Montana State University (MSU)
Public four-year university in Bozeman, MT that costs an average of $23,106 a year after financial aid, admits 82% of applicants and graduates 59% of full-time students.
Net price / year
$23,106
Acceptance rate
82%
Graduation rate
59%
Earnings after 10 yrs
$59,536
PublicSmall city14,451 undergraduates
Cost of MSU
| Total cost of attendance (per year) | $26,943 |
|---|---|
| Tuition and fees, in-state | $8,948 |
| Tuition and fees, out-of-state | $33,783 |
| Housing and food (on campus) | $14,580 |
| Books and supplies | $1,450 |
| Average net price after aid | $23,106 |
Net price by family income
| Family income | Average net price / year |
|---|---|
| $0–30,000 | $19,322 |
| $30,001–48,000 | $19,557 |
| $48,001–75,000 | $21,133 |
| $75,001–110,000 | $24,666 |
| $110,001+ | $26,850 |
Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships (in-state students). Get your own estimate with MSU's net price calculator ↗.
Admissions
| Acceptance rate | 82% |
|---|---|
| Average SAT | 1,183 |
| SAT reading (25th–75th percentile) | 540–645 |
| SAT math (25th–75th percentile) | 525–640 |
| ACT composite (25th–75th percentile) | 21–27 |
| Test scores | Considered but not required |
Graduation, earnings and debt
| Graduation rate | 59% |
|---|---|
| First-year retention | 79% |
| Median earnings 6 years after enrolling | $50,580 |
| Median earnings 10 years after enrolling | $59,536 |
| Rank in Montana (earnings) | 2nd of 9 similar colleges |
| Median debt of graduates | $19,500 |
| Typical monthly loan payment | $222 (10-year plan) |
| Students with Pell grants | 19% |
| Students with federal loans | 31% |
Majors and programs at MSU
Earnings one year after graduation and median debt, by program. Click a program for details and comparisons.
Bachelor's degree programs (61)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 64 | $83,381 | $20,375 |
| Construction Engineering Technology/Technician | 80 | $82,167 | $23,500 |
| Computer Engineering | 31 | $75,723 | — |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 658 | $75,018 | $19,100 |
| Computer Science | 205 | $73,188 | $22,750 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 314 | $73,112 | $17,000 |
| Civil Engineering | 131 | $72,660 | $21,500 |
| Chemical Engineering | 128 | $70,775 | $19,375 |
| Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians | 76 | $63,488 | $19,000 |
| Business/Commerce | 657 | $52,097 | $20,000 |
| Economics | 40 | $50,311 | — |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | 70 | $46,665 | $12,625 |
| Mathematics | 51 | $46,514 | $19,500 |
| Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management | 21 | $46,321 | — |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | 88 | $46,293 | $24,050 |
| Chemistry | 68 | $44,721 | $20,000 |
| Architectural Sciences and Technology | 99 | $44,304 | $23,000 |
| Political Science and Government | 76 | $43,087 | $18,750 |
| Sociology | 107 | $42,944 | $18,030 |
| Music | 27 | $42,292 | — |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | 123 | $41,779 | $21,625 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 80 | $41,585 | $22,250 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 109 | $40,481 | $22,341 |
| Agricultural Business and Management | 44 | $39,686 | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 125 | $38,732 | $22,850 |
| Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences | 274 | $37,431 | $20,000 |
| Biology | 210 | $36,042 | $20,000 |
| English Language and Literature | 91 | $35,826 | $26,500 |
| Psychology | 293 | $34,100 | $20,215 |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | 120 | $33,987 | $15,750 |
| Animal Sciences | 100 | $33,494 | $25,000 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | 127 | $33,099 | $22,410 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 99 | $31,578 | $17,650 |
| History | 62 | $30,853 | $18,875 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | — | $30,125 | — |
| Sustainability Studies | 29 | $27,215 | — |
| Agriculture/Veterinary Preparatory Programs | — | — | — |
| Anthropology | 25 | — | — |
| Astronomy and Astrophysics | 3 | — | — |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | 62 | — | $14,125 |
| Biotechnology | 18 | — | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | — | — | — |
| Data Science | — | — | — |
| Design and Applied Arts | — | — | — |
| East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 1 | — | — |
| Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering | 51 | — | — |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 25 | — | — |
| Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services | 30 | — | — |
| Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 8 | — | — |
| Gerontology | — | — | — |
| Health/Medical Preparatory Programs | — | — | — |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | 26 | — | — |
| Industrial Engineering | 44 | — | — |
| Landscape Architecture | — | — | — |
| Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies | 5 | — | — |
| Philosophy | 17 | — | — |
| Physics | 15 | — | — |
| Plant Sciences | 50 | — | $21,892 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 28 | — | — |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 7 | — | — |
| Statistics | 15 | — | — |
Certificate programs (17)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Precision Metal Working | 73 | $43,629 | — |
| Accounting and Related Services | 17 | — | — |
| Agriculture/Veterinary Preparatory Programs | — | — | — |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | 16 | — | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 39 | — | — |
| Business/Commerce | — | — | — |
| Carpenters | 21 | — | — |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | 16 | — | — |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | — | — | — |
| Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | 1 | — | — |
| Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians | — | — | — |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | — | — | — |
| Gerontology | — | — | — |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | 4 | — | — |
| Health/Medical Preparatory Programs | — | — | — |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) | 5 | — | — |
| Homeland Security | — | — | — |
Associate's degree programs (9)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design and Applied Arts | 44 | $41,009 | $14,500 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 135 | $39,211 | $14,250 |
| Air Transportation | 55 | $35,436 | $11,500 |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | 15 | — | — |
| Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians | 18 | — | — |
| Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians | 5 | — | — |
| Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | 6 | — | — |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) | 8 | — | — |
| Security Science and Technology | 13 | — | — |
Master's degree programs (53)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 56 | $80,018 | — |
| Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy | 18 | $72,183 | — |
| Accounting and Related Services | 44 | $65,194 | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 100 | $60,619 | — |
| Architectural Sciences and Technology | 42 | $60,516 | — |
| Curriculum and Instruction | 45 | $56,655 | — |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | 36 | $52,483 | $41,000 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 21 | $40,294 | — |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | 5 | — | — |
| Biology | 6 | — | — |
| Botany/Plant Biology | 3 | — | — |
| Chemical Engineering | 12 | — | — |
| Chemistry | 3 | — | — |
| Civil Engineering | 26 | — | — |
| Computer Science | 18 | — | — |
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services | 56 | — | $28,525 |
| Economics | 15 | — | — |
| Education | — | — | — |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 45 | — | — |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 14 | — | — |
| Engineering | 5 | — | — |
| English Language and Literature | 12 | — | — |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | 28 | — | — |
| Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering | 8 | — | — |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | 6 | — | — |
| Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences | 30 | — | — |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | 18 | — | — |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 12 | — | — |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 14 | — | — |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | 17 | — | — |
| Health/Medical Preparatory Programs | 16 | — | — |
| History | 11 | — | — |
| Homeland Security | — | — | — |
| Industrial Engineering | 13 | — | — |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 1 | — | — |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | 13 | — | — |
| Materials Sciences | 13 | — | — |
| Mechanical Engineering | 23 | — | — |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | — | — | — |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | 12 | — | — |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | 49 | — | — |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | — | — | — |
| Physics | 30 | — | — |
| Plant Sciences | 26 | — | — |
| Psychology | 8 | — | — |
| Public Administration | 21 | — | — |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 14 | — | — |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 23 | — | — |
| Statistics | 9 | — | — |
| Student Counseling and Personnel Services | 13 | — | — |
| Sustainability Studies | 2 | — | — |
| Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management | 4 | — | — |
| Zoology/Animal Biology | 3 | — | — |
Doctoral degree programs (29)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | — | $115,961 | $48,000 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | 11 | — | — |
| Biology | — | — | — |
| Chemical Engineering | 6 | — | — |
| Chemistry | 10 | — | — |
| Civil Engineering | — | — | — |
| Computer Science | 10 | — | — |
| Curriculum and Instruction | 1 | — | — |
| Education | 8 | — | — |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 8 | — | — |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 4 | — | — |
| Engineering | 5 | — | — |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | 7 | — | — |
| History | 4 | — | — |
| Industrial Engineering | 1 | — | — |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 6 | — | — |
| Materials Sciences | 7 | — | — |
| Mathematics | 9 | — | — |
| Mechanical Engineering | 8 | — | — |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | 9 | — | — |
| Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies | 4 | — | — |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | 12 | — | — |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | 1 | — | — |
| Physics | 9 | — | — |
| Plant Sciences | 7 | — | — |
| Psychology | 7 | — | — |
| Public Health | 1 | — | — |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 2 | — | — |
| Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management | — | — | — |
Professional degree programs (1)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 75 | — | — |
Graduate certificate programs (20)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biology | 11 | — | — |
| Chemistry | 3 | — | — |
| Computer and Information Sciences | 2 | — | — |
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services | — | — | — |
| Economics | — | — | — |
| Education | 5 | — | — |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 10 | — | — |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | 15 | — | — |
| Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences | — | — | — |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | 5 | — | — |
| Health-Related Knowledge and Skills | — | — | — |
| Mathematics and Statistics, Other | — | — | — |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | 27 | — | — |
| Physics | 9 | — | — |
| Plant Sciences | — | — | — |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 15 | — | — |
| Statistics | 2 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 1 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 77 | — | — |
| Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language | — | — | — |
Similar colleges in Montana
| College | City | Net price / yr | Acceptance | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The University of Montana | Missoula | $21,302 | 96% | $48,823 |
| Montana State University Billings | Billings | $15,630 | — | $48,199 |
| Montana Technological University | Butte | $17,205 | 91% | $59,491 |
| The University of Montana-Western | Dillon | $19,481 | 100% | $47,501 |
| Carroll College | Helena | $26,295 | 71% | $66,371 |
| Rocky Mountain College | Billings | $21,679 | 70% | $54,124 |
| Montana State University-Northern | Havre | $14,686 | — | $52,907 |
| University of Providence | Great Falls | $21,492 | 50% | $51,419 |
About MSU
| Type | Public four-year university |
|---|---|
| Location | Bozeman, MT |
| Setting | Small city |
| Undergraduates | 14,451 |
| Student-to-faculty ratio | 18 to 1 |
| Accreditor | Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities |
| Website | montana.edu ↗ |
Frequently asked questions
What is MSU's acceptance rate?
Montana State University admits 82% of applicants. Admitted students average 1,183 on the SAT.
How much does MSU cost per year?
The full cost of attendance is $26,943 a year (tuition and fees: $8,948 in-state, $33,783 out-of-state). After grants and scholarships the average student pays $23,106 a year, and students from families earning under $30,000 pay about $19,322.
How much do MSU graduates earn?
Former students earn a median of $59,536 a year, 10 years after first enrolling — 2nd of 9 similar colleges in Montana. The best-paid bachelor's program is electrical, electronics, and communications engineering ($83,381 a year after graduation).
What is MSU's graduation rate?
59% of full-time students graduate within six years, and 79% of first-year students return for a second year.