Montana State University: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes

Montana State University is a public institution located in Bozeman, Montana. For the most recent reporting cycle, Montana State University admits the majority of qualified applicants, with an overall admission rate of 82%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT of 1170 and an ACT composite around 24. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $22,499 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.

What GPA does my child need for Montana State University?

60% of enrolled students at Montana State University had a high school GPA of 3.50 or above, and the average was 3.51, according to its 2024-2025 Common Data Set.

What does Montana State University weight in admissions?

Montana State University reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2024-2025). What the weights mean

SAT and ACT scores Montana State University typically admits

The middle-50 SAT Math range is 525–640, with an EBRW midpoint near 595. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 21–27. Many applicants here submit scores; even slightly below the average can be competitive when combined with a strong GPA and curriculum.

Where admitted students ranked in their high school class

Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort — often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.

How much does Montana State University actually cost?

Published tuition is $8,460 for in-state students and $33,287 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $14,000 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $22,499 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 16% of students receive Pell Grants.

Application deadlines and early decision data for Montana State University

Will my child graduate from Montana State University?

These predict outcomes at Montana State University better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates

Most popular majors at Montana State University

The most popular undergraduate programs at Montana State University, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Business/Commerce, General, Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing and Mechanical Engineering. Across all programs, Montana State University confers roughly 1,257 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Business/Commerce, General program report a median income of about $68,260 five years after entering college. What these figures mean

Is Montana State University safe? Campus crime & safety

In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Montana State University disclosed 27 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 1.9 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 10 violent offenses and 11 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts

What is campus life like at Montana State University?

About 31% of undergraduates at Montana State University live in campus housing, so a meaningful share of students commute or live off campus. In Greek life, 6% of men join a fraternity and 10% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.

Other colleges in Montana parents ask about

• University of Montana
  96% acceptance

Colleges that admit at a similar rate

• Towson University
  82% acceptance · Maryland
• Samford University
  82% acceptance · Alabama
• Gonzaga University
  82% acceptance · Washington
• Grand Valley State University
  83% acceptance · Michigan
• Kansas State University
  82% acceptance · Kansas
• University of Iowa
  84% acceptance · Iowa
• Marquette University
  81% acceptance · Wisconsin

Common questions parents ask about Montana State University