 |
| Industrial Engineering | $88,087 |
| Chemical Engineering | $87,590 |
| Civil Engineering | $82,785 |
| Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians | $80,089 |
| Agricultural Business and Management | $79,621 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $76,146 |
| Business/Commerce, General | $71,578 |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | $66,498 |
| Mathematics | $65,731 |
| Architectural Sciences and Technology | $64,133 |
| Economics | $62,511 |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | $60,221 |
| Environmental Design | $57,668 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | $55,352 |
| Psychology, General | $53,623 |
| Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General | $52,702 |
| History | $52,187 |
| Political Science and Government | $51,285 |
| Biology, General | $50,711 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $49,241 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $48,646 |
| Sociology | $48,273 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $47,757 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $46,741 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $46,657 |
| Animal Sciences | $46,313 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $45,975 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $45,523 |
| Plant Sciences | $45,392 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $45,300 |
| Sustainability Studies | $41,979 |
| Music | $39,920 |
Median earnings for these 37 Montana State University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $53,263 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 22 additional Montana State University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Montana State University?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 1060–1270 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 82.1% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is Montana State University's acceptance rate?
86.8% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 19,081 admitted from 21,975 applicants.
How much does Montana State University cost?
In-state tuition is $8,460; out-of-state students pay $33,287. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.
What do Montana State University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $53,263 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Montana
- Rocky Mountain College — 69.6% admitted
- Carroll College — 70.9% admitted
- The University of Montana — 95.9% admitted
- Montana Technological University — 91% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.