About Montana State University

Founded in 1893, Montana State University. is a Public college. Located in Montana, which is a city setting in Montana, the campus itself is Town. The campus is home to 14,340 full time undergraduate students, and 2,019 full time graduate students.

The Montana State University Academic calendar runs on a Semester basis. In the school year the student to faculty ratio was 19:1. There are 600 full time instructional teachers. Degrees awarded at Montana State University include: Bachelor's Degree, Masters Degree, Post-master's certificate, Doctor's degree.

Quick Facts

Acceptance Rate82%
Application Deadline
Application Fee30
SAT Range1010-1250
ACT Range21-28

Admissions at MSU are considered Less Selective, with ,77% of all applicants being admitted.

In the school year, of the students who applied to the school, only 22 of those who were admitted eventually ended up enrolling.

73% of incoming freshmen are in the top half of their high school class. 43% were in the top quarter, and 18% were in the top tenth. You can apply online.

STUDENT LIFE

We asked, and students answered these important questions about student life at Montana State University.

5%
“We”re apathetic”
28%
“We know about current events and vote”
64%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
4%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
0%
“We save it for the classroom”
20%
“Sometimes, but not often”
59%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
21%
“All the time, including weekends”
1%
“I”m always terrified”
2%
“I only go out in groups”
37%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
60%
“I feel extremely safe”
21%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
32%
“We bought the gear”
47%
“We live for the big game”
9%
“It”s not really our thing”
24%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
59%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
8%
“We”re a very artistic group”
5%
“Haven”t met them”
1%
“Available in class”
71%
“They keep regular office hours”
24%
“They”re always available”
1%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
46%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
53%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
0%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
2%
“We”re not into drinking at all”
12%
“Maybe a little, but it”s not a big thing”
49%
“We only party on weekends”
36%
“There”s some drinking happening every night”
5%
“Never, we”re here to learn”
56%
“There might be people who do”
32%
“People are known to partake on weekends”
7%
“There”s a huge drug scene”
5%
“We”re apathetic”
28%
“We know about current events and vote”
64%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
4%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
0%
“We save it for the classroom”
20%
“Sometimes, but not often”
59%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
21%
“All the time, including weekends”
1%
“I”m always terrified”
2%
“I only go out in groups”
37%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
60%
“I feel extremely safe”
21%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
32%
“We bought the gear”
47%
“We live for the big game”
9%
“It”s not really our thing”
24%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
59%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
8%
“We”re a very artistic group”
5%
“Haven”t met them”
1%
“Available in class”
71%
“They keep regular office hours”
24%
“They”re always available”
1%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
46%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
53%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
0%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
2%
“We”re not into drinking at all”
12%
“Maybe a little, but it”s not a big thing”
49%
“We only party on weekends”
36%
“There”s some drinking happening every night”
5%
“Never, we”re here to learn”
56%
“There might be people who do”
32%
“People are known to partake on weekends”
7%
“There”s a huge drug scene”

Montana State University REVIEWS

Write a review, Enter to win $1,000 Scholarship
  • How would you rate on-campus housing?

    171 Students rated on-campus housing 3.7 stars. 17 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate off-campus housing?

    146 Students rated off-campus housing 3.4 stars. 0 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate campus food?

    181 Students rated campus food 3.4 stars. 16 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate campus facilities?

    185 Students rated campus facilities 4.2 stars. 37 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate class size?

    186 Students rated class size 4 stars. 31 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate school activities?

    184 Students rated school activities 4.1 stars. 42 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate local services?

    186 Students rated local services 4.2 stars. 50 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate academics?

    186 Students rated academics 4.2 stars. 39 % gave the school a 5.0.

What's your overall opinion of Montana State University?

104 Students rated Montana State University

Tyler - 01/18/2024

It's a great school! I haven't been there to much, but I am planning on going. Everyone pone there is really nice and everyone is always willing to help out if you have any questions. I feel already like I'm a student due to everyone being so friendly around campus.

vivian - 11/21/2023

very nice campus and very kind people and professors. growing community mountains and mines beautiful place to call home for the next 4 years!

Alexia - 07/25/2022

There are always new people to meet with diverse interests and outlets for those interests. You will never be bored with the hundreds of clubs and classes for every small hobby or activities for random small holidays. The faculty and staff are extremley accomodating and kind.

Trendon - 12/10/2020

The area around Bozeman was beautiful and there was plenty to do but the people kinda sucked. Was definitely a party school and hard to find people who could actually hold a conversation about non-mundane things. Lots of partying on and off campus including in the dorms. Students were very judgmental and hard t make friends.

Montana State University FAQS

  1. What is the Acceptance Rate at Montana State University?

    The fall 2020 acceptance rate for Montana State University is 82%. That means, out of _____ applications received in 2020 , _____ students were offered admission. The number of males who applied was _____ vs the number of females which was _____.

  2. What should every freshman at your school know before they start?

    If I were to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would tell myself two things; if something doesnt feel right with your major or your social activities then change it right away, and be very positive and social on the very first day of college. If I would have gone with my gut after the first semester of college, I would have saved myself many nights of worrying and confusion due to the difficulty of my engineering major. I always had a gut feeling that I should be doing something else but I chose to ignore that feeling and wait another whole year before I finally changed majors to the one I love. My second comment to myself about being more social and confident would have helped me tramendously in making more friends and being an overall happier person. Now I'm not saying I'm an unhappy person, but if I would have been more outgoing during my first couple weeks at college I think I would feel a lot more cofident about my future and the life I'm living. Overalll i love my college and college life.

    Read all  176 answers
  3. Here's your chance: Say anything about your college!

    It is extremely geared towards my major and the outdoors. I am in anthropology and it has one of the best archaeology departments in the West. Bozeman even has a museum, Museum of the Rockies, which once housed the renowned paleontologist Jack Horner. It also has many outdoor sports to participate in. We have classes in snowboarding and skiing, as well as campus wide hikes and river rafting expeditions. Even some of the dorms have floors geared towards outdoor enthusiests.

    Read all  35 answers
  4. What's the one thing you wish someone had told you about freshman year?

    what i really wanted to go into, and if there were more scholarships available

    Read all  32 answers
  5. What do you consider the worst thing about your school? Why?

    The greek life in this town is lacking. The most poplular fraternity is the agricultural house.

    Read all  30 answers
  6. What's unique about your campus?

    I believe the best thing about Montana State University is that its business program is among the top in the nation. I have also found several good friends within the business department who are willing to help me understand things that I don't get right away.

    Read all  29 answers
  7. Describe the students at your school.

    My class mates are fun, driven and all have a passion for the outdoors; they get work done then have fun.

    Read all  28 answers
  8. What kind of person should attend this school?

    One who is dedicated to their studies and also interested in out door activities.

    Read all  27 answers
  9. Describe how your school looks to someone who's never seen it.

    Great institution of higher learning nestled in the beautiful nothern rocky mountains.

    Read all  25 answers
  10. What's the most frustrating thing about your school?

    The most frustrating part of school is registering for new classes and thinking that you dropped one section to pick up a new section to find that it didn't really do that but luckily I called the registrar's office and they were willing and able to help. The other frustrating part is trying to meet with my advisor and actually getting advise but again luckily my older sister has been there before me and has shared her solutions.

    Read all  25 answers
  11. What kind of person should not attend this school?

    People who prefer small classes should not attend this school. This is a large university with 12,000 students; there are so many people that there is not enough time in the day to make all of the classes with a size of 20 or less students. The smallest class I have attended contained 30 students. Despite having a large amount of students, living on campus enables one to meet and recognize most people from his or her grade. Thus, even though it is a large university, students still know each other and create a community-like environment.

    Read all  24 answers
  12. What do you brag about most when you tell your friends about your school?

    How big it is. Compared to my old University

    Read all  20 answers
  13. Describe your favorite campus traditions.

    Great engineering school, #4 in the country in Architecture, friendly atmosphere, great mountains, not too big not too small, good environment for learning academically and personally.

    Read all  19 answers
  14. What are the most popular student activities/groups?

    All sports groups are popular on campus yet there is no one elite group on campus. I'm largely involved with the music groups on campus. I use to be a music major and I've definitely kept in contact with everyone I met. In most dorms students do leave there doors open. There are few quieter dorms where students are more private. Athletic events are very popular overall and guest speakers are quite popular with a large group on campus. I don't know much about the dating scene since I've been in a long distance relationship with a guy I met in high school. I met my closest friends through my original major. Major traditions on campus include preparing for homecoming. On a Saturday night you can go to the movies or just hang out with friends. You can also go bowling or hang out at the recreation center on campus.

    Read all  6 answers
  15. What are the academics like at your school?

    Academics at Montana State University are strongly emphasized. Students spend a large amount of time studying and class participation is not only encouraged but enforced through a percentage of your class grade. I'm currently in transition of degree's and college has proven to be a struggle for me. I'm at a point where I personally need to assert myself more and I feel like this experience gives me a better view on college.

    Read all  5 answers
  16. What is the stereotype of students at your school? Is this stereotype accurate?

    The amount of stereotyping on MSU's campus is not very prominent, however there is a pretty large stereotype of the ski bums vs. the people who are very studious. We do have jocks, partiers, stoners, and the frat kids, however it is not extremely prominent when on campus.

    Read all  5 answers
  17. What is your overall opinion of this school?

    My overall opinion of MSU is it's a great school. The administration and teacher's genuinely care about the students and reach out to the students when there is a problem. School pride is a large part of the MSU atmosphere and the students are great.

    Read all  4 answers
  18. Tell us about your professors.

    The professors at MSU are GREAT! they are always available and are more than willing to meet with you over the weekend. They make an effort to learn all their students names and get to know you personally. I am on a first name basis with all of my professors and its great. Some will even give you their personal cell in case you have questions. They are also very interested in helping prepare you for the workforce and want to see you succeed.

    Read all  2 answers
  19. Why did you decide to go to this school?

    I decided to go to Montana State University because it is close to my family and is a great school academically and socially.

    Read all  1 answers

Student Body

Students

45%

female

55%

male

14,340

Total Undergrad Enrollment

2,019

Total Grad Students

49%

Out-Of-State

50%

In-State

1%

International

Organizations

140

Student Organizations

6

Fraternities

4

Sororities

Housing

Yes

On-Campus Housing

28%

of students living on campus

Student Diversity

% American Indian/Alaskan Native
1%
% Asian/Pacific Islander
1%
% Black or African-American
1%
% Hispanic/Latino
4%
% White or Caucasian
84%

TUITION & AID

All students must apply yearly for financial aid. This process starts with the FAFSA. Though financial aid deadlines vary by school, it is a good idea to apply as soon as possible. For the upcoming school year, you can apply as early as October 1 for the FAFSA. Additional school aid will be dependent on the FAFSA results.

84% of students attending Montana State University receive some sort of financial aid. 22% were awarded federal grants. While 42% received federal loans. Many students do also need to apply for additional private student loans.

Cost Out of State

$23,186

Tuition and fees(Out of state)

$1,300

Books and Supplies

$8,900

Room and Board

33,386

Total On Campus

Actual Cost By Income Level(W/Financial Aid)

Family Income
Cost
$0 - $30K
$13,920
$30 - $48K
$14,863
$48 - $75K
$17,234
$75 - $110K
$19,210
$110K & UP
$19,441

We use student reviews and the most current publicly available data on our school pages. As such, we don't typically remove or edit college information. Sources for school statistics and data include the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System. Portions of college data include copyrighted material, which is reproduced on this website by permission of Wintergreen Orchard House, a division of Carnegie Communications. © 2009-2016 by Wintergreen Orchard House. All rights reserved.

FIND SCHOLARSHIPS

Find your perfect match from over 3 million scholarships!

START YOUR SEARCH

CAN YOU GET INTO Montana State University?

Complete your profile to see if this school is a fit for you, and what your chances of admitance are.

START YOUR SEARCH