Montana State University
Bozeman, Montana · Public · 14,451 undergraduates · montana.edu
Test policy (fall 2027)
Test optional
Sending scores is your choice
Admit rate
99%
of 19,892 applicants
SAT (middle 50%)
1070 to 1290
of enrolled freshmen
Annual cost (2027-28)
$29,930Est.Estimate
$55,280 out of state
Your chances and merit aid at Montana State University
See where you stand for admission, how much merit aid you could get, and what you'd pay after it.
We started you at a typical enrolled freshman here. Move the sliders to match you.
Your admission chances
99% of applicants admitted
Target
Your SAT is inside the range where the middle half of enrolled freshmen scored, and your GPA is in the middle half of freshmen's.
Estimated merit aid
a year
Your cost after merit aid
$55,280
a year in 2027-28, from a $55,280 sticker price (out of state)
What to do with your 1200
Send your score
About 63% of freshmen here didn't send a score. We estimate their typical SAT at about 990, and yours is above it.
Reach, target and likely are a rough guide from your test score and how selective the college is. Admissions also weigh your courses, grades, essays and activities. Merit aid figures are estimates, before any need-based aid.
Admissions
Test policy for fall 2027
Test optional
You choose whether to send an SAT or ACT score. If you send one, it's considered.
Source: Admission Requirements for Freshman Students - Undergraduate Admissions | Montana State University · Checked October 17, 2026
Who gets in
99%
of applicants were admitted: 19,769 of 19,892 for fall 2025.
Early Action
Not binding. Apply by rolling, hear by rolling.
Test scores of enrolled freshmen (fall 2025)
The shaded part shows the middle half of enrolled freshmen who sent scores: a quarter scored below it and a quarter above. 14% of them sent SAT scores and 29% sent ACT scores.
SAT total 1070 to 1290
Reading and Writing 540 to 660
Math 520 to 640
ACT composite 21 to 27
How enrolled freshmen scored on the SAT
- 1400 to 16006.7%
- 1200 to 139946%
- 1000 to 119935%
- 800 to 99912%
- 600 to 7990.8%
- 400 to 5990%
Source: Common Data Set 2025-26
High school GPA of enrolled freshmen
Average GPA: 3.51
- 4.022%
- 3.75 to 3.9921%
- 3.50 to 3.7418%
- 3.25 to 3.4912%
- 3.00 to 3.2410%
- 2.50 to 2.9912%
- Below 2.505%
Cost and financial aid
The sticker price is what a year costs before any aid. Most students pay less after grants and scholarships.
Sticker price for 2027-28Estimate
$29,930
a year, in state
$55,280
a year, out of state (tuition $32,280)
- Tuition (in state)$6,930
- Fees$2,280
- Food and housing$15,000
- Books and supplies$1,490
- Transportation and other$4,230
Montana State University published $29,088 in state for 2026-27. Its 2027-28 prices aren't out yet.
Source: Common Data Set 2025-26
What families actually pay
What a year cost on average after grants and scholarships, for freshmen who got federal aid in 2023-24 (in-state students), by family income.
- $0 to $30,000$19,322
- $30,001 to $48,000$19,557
- $48,001 to $75,000$21,133
- $75,001 to $110,000$24,666
- Over $110,000$26,850
Financial aid
65%
of a student's financial need is covered, on average
$8,115
average need-based grant to freshmen, money you don't repay
20%
of freshmen got merit aid without financial need, $2,857 on average
- FAFSA
- Required for need-based aid. It's the free federal aid form.
- CSS Profile
- Not required. Only the FAFSA is needed.
Source: Common Data Set 2025-26
Merit scholarships
Awards for grades and scores, on top of need-based aid. You don't repay them.
Montana State University National Merit Scholar Program
$3,000 a year
National Merit · Out-of-state students
Deadline: Name this college your first choice with NMSC by NMSC deadline.
DetailsMSU College-sponsored Merit Scholarship (NMSC)
$750 to $2,000 a year
National Merit
Deadline: Name this college your first choice with NMSC.
DetailsMontana State University National Merit award ($750/yr)
$750 a year
National Merit
Deadline: List MSU as first choice by March 1.
DetailsMUS Honor Scholarship for National Merit Scholarship Semi-Finalists
National Merit · In-state students
Details
Montana programs for residents
Montana University System (MUS) Honor Scholarship
State program · In-state students
Tuition waiver at home campus (MUS states average value ~$5,000/yr at a 4-year campus; fees not covered)
- 3.40+ GPA, Single tier (competitive ranking); Montana accredited HS 3+ yrs incl. senior year; MUS rigorous core or IB diploma; U.S. citizen; accepted to eligible campus; take ACT/SAT by February of senior year; apply Dec 1-Mar 15, an application, essay or interview
National Merit Semi-Finalist Scholarship (MUS tuition waiver)
State program · In-state students
Tuition waiver
- National Merit Semifinalist; Selected as National Merit Semifinalist (PSAT/NMSQT-based); enter an MUS campus within 9 months of HS graduation
Compare awards across colleges with the merit aid calculator.
AP credit
AP exams that earn credit can replace college courses, so you pay for fewer of them and may graduate sooner.
AP exams that earn credit
38 of 38
Earn credit with a score of 3
35 exams
A 3-credit course is worth
about $690Est.Estimate
at 2027-28 tuition for in-state students
Credit for each AP exam
| Exam | Score needed | Credits | Counts as |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-D Art and Design | 3 | 6 | ELEC 100IA |
| 3-D Art and Design | 3 | 6 | ELEC 100IA |
| Art History | 3 | 6 | ARTH 200IA, ARTH 201IA |
| Biology | 3 | 8 | BIOB 160, BIOB 170IN |
| Calculus AB | 3 | 4 | M 171Q |
| Calculus BC | 3 | 8 | M 171Q, M172Q |
| Chemistry | 3 | 4 | CHMY 121IN, CHMY 122IN |
| Chemistry | 4 | 4 | CHMY 121IN & 122IN OR CHMY 141 & 142 |
| Chemistry | 5 | 8 | CHMY 141, CHMY 142, CHMY 143, CHMY 144 |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 3 | 6 | CHIN 101, CHIN 102D |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 4 | 12 | CHIN 101, CHIN 102D, CHIN 201D |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 5 | 15 | CHIN 101, CHIN 102D, CHIN 201D, CHIN 202D |
| Comparative Government and Politics | 3 | 3 | ELEC 100D OR ELEC 100IS |
| Computer Science A | 3 | 4 | CSCI 127 |
| Computer Science Principles | 3 | 3 | CSCI 107 |
| Drawing | 3 | 6 | ELEC 100IA |
| English Language and Composition | 4 | 3 | WRIT 101W |
| English Literature and Composition | 3 | 3 | LIT 110IH |
| Environmental Science | 3 | 4 | BIOE 103CS |
| European History | 3 | 8 | HSTR 101I, HSTR 102IH |
| French Language and Culture | 3 | 6 | FRCH 101, 102D, |
| French Language and Culture | 4 | 9 | FRCH 101, 102D, 201D |
| French Language and Culture | 5 | 12 | FRCH 101, 102D, 201D, 202D |
| German Language and Culture | 3 | 6 | GRMN 101, 102D |
| German Language and Culture | 4 | 9 | GRMN 101, 102D, 201D |
| German Language and Culture | 5 | 12 | GRMN 101, 102D, 201D, 202D |
| Human Geography | 3 | 3 | GPHY 121D |
| Italian Language and Culture | 3 | 6 | ELEC 100D |
| Italian Language and Culture | 4 | 9 | ELEC 100D |
| Italian Language and Culture | 5 | 12 | ELEC 100D |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 3 | 6 | JPNS 101, 102D |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 4 | 9 | JPNS 101, 102D, 201D |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 5 | 13 | JPNS 101, 102D, 201D, 202D |
| Latin | 3 | 3 | ELEC 100IH |
| Macroeconomics | 3 | 3 | ECNS 202 |
| Microeconomics | 3 | 3 | ECNS 101IS |
| Music Aural Subscore | 4 | 1 | MUSI 140 |
| Music Non-Aural Subscore | 4 | 3 | MUSI 105 |
| Physics 1 | 3 | 4 | PHSX205 |
| Physics 2 | 3 | 4 | PHSX 207 |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 3 | 4 | PHSX 222 |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 3 | 4 | PHSX 220 |
| Pre-Calculus | 3 | 4 | M 151Q |
| Psychology | 3 | 3 | PSYX 100IS |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 3 | 6 | SPNS 101, 102D |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 4 | 9 | SPNS 101, 102D, 201D |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 5 | 12 | SPNS 101, 102D, 201D, 202D |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 3 | 3 | ELEC 300 |
| Statistics | 3 | 3 | STAT 216Q |
| United States Government and Politics | 3 | 3 | PSCI 210IS |
| United States History | 3 | 8 | HSTA 101I, HSTA 102IH |
| World History: Modern | 3 | 6 | ELEC 100IH |
Source: AP credit policy
After college
Graduate within 6 years
59%
Come back for a second year
79%
Typical earnings
$59,536
a year, 10 years after starting here
- Montana State University$79,507
- All colleges$90,887
Median yearly earnings of graduates five years after finishing a bachelor's in this major. 33 majors here have earnings data.
Keep exploring
Figures marked Estimate are our estimates, not numbers the college published. Check each college's own site before you apply. SAT is a trademark of College Board, and ACT is a trademark of ACT, Inc. Sharp is not affiliated with either, or with Montana State University. The Montana State University logo is a trademark of the college.