Montana State University

Bozeman, MT · Public · offers Graduate degrees

Small city

82%Acceptance rate
$22,499Average net price / year
57%Graduation rate
$53,263Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$22,500Median debt at graduation
14,451Undergraduates

Cost

In-state tuition & fees
$8,460
Out-of-state tuition
$33,287
Total cost of attendance
$25,905
Room & board
$14,000
Books & supplies
$1,450
Average net price
$22,499

Net price by family income

$0–30k
$17,797
$30–48k
$18,570
$48–75k
$21,977
$75–110k
$24,732
$110k+
$25,905

Official net price calculator

Admissions

Acceptance rate
82.1%
Average SAT
1183
SAT reading (25–75%)
540–645
SAT math (25–75%)
525–640
ACT composite (25–75%)
21–27

Outcomes

Graduation rate
57%
First-year retention
79%
Median earnings (6 yrs)
$44,757
Median earnings (10 yrs)
$53,263
Median debt (graduates)
$22,500
3-year loan default rate
0.0%
Students with Pell grants
16%
Students with federal loans
31%

Programs: what graduates earn

54 of 183 programs have published earnings or debt data. Earnings are median salaries of graduates one year after completing the program (or the latest available year).

Undergraduate certificate

ProgramGraduatesEarningsMedian debt
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services12$45,679—
Precision Metal Working32$54,930—

Associate's degree

ProgramGraduatesEarningsMedian debt
Design and Applied Arts20$36,931$18,006
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities63$33,040$12,000
Air Transportation23$74,026—

Bachelor's degree

ProgramGraduatesEarningsMedian debt
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician38$77,139$25,185
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering32$77,060$21,747
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing284$71,915$22,802
Mechanical Engineering171$68,469$24,980
Civil Engineering73$67,373$20,913
Computer Engineering14$67,015$27,000
Computer Science102$66,918$21,750
Industrial Engineering25$64,082$26,000
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians39$62,605$28,000
Chemical Engineering70$62,206$25,000
Agricultural Business and Management29$50,876$19,125
Business/Commerce, General291$48,164$20,735
Economics22$47,098$25,500
Music10$38,807—
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas43$38,576$22,875
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods76$37,501$24,250
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology56$37,181$20,399
Natural Resources Conservation and Research34$36,745$27,752
Sociology42$36,595$21,987
Political Science and Government36$35,476$18,050
Mathematics30$34,475$24,000
English Language and Literature, General56$33,483$20,775
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services—$33,415$27,000
Plant Sciences16$33,311$20,500
Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences60$32,538$23,250
Fine and Studio Arts47$32,265$25,125
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General145$31,910$23,646
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities48$30,380$23,785
Animal Sciences49$30,220$23,149
History35$29,692$19,375
Film/Video and Photographic Arts65$29,608$22,125
Biology, General100$29,435$24,000
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences39$29,030$20,064
Psychology, General140$28,928$21,477
Sustainability Studies19$22,296—
Anthropology14$25,305—
Architectural Sciences and Technology43$64,133$25,061
Environmental Design—$55,431—

Master's degree

Doctoral degree

ProgramGraduatesEarningsMedian debt
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing—$101,393$55,433

Students

Undergraduates
14,451
Graduate students
2,526
Part-time
11%
Women / men
47% / 54%
White
83%
Hispanic
7%
Black
1%
Asian
1%
International
1%

Faculty & school

Student–faculty ratio
18:1
Avg faculty salary
$87,858 / year
Full-time faculty
58%
Accreditor
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
Website
www.montana.edu
Also known as
MSU

Most popular fields

  • Agriculture – 3% of degrees
  • Computer & Information Sciences – 4% of degrees
  • Education – 3% of degrees
  • Engineering – 13% of degrees
  • Liberal Arts & General Studies – 4% of degrees
  • Biological Sciences – 8% of degrees

Frequently asked questions

What is the acceptance rate at Montana State University?

82.1% of applicants were admitted, and admitted students averaged 1183 on the SAT.

How much does Montana State University cost?

The average net price after grants is $22,499 per year; in-state tuition and fees are $8,460 and the full cost of attendance is $25,905.

How much do Montana State University graduates earn?

Students who enrolled earn a median of $53,263 ten years later. See the program table above for salaries by major.

What is the graduation rate?

57% of first-time, full-time students graduate within 150% of normal time.

Other colleges in Bozeman

CollegeNet priceAcceptanceGraduationEarnings
Academy of Cosmetology Inc
Bozeman, MT · Private for-profit · 39 students
$16,663—67%—

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, June 2026 release.