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Montana State University

Montana State University is a public campus in Bozeman proper — federal locale codes class it as urban. The federal record identifies it as a land-grant institution.

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What could it cost?

Start with net price after grants, then read the published costs. Each chart names its academic year and the students it covers.

Net price by family income

key chart

Average annual cost after grants for each family-income band. These group averages are not personal price quotes.

IPEDS Income brackets, 2022–23

family-income band

$16,713

family income
under $30k

$17,165

$30–48k

$20,572

$48–75k

$23,456

$75–110k

$23,771

over $110k

Average net price

$22,4992023–24Skip to data table

Average annual attendance cost after grants for the reported student group. Your own aid offer and costs may differ.

Average net price at Montana State University rose from $14,300 (2008) to $22,499 (2023).

Average net price — data
Year	Net price
2008	$14,300
2009	$14,543
2010	$14,736
2011	$15,508
2012	$16,236
2013	$16,600
2014	$16,809
2015	$17,050
2016	$17,754
2017	$18,036
2018	$19,202
2019	$19,453
2020	$19,407
2021	$19,600
2022	$20,593
2023	$22,499

IPEDS 16 federal reports, 2008–2023

Total cost of attendance

$25,9052024–25Skip to data table

Estimated annual attendance budget before grants, including tuition, fees, housing, food and books. Not every expense is billed by the school.

Total cost at Montana State University rose from $16,808 (2009) to $25,905 (2024).

Total cost of attendance — data
Year	Cost
2009	$16,808
2010	$17,468
2011	$17,627
2012	$18,022
2013	$18,486
2014	$18,886
2015	$18,961
2016	$19,441
2017	$19,980
2018	$20,464
2019	$21,840
2020	$22,073
2021	$22,357
2022	$22,506
2023	$23,779
2024	$25,905

IPEDS Academic-year cost 2009–2024

Tuition (in-state vs out-of-state)

Skip to data table

Published tuition and fees before grants. Housing, food, books and other attendance costs are separate.

In-stateOut-of-state

Tuition — data
Year	In-state	Out-of-state
2000	$3,079	$9,075
2001	$3,381	$10,147
2002	$3,807	$11,444
2003	$4,145	$12,707
2004	$4,577	$14,177
2005	$5,221	$14,945
2006	$5,673	$15,522
2007	$5,749	$16,274
2008	$5,798	$16,997
2013	$6,752	$20,717
2014	$6,800	$21,391
2015	$6,849	$22,081
2016	$6,887	$23,186
2017	$7,079	$24,071
2018	$7,277	$24,993
2019	$7,325	$25,855
2020	$7,371	$27,101
2021	$7,528	$28,264
2022	$7,727	$29,604
2023	$8,083	$31,337

IPEDS Published price 2000–01 to 2023–24 (not adjusted for inflation)

Cost, size & completion summary

Cost, size & completion

Montana State University reports tuition of $8,460 for in-state students and $33,287 for out-of-state students. Check Montana State University’s residency rules, attendance budget and aid offer. Scorecard snapshot: 2026-06-10; historical charts show their own years.

At 14,451 undergrads, Montana State University is a mid-sized campus by U.S. standards.

57.1% of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants completed at Montana State University within six years (2026-06-10 release). This measure excludes other student groups.

Do students finish — and what comes after?

Graduation, debt and earnings cover different groups. Read each chart's entering class or fiscal period; they are not one group's journey.

Six-year graduation rate

key chart

57.1%entered Fall 2018Skip to data table

The share of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants who completed at this institution within six years. Other students are not included.

The six-year graduation rate at Montana State University rose from 44.1% (entered 1991) to 57.1% (entered 2018).

A six-year rate can only describe a class that entered six or more years ago — by definition the last point on the line is that old.

Six-year graduation rate — data
Year	Graduated within 6 yrs
1991 cohort	44.1%
1992 cohort	42.5%
1993 cohort	42.8%
1994 cohort	43.8%
1995 cohort	43.5%
1996 cohort	40.9%
1997 cohort	44.3%
1998 cohort	47.2%
1999 cohort	46.4%
2000 cohort	49.6%
2001 cohort	47.7%
2002 cohort	48.2%
2003 cohort	48.4%
2004 cohort	46.9%
2005 cohort	51%
2006 cohort	48.7%
2007 cohort	49.4%
2008 cohort	49.6%
2009 cohort	52.3%
2010 cohort	53.5%
2011 cohort	54.5%
2012 cohort	57.4%
2013 cohort	56.8%
2014 cohort	59.8%
2015 cohort	54.5%
2016 cohort	56.8%
2017 cohort	57.4%
2018 cohort	57.1%

IPEDS Entering cohorts 1991–2018

Median debt at exit (completers vs non-completers)

Historical student groups

key chart

Skip to data table

Median federal student loan debt when students left school, shown separately for those who completed and those who did not.

CompletedLeft without degree

Each point combines two years. Neighboring points share one year, so changes should be read with that overlap in mind.

These two-year windows closed before today's students borrowed — they describe past cohorts, not the current price of a degree.

Median debt at exit — data
Year	Completed	Left without degree
Left school in fiscal years 1997 and 1998 (FY1997/98)	$16,277	$4,819
Left school in fiscal years 1998 and 1999 (FY1998/99)	$15,931	$5,250
Left school in fiscal years 1999 and 2000 (FY1999/00)	$15,238	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2000 and 2001 (FY2000/01)	$15,625	$5,378
Left school in fiscal years 2001 and 2002 (FY2001/02)	$15,325	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2002 and 2003 (FY2002/03)	$14,500	$5,700
Left school in fiscal years 2003 and 2004 (FY2003/04)	$14,627	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2004 and 2005 (FY2004/05)	$15,400	$4,375
Left school in fiscal years 2005 and 2006 (FY2005/06)	$16,000	$3,313
Left school in fiscal years 2006 and 2007 (FY2006/07)	$15,812	$3,313
Left school in fiscal years 2007 and 2008 (FY2007/08)	$15,650	$3,500
Left school in fiscal years 2008 and 2009 (FY2008/09)	$16,250	$4,500
Left school in fiscal years 2009 and 2010 (FY2009/10)	$17,360	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2010 and 2011 (FY2010/11)	$19,375	$6,251
Left school in fiscal years 2011 and 2012 (FY2011/12)	$21,125	$8,078
Left school in fiscal years 2012 and 2013 (FY2012/13)	$22,390	$7,674
Left school in fiscal years 2013 and 2014 (FY2013/14)	$22,550	$8,495
Left school in fiscal years 2014 and 2015 (FY2014/15)	$24,000	$8,700
Left school in fiscal years 2015 and 2016 (FY2015/16)	$23,683	$7,500
Left school in fiscal years 2016 and 2017 (FY2016/17)	$23,505	$8,000
Left school in fiscal years 2017 and 2018 (FY2017/18)	$23,500	$7,000
Left school in fiscal years 2018 and 2019 (FY2018/19)	$23,374	$8,000
Left school in fiscal years 2019 and 2020 (FY2019/20)	$22,995	$7,500
Left school in fiscal years 2020 and 2021 (FY2020/21)	$22,500	$8,250

NSLDS GRAD_DEBT_MDN / WDRAW_DEBT_MDN, merged FY periods · via College Scorecard

Earnings after entry

Historical student groups

Median annual earnings after entering college, for federally aided students who were working and not enrolled when measured.

Entered: academic years 2013–14 or 2014–15

$44,757

6 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2011–12 or 2012–13

$48,622

8 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2009–10 or 2010–11

$53,263

10 years after entry

Each figure covers a different group of students who entered college in the stated years. Earnings were measured in the same two years; these are not one group followed over time.

Measured in 2020–21, adjusted for inflation to 2022 dollars. Each figure pools two entering academic years.

Treasury Pooled entering cohorts · Scorecard 2020–21 historical file

What does the admissions record show?

Rates and score ranges describe a past admissions cycle. Submitted scores are not cutoffs or a prediction of admission.

Admissions snapshot & test policies

Montana State University admitted 17,786 of 21,652 applicants in Fall 2024. The 82.1% rate describes that application pool.

82.1%

acceptance rate · Fall 2024 admissions cycle

rate trend $8,083 in-state tuition · 2023–24 14,451 undergraduates · Fall 2024

Test-optional (considered) · Fall 2024

400SAT range (section 25th/75th sums): 1065–12851600

Not sure where you stand? Estimate your GPA →

Admissions

In the Fall 2024 cycle, Montana State University received 21,652 applications and admitted 17,786 (82.1%), with 3,612 enrolling.

Montana State University reported scores as considered but not required for the Fall 2024 admissions cycle. For Montana State University’s enrolled SAT submitters, Reading and Writing was 540–645 and Math was 525–640 (25th–75th percentiles). The section-percentile sums 1065–1285 are not composite-score percentiles. These are not admission cutoffs.

Check current requirements with admissions.

Score	25th	50th	75th
SAT Reading & Writing	540	590	645
SAT Math	525	580	640
ACT Composite	21	24	27

25th / 75th: a quarter of enrolled submitters scored below the first number, a quarter above the second. These are not cutoffs.

Only students who submitted scores are counted — at test-optional schools, many enrolled students aren't in this table.

Percentiles are among enrolled students who submitted scores (Fall 2024 admissions cycle).

Acceptance rate

82.1%Fall 2024Skip to data table

The share of applicants offered a spot — lower means more selective; read it alongside the score ranges below.

Acceptance rate — data
Year	Acceptance rate
Fall 2001	84.5%
Fall 2002	86.7%
Fall 2003	84.9%
Fall 2004	81%
Fall 2005	73.9%
Fall 2006	66%
Fall 2007	66%
Fall 2008	64.1%
Fall 2009	66.5%
Fall 2010	63.6%
Fall 2011	61.4%
Fall 2012	57.6%
Fall 2013	84.5%
Fall 2014	83.9%
Fall 2015	82.9%
Fall 2016	82.9%
Fall 2017	83.1%
Fall 2018	81.7%
Fall 2019	81.9%
Fall 2020	80.8%
Fall 2021	73%
Fall 2022	73.3%
Fall 2023	86.8%
Fall 2024	82.1%

IPEDS Fall cycles 2001–2024

SAT range (section sums, 25th–75th)

1065–1285Fall 2024 · submittersSkip to data table

Sums of the reading/writing and math percentiles among enrolled submitters — not percentiles of total SAT scores or admission cutoffs.

SAT range (section sums) — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2001	1000	1230
Fall 2002	990	1200
Fall 2003	980	1220
Fall 2004	990	1220
Fall 2005	990	1240
Fall 2006	990	1240
Fall 2007	980	1240
Fall 2008	980	1240
Fall 2009	1000	1250
Fall 2010	1000	1260
Fall 2011	990	1240
Fall 2012	1000	1270
Fall 2013	1010	1260
Fall 2014	1010	1260
Fall 2015	1020	1270
Fall 2016	1010	1250
Fall 2017	1090	1300
Fall 2018	1090	1320
Fall 2019	1090	1310
Fall 2020	1090	1320
Fall 2021	1070	1300
Fall 2022	1070	1290
Fall 2023	1060	1270
Fall 2024	1065	1285

IPEDS Fall 2001–2024, submitters only

ACT middle 50%

21–27Fall 2024 · submittersSkip to data table

The middle half of enrolled ACT submitters, using published composite-score percentiles — not admission cutoffs.

ACT middle 50% — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2001	20	26
Fall 2002	20	26
Fall 2003	20	26
Fall 2004	20	26
Fall 2005	20	26
Fall 2006	20	26
Fall 2007	21	27
Fall 2008	21	26
Fall 2009	21	27
Fall 2010	21	27
Fall 2011	21	28
Fall 2012	21	27
Fall 2013	21	27
Fall 2014	21	28
Fall 2015	21	28
Fall 2016	21	28
Fall 2017	21	28
Fall 2018	21	28
Fall 2019	21	27
Fall 2020	21	28
Fall 2021	20	27
Fall 2022	20	27
Fall 2023	20	27
Fall 2024	21	27

IPEDS Fall 2001–2024, submitters only

What is the campus like?

Enrollment counts a campus population; retention follows first-years returning. Their dates and populations are shown separately.

Undergraduate enrollment

14,451Fall 2024Skip to data table

Reported undergraduate enrollment. This count does not measure class size or teaching access.

Undergraduate enrollment at Montana State University rose from 10,502 (Fall 2002) to 14,451 (Fall 2024).

Undergraduate enrollment — data
Year	Undergraduates
Fall 2002	10,502
Fall 2003	10,562
Fall 2004	10,501
Fall 2005	10,707
Fall 2006	10,641
Fall 2007	10,389
Fall 2008	10,345
Fall 2009	10,674
Fall 2010	11,349
Fall 2011	11,941
Fall 2012	12,533
Fall 2013	13,055
Fall 2014	13,117
Fall 2015	13,488
Fall 2016	14,149
Fall 2017	14,383
Fall 2018	14,566
Fall 2019	14,402
Fall 2020	14,100
Fall 2021	14,329
Fall 2022	14,343
Fall 2023	14,472
Fall 2024	14,451

IPEDS Fall headcounts 2002–2024

First-year retention (full-time)

79%Fall 2023 cohortSkip to data table

The share of the reported first-time student group who returned the following year. This rate does not explain why others left.

First-year retention at Montana State University rose from 70% (Fall 2002) to 79% (Fall 2023).

First-year retention — data
Year	Retention
Fall 2002 cohort	70%
Fall 2003 cohort	72%
Fall 2004 cohort	71%
Fall 2005 cohort	71%
Fall 2006 cohort	71%
Fall 2007 cohort	72%
Fall 2008 cohort	72%
Fall 2009 cohort	74%
Fall 2010 cohort	74%
Fall 2011 cohort	74%
Fall 2012 cohort	76%
Fall 2013 cohort	76%
Fall 2014 cohort	76%
Fall 2015 cohort	76%
Fall 2016 cohort	76%
Fall 2017 cohort	77%
Fall 2018 cohort	77%
Fall 2019 cohort	78%
Fall 2020 cohort	76%
Fall 2021 cohort	75%
Fall 2022 cohort	78%
Fall 2023 cohort	79%

IPEDS Full-time cohorts 2002–2023

More about Montana State University

16.4% of Montana State University's undergraduates carry Pell grants — the standard federal marker of lower-income enrollment. Carnegie classes Montana State University as a primarily residential campus of 14,451 undergraduates — and 78.5% of the reported first-time, full-time student group returned for a second year.

Montana State University's SAT section-percentile sums are 1065–1285 — their midpoint is near the MT four-year benchmark. These are not total-score percentiles. Put your own practice estimate on Montana State University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.

Why some charts are marked “key chart”

key chart

Start with three useful questions: what costs were reported for families in your income band, how many first-time full-time students finished, and what federal debt borrowers held when leaving.

How Montana State University compares

State and national medians cover active bachelor-primary institutions, mixing public and private schools. Tuition uses in-state rates at public schools. These are broad reference points, not a ranking of similar schools or your likely bill.

Scorecard dates identify the release snapshot, not a shared measurement year. Earnings describe federally aided students who were working and not enrolled ten years after entry; cohorts and populations differ from the admissions and tuition figures.

Acceptance rate

Fall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS

Montana State University82.1%

Montana median82.1%

National median76.8%

Tuition (in-state)

Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid

Montana State University$8,460

Montana median$8,506

National median$19,591

Median earnings (10 yr)

Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot

Montana State University's snapshot: calendar years and dollar basis unverified.

Montana State University$53,263

Montana median$49,036

National median$53,781

View comparison data & dates

Montana State University, Montana and national reference values
Metric & basis	Montana State University	Montana median	National median
Acceptance rateFall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS	82.1%	82.1%	76.8%
Tuition (in-state)Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid	$8,460	$8,506	$19,591
Median earnings (10 yr)Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot	$53,263	$49,036	$53,781

Published earnings by bachelor's field of study

For Montana State University, these are federal subject groups (CIP), not departments. Median is the middle annual income.

Montana State University federal-aid recipients · graduated 2017–18 or 2018–19 · income measured 2022 or 2023 · inflation-adjusted to 2024 dollars. Definitions and limits.

View 37 fields & earnings

Bachelor's field of study (CIP category)	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

These 37 fields listed for Montana State University measure earnings after completion. The $53,263 institution-level snapshot above measures earnings after entry; it is not the same cohort or a total for these fields. 22 additional Montana State University fields have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.

Frequently asked questions

What test-score data does Montana State University report?

Montana State University's enrolled submitters had SAT section-percentile sums of 1065–1285 in Fall 2024. These are not total-score percentiles or a GPA requirement.

What is Montana State University's acceptance rate?

82.1% in the Fall 2024 cycle — 17,786 admitted from 21,652 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 earnings data does Montana State University report?

Median earnings ten years after entry: $53,263. Major figures measure four years after completion. Source and date limits.

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 — 91.1% admitted

Run your own numbers

Data: IPEDS ADM2024 (Fall 2024 admissions, provisional) · IPEDS HD2024/IC2024 directory · College Scorecard 2026-06-10 release (institution and field-of-study files; earnings from Treasury records). Retrieved 2026-09-01. Chart dates follow this institution's available observations; the release date is not an academic year or an earnings year. Some records end earlier than others. Field-of-study cohort dates are shown with the table. Read the date and population definitions.