Cost advantage
Affordable public option
In-state tuition in the lower range for public universities.
This school$8.5k
Public 4-yr avg$11k
Source: IPEDS 2024
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Montana State University
Bozeman, MT
Montana State University at a glance
Montana State University is a public university in Bozeman, Montana with 17,135 students (IPEDS, fall 2024 enrollment). It admitted 82% of applicants (IPEDS, applicants for fall 2024). Its published in-state tuition is $8,460 (IPEDS, charges for academic year 2024-25); students who received federal aid paid an average net price of $22,499 a year after grants (College Scorecard, a prior cohort). 57% of students finish within the federal tracking window (IPEDS, Graduation Rates 2024 collection: 4-year cohort 2018, 2-year cohort 2021); 31% of students take federal loans, and borrowers leave with a median $22,500 (College Scorecard). By program, the highest graduate earnings four years after finishing are in Nursing (RN), doctoral ($126,894) and Computer Science, bachelor's ($111,728) (College Scorecard, 2017-19 graduates).
Tuition
$8,460
2024-25
Acceptance
82%
Fall 2024 applicants
Students
17,135
Fall 2024
Type
University
Setting
Urban
Cost & Financial Aid
In-State Tuition
$8,460
Out-of-State Tuition
$33,287
Avg On-Campus Living
$14,000
Avg Off-Campus Living
$14,000
Financial Aid & Outcomes
College Scorecard
What will it actually cost?
Sticker price: $22,460
Net price (after aid): $22,499
Most students pay the net price after financial aid, not the sticker price.
Net price by family income
$0 – $30k: $17,797
$30k – $48k: $18,570
$48k – $75k: $21,977
$75k – $110k: $24,732
$110k+: $25,905 (above the federal borrowing ceiling)
Can federal loans cover it? (2026 limits)
For families earning $110k+, the average net price here is above the $25,500 a first-year dependent student and their parents can borrow federally from 1 July 2026, by up to $405. That part has to come from savings, income, work, or private loans.
The ceiling is $5,500 in the student’s own Direct Loan plus up to $20,000 in Parent PLUS, which requires that the parent has no adverse credit history. Net prices are averages for a prior cohort of aid recipients, not a quote. Source: Federal Student Aid loan limits. Where this gap is largest.
After graduation
Median earnings (10yr): $53,263
Median debt at graduation: $22,500
Est. monthly loan payment: $239
Earnings-to-debt ratio
Moderate · 2.4×Graduates earn about 2.4× their median debt every year.
Financial access
Students on Pell Grants: 16%
Pell Grants are federal aid for students from low-income families.
Students with federal loans: 31%
Share of students who borrowed to pay for school.
Some fields may not be reported by this institution. Verify final details with the school directly.
How does cost line up with outcomes across colleges? See our analysis of college cost vs. graduation and earnings, an association shaped by selectivity and sector, not proof a pricier college pays off.
FAFSA earnings check
: Not flaggedMontana State University does not trigger the FAFSA's "lower earnings" notice. Its graduates' median earnings four years after completing were $68,714, above the $34,635 median for high school graduates aged 25 to 34 nationally. The Department uses the national figure for a college that mostly enrolls out-of-state students or operates in several states.
This is one figure for the whole institution, not for any program: earnings differ by credential and field. It covers graduates who completed in 2017-18 and 2018-19, received federal aid, and were working and not enrolled when earnings were measured in 2022 and 2023, in January 2026 dollars. The Department says the notice is informational only: it does not change aid eligibility. Source: U.S. Department of Education, FSA Data Center, March 2026 release. Which colleges are flagged, and what changed.
Student Outcomes
Graduation Rate
57%
Freshman Retention
79%
Source: IPEDS, charges for academic year 2024-25 (provisional release)
Final aid offers, scholarships, and net price vary per family. Always verify with the school's financial aid office.
Scholarships available
Decision support · Cost & value
Quick Decision Highlights
The strongest cost, aid, and value reasons to consider this school.
Scholarships available
Aid signal
Friendly application paths
Common AppTransfer-friendlyInternational
Open-access admissions
Most qualified applicants are admitted.
Affordability snapshot
In-state tuition
$8.5k
below avg
Out-of-state
$33.3k
Net price
$22.5k
Pell
16%
Median debt
$22.5k
below avg
Earnings (10y)
$53.3k
above avg
“Avg” comparisons reference national IPEDS / College Scorecard averages (~2022–23); figures are directional and vary by school and year.
Admissions
Acceptance rate
82%
SAT range
1065 - 1285
ACT range
21 - 27
Source: IPEDS, applicants for fall 2024 (provisional release)
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Location
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UniversitiesCommunity Colleges1 school
Institution does not report this
Bozeman, MT 59717
Academics
Studying online: a substantial share study entirely online
In Fall 2023, 1,009 of Montana State University's 16,960 students (6%) were enrolled entirely at a distance. A further 2,464 (15%) took at least one distance course alongside in-person study.
Distance-education figures count STUDENTS enrolled in Fall 2023, not programs on offer. "Exclusively at a distance" means a student took only distance courses that term. A college with few or no such students may still run online courses or an online degree, so a low figure is not evidence that online study is unavailable, and a high one is not a judgement of quality either way.
U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS Fall Enrollment (distance education status), Fall 2023
Fields of study
Montana State University reported conferring credentials in 89 different fields to the federal government. See which ones, and at what credential level.
Campus & Student Life
Area Safety Rating
Decision support
Similar schools
Worth a closer look if Montana State University caught your interest.
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Tuition $8,340 91% acceptSame state. Similar tuition. Similar acceptance.Montana State University Billings
Billings, MT
Tuition $7,280 Open admissionSame state. Similar tuition. Same school type.Montana State University-Northern
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Tuition $6,982 Open admissionSame state. Similar tuition. Same school type.The University of Montana-Western
Dillon, MT
Tuition $6,670 Open admissionSame state. Lower-cost option. Same school type.Salish Kootenai College
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Tuition $4,311 Open admissionSame state. Lower-cost option. Same school type.
Graduate earnings by program
What Montana State University graduates earn, by program
Montana State University's bachelor's graduates in Business earned a median $71,578 four years after graduating, 5% above the $68,407 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). One year after graduating, a later class (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21) earned a median $48,164; the two figures describe different graduates, not one class's growth. Graduates who borrowed took out a median $20,735 in federal loans at this college (about $220 a month on a 10-year plan), and had $23,000 in total federal debt including other colleges attended (same degree level).
52 programs at Montana State University have federal earnings or debt figures, largest graduating classes first. Earnings: graduates of 2017-18 and 2018-19, earnings measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars. Debt: graduates of 2018-19 and 2019-20. The national median is the same measure for every program in that field and credential in the U.S.
| Program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after | National median | Federal debt borrowed at this college (median) | Payment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business, Bachelor's | $71,578 | $68,407, +5% | $20,735 | $220/mo |
| Nursing (RN), Bachelor's | $76,146 | $88,910, −14% | $22,802 | $242/mo |
| Mechanical Engineering, Bachelor's | $88,653 | $92,135, −4% | $24,980 | $265/mo |
| Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, Bachelor's | $52,702 | $48,460, +9% | $23,646 | $251/mo |
| Psychology, Bachelor's | $53,623 | $50,706, +6% | $21,477 | $228/mo |
| Computer Science, Bachelor's | $111,728 | $107,009, +4% | $21,750 | $231/mo |
| Biology, Bachelor's | $50,711 | $57,214, −11% | $24,000 | $254/mo |
| Chemical Engineering, Bachelor's | $87,590 | $98,158, −11% | $25,000 | $265/mo |
| Teacher Education (by grade level), Bachelor's | $45,523 | $47,382, −4% | $24,250 | $257/mo |
| Civil Engineering, Bachelor's | $82,785 | $86,517, −4% | $20,913 | $222/mo |
| Liberal Arts and General Studies, Associate's | $47,396 | $44,125, +7% | $12,000 | $127/mo |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences, Bachelor's | $66,498 | $66,697, about the same | $23,250 | $246/mo |
What the job pays locally
- Nursing (RN) graduates train as registered nurses: median $85,280 in Montana.
- Mechanical Engineering graduates train as mechanical engineers: median $94,190 in Montana.
- Chemical Engineering graduates train as chemical engineers: median $127,490 in Montana.
- Civil Engineering graduates train as civil engineers: median $93,070 in Montana.
- Electrical Engineering graduates train as electrical engineers: median $87,360 in Montana.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025: everyone working in the job, every experience level, not only recent graduates.
Show 40 more programs
| Program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after | National median | Federal debt borrowed at this college (median) | Payment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology, Bachelor's | $60,221 | $62,582, −4% | $20,399 | $216/mo |
| Film and Photography, Bachelor's | $45,300 | $43,765, +4% | $22,125 | $235/mo |
| Sociology, Bachelor's | $48,273 | $52,657, −8% | $21,987 | $233/mo |
| Fine and Studio Arts, Bachelor's | $46,741 | $41,367, +13% | $25,125 | $266/mo |
| English, Bachelor's | $47,757 | $48,590, about the same | $20,775 | $220/mo |
| Liberal Arts and General Studies, Bachelor's | $45,975 | $53,072, −13% | $23,785 | $252/mo |
| Teacher Education (by subject), Master's | $64,655 | $63,707, about the same | $18,366 | $209/mo |
| Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians, Bachelor's | $80,089 | $82,073, about the same | $28,000 | $297/mo |
| Teacher Education (by subject), Bachelor's | $46,657 | $51,389, −9% | $22,875 | $243/mo |
| Animal Sciences, Bachelor's | $46,313 | $49,634, −7% | $23,149 | $245/mo |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences, Bachelor's | $49,241 | $60,190, −18% | $20,064 | $213/mo |
| Architectural Sciences and Technology, Bachelor's | $64,133 | $70,074, −8% | $25,061 | $266/mo |
| Political Science, Bachelor's | $51,285 | $63,293, −19% | $18,050 | $191/mo |
| Electrical Engineering, Bachelor's | $98,331 | $100,647, about the same | $21,747 | $231/mo |
| Construction Engineering Technology/Technician, Bachelor's | $89,002 | $93,843, −5% | $25,185 | $267/mo |
| History, Bachelor's | $52,187 | $50,680, +3% | $19,375 | $205/mo |
| Natural Resources and Conservation, Bachelor's | $48,646 | $55,012, −12% | $27,752 | $294/mo |
| Architectural Sciences and Technology, Master's | $87,162 | $77,466, +13% | $21,952 | $250/mo |
| Welding and Machining, Undergraduate certificate | $54,930 | $48,702, +13% | — | — |
| Mathematics, Bachelor's | $65,731 | $69,562, −6% | $24,000 | $254/mo |
| Industrial Engineering, Bachelor's | $88,087 | $98,442, −11% | $26,000 | $276/mo |
| Mathematics, Master's | $62,651 | $72,654, −14% | — | — |
| Agricultural Business and Management, Bachelor's | $79,621 | $66,647, +19% | $19,125 | $203/mo |
| Curriculum and Instruction, Master's | $62,976 | $63,399, about the same | — | — |
| Accounting, Master's | $92,689 | $95,833, −3% | $16,345 | $186/mo |
| Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy, Master's | $83,329 | $72,563, +15% | — | — |
| Design and Applied Arts, Associate's | $36,357 | $38,127, −5% | $18,006 | $191/mo |
| Economics, Bachelor's | $62,511 | $82,686, −24% | $25,500 | $270/mo |
| Educational Administration, Master's | $70,130 | $71,685, about the same | — | — |
| Air Transportation, Associate's | $74,026 | $75,495, about the same | — | — |
| Plant Sciences, Bachelor's | $45,392 | $56,567, −20% | $20,500 | $217/mo |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychology, Master's | $51,264 | $65,184, −21% | — | — |
| Computer Engineering, Bachelor's | $99,411 | $109,015, −9% | $27,000 | $286/mo |
| Music, Bachelor's | $39,920 | $42,892, −7% | — | — |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services, Bachelor's | $55,352 | $49,984, +11% | $27,000 | $286/mo |
| Sustainability Studies, Bachelor's | $41,979 | $57,887, −27% | — | — |
| Medical Assisting and Allied Health, Undergraduate certificate | $45,679 | $34,272, +33% | — | — |
| Architecture, Master's | $71,784 | $74,139, −3% | — | — |
| Environmental Design, Bachelor's | $57,668 | $57,461, about the same | — | — |
| Nursing (RN), Doctoral | $126,894 | $138,131, −8% | $55,433 | $631/mo |
Median earnings of graduates who received federal student aid, worked, and were not enrolled in school; debt is the median federal loans borrowed at this college by graduates who borrowed (Direct Subsidized, Unsubsidized and Grad PLUS; not Parent PLUS, private loans or interest). Programs with too few graduates are suppressed by the Department of Education. Monthly payment assumes a standard 10-year plan. Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, field-of-study data, 10 June 2026. Download every program (CSV). Same degree, different paycheck: what the national data show. Over the Cap: graduate programs where typical debt exceeds the federal loan limits in force since July 2026. Nursing graduates vs RN pay by state: the early-career benchmark.
Frequently asked questions
About Montana State University
Built from CampusPin profile data. Always verify final admissions, cost, financial aid, and program details with the institution before applying. See our data methodology and data dictionary.
- Where is Montana State University located?
- Montana State University is located in Bozeman, MT, in the United States.
- What type of institution is Montana State University?
- Montana State University is a public university based in MT. CampusPin classifies institutions as either four-year universities or two-year community colleges, with control labeled public or private.
- What is the acceptance rate at Montana State University?
- The most recently reported acceptance rate at Montana State University is approximately 82% (IPEDS, applicants for fall 2024). Acceptance rate signals selectivity but does not predict any individual applicant's outcome and is not a measure of school quality. CampusPin reports the federally-published value; verify the current cycle with the institution.
- What is the tuition at Montana State University?
- Montana State University's published in-state tuition is approximately $8,460 per year (IPEDS, charges for academic year 2024-25). This is the published price before financial aid; the net price most students actually pay is typically lower. Verify the current academic-year tuition with the institution before applying.
- How many students attend Montana State University?
- Montana State University reports total enrollment of approximately 17,135 students (undergraduate plus graduate) (IPEDS, fall 2024 enrollment). Total enrollment is a useful sizing signal, see the institutional profile for additional breakdowns when available.
- How much does Montana State University actually cost after financial aid?
- The average net price at Montana State University is approximately $22,499 per year. Net price is the total cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships that never have to be repaid, so it is what students actually paid rather than the published sticker price. What families pay varies with income: students from families earning under $30,000 paid about $17,797 on average, and those from families earning $110,000 or more about $25,905. These are averages for students who received federal aid in a prior cohort, not a quote for any individual family. Run the institution's own Net Price Calculator for a figure specific to you.
- What is the graduation rate at Montana State University?
- Montana State University reports a graduation rate of approximately 57% (IPEDS, Graduation Rates 2024 collection: 4-year cohort 2018, 2-year cohort 2021). This measures the share of a prior entering cohort who completed their degree within the federal tracking window. It reflects who enrolls as much as what the institution does, so it is not on its own a measure of teaching quality, and it is not comparable across institutions serving very different students.
- How much student debt do graduates of Montana State University have?
- Students who borrowed at Montana State University left with a median of approximately $22,500 in federal loans, and about 31% of students took federal loans at all. Both numbers matter: a median describes only the students who borrowed, so it reads very differently at a school where most students borrow than at one where few do. Federal loans only, so private and parent borrowing are not included.
- How much do graduates of Montana State University earn?
- Median earnings approximately ten years after entry are $53,263 for students who received federal financial aid at Montana State University. This reflects the mix of programs the institution offers and the students who enroll, not the effect of attending, and it covers aid recipients rather than all graduates.
- How should I verify final details about Montana State University?
- CampusPin compiles institutional data from public datasets like IPEDS and the College Scorecard, plus institutional websites and editorial review. Before applying, paying a deposit, or making a final decision, confirm admissions requirements, current tuition, financial aid, deadlines, and program details directly with Montana State University.
- How much do Business graduates from Montana State University earn?
- Montana State University's bachelor's graduates in Business earned a median $71,578 four years after graduating, 5% above the $68,407 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). One year after graduating, a later class (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21) earned a median $48,164; the two figures describe different graduates, not one class's growth. Graduates who borrowed took out a median $20,735 in federal loans at this college (about $220 a month on a 10-year plan), and had $23,000 in total federal debt including other colleges attended (same degree level).
- How much do Nursing (RN) graduates from Montana State University earn?
- Montana State University's bachelor's graduates in Nursing (RN) earned a median $76,146 four years after graduating, 14% below the $88,910 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). One year after graduating, a later class (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21) earned a median $71,915; the two figures describe different graduates, not one class's growth. Graduates who borrowed took out a median $22,802 in federal loans at this college (about $242 a month on a 10-year plan), and had $28,000 in total federal debt including other colleges attended (same degree level). For context, registered nurses in Montana are paid a median $85,280 a year across all experience levels (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025), a figure for everyone in the job, not only recent graduates.
- Which programs at Montana State University have the highest graduate earnings?
- Among the 29 programs at Montana State University with a federal earnings figure from at least 30 graduates, the highest medians four years after graduating were Nursing (RN), doctoral ($126,894); Computer Science, bachelor's ($111,728); and Electrical Engineering, bachelor's ($98,331) (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). That order is one federal measure, not a ranking of program quality: earnings reflect the field and where graduates go to work as well as the program.
- Does Montana State University get a "lower earnings" warning on the FAFSA?
- No. In the Department of Education's March 2026 data, which the FAFSA uses now, Montana State University's graduates' median earnings four years after completing were $68,714, above the $34,635 median for high school graduates aged 25 to 34 nationally, so first-year students who list it do not see the lower-earnings notice. The figure describes the whole institution, not any one program.
Fields this college awarded credentials in
The 14 largest of 89 fields Montana State University reported, by credentials conferred in 2024-25, using the federal classification of each field. The level is the highest credential actually awarded, which is not always the one a field is best known for.
| Field | Awarded | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Business/Commerce, General | 462 | Bachelor's |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 280 | Graduate (34 graduate · 246 bachelor's) |
| Mechanical Engineering | 172 | Graduate (19 graduate · 153 bachelor's) |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 168 | Graduate (116 graduate · 52 bachelor's) |
| Psychology, General | 165 | Bachelor's |
| Biology, General | 131 | Graduate (4 graduate · 127 bachelor's) |
| Computer Science | 128 | Graduate (16 graduate · 112 bachelor's) |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 123 | Graduate (14 graduate · 109 bachelor's) |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 117 | Graduate (5 graduate · 50 bachelor's · 62 associate) |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | 112 | Graduate (43 graduate · 69 bachelor's) |
| Architectural Sciences and Technology | 97 | Graduate (32 graduate · 65 bachelor's) |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | 81 | Graduate (8 graduate · 73 bachelor's) |
| Sociology | 78 | Bachelor's |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | 74 | Graduate (19 graduate · 55 bachelor's) |
Fields are as classified in the federal IPEDS completions collection, which records credentials already conferred. A field listed here was awarded in the reporting year; it does not confirm the program is currently admitting students, and a field CampusPin has no guide for is still shown under its official federal title. Confirm current offerings with the institution.
Explore more
Compare colleges side by side. All colleges in Montana. Montana college costs by family income. Student debt at Montana colleges. Computer science in Montana. Business in Montana. Nursing in Montana. Psychology in Montana. Engineering major guide.
Always verify final admissions, cost, financial aid, and program details with Montana State University before applying.
Data sources & methodology
Reporting period: 2024. Last verified: June 10, 2026.
Facts on this profile of Montana State University are compiled from federal datasets and the institution's own published information.
Sources used across this page
Not every source informs every figure. Each data point draws on the source appropriate to it see the relevant section and the data dictionary for field-level provenance.
IPEDS / NCES College Navigator
Federal enrollment, admissions, tuition, retention, and program data. Released annually with a 1–2 year lag.
U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard
Net price by income band, post-graduation earnings, and federal aid context.
Clery Act campus security reports
Annual campus security and fire-safety disclosures required of U.S. institutions.
Institutional websites
Each school's official admissions, registrar, and financial-aid pages are the authoritative source for current details.
Where a value is unavailable it is shown as unavailable, never as 0, free, or a negative judgment. Always confirm final details with the institution before applying.
Suggested citation
CampusPin. (2024). Montana State University, college profile. Retrieved from https://campuspin.com/schools/montana-state-university
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