Quad

Montana State University

Bozeman, MTQuad's selectivityAccessible
Known forTest-optional heavy
WebsiteAdmissionsApplyVisitFinancial aid

Admissions · Fall 2024

8 in 10 applicants admitted

Montana State admits about 8 in 10 applicants (82%). That puts it in the "Accessible" tier, more selective than 40% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

82%

82%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityAccessible

Applied

21,652

Admitted

17,786

Yield

20%

of admits enroll

SAT middle 50%

1065–1285

10001600
ACT middle 50%

21–27

1836
Applications +57% since fall 2014 · admit rate 84% → 82%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A medium campus of 14,451 undergrads, where 16% receive Pell Grants, a low share compared to other colleges.

14.5K

undergrads · larger than 92% of colleges

Diversity index

0.30

Pell Grant

16%

below the median

First generation

23%

below the median

Small cityNCAA D-I FCS · Big Sky ConferenceROTCStudy abroadUndergrad research
Steady · index 0.27 → 0.30 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Business/Commerce, General (16% of graduates). 18 students for every faculty member, more than at 83% of colleges. 58% of faculty are full-time. Spends $9,613 a year on instruction per student.

18 to 1

students per faculty member · more than at 83% of colleges

Most popular major

Business/Commerce, General

16% of 2024–25 graduates

Top-earning major

Computer Science

$111.7K four years after completion

Full-time faculty

58%

of faculty

Instruction spending

$9.6K

per student a year

All majors with search, earnings by major, and faculty

Cost & aid · 2023–24

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $31,273 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $7K more than the national median. The 83% who received grants paid $20,142 on average; the other 17% paid the full sticker price of $26,671 in-state / $49,925 out-of-state.

24%

$31.3K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $7K above the national median

$0$110K$400K+
Full price, in-state
$26,671 a year
tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid
Little need-based aid above $110K
aid thins out for families above that income
Aid generosity

Limited

grants cover 24% of full price

Federal loans

31%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits
Cost rising · +17% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $53,263 ten years after enrolling, more than at 48% of colleges; 56% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 2.3 years of that salary.

56%

56%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$53.3K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$22.5K

≈ $239/month for 10 years

Retention

79%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 50% → 57% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price rose 26% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid rose 17%, because grants grew faster. Applications rose 57% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 84% to 82%.

  • Cost

    Rising

    +17% after inflation

  • Applications

    Growing

    +57%

  • Selectivity

    Steady

    admit rate 84% → 82%

  • Diversity

    Steady

    index 0.27 → 0.30

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

Schools like this one

University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

82% admit · 8.2K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar sizeAlso public
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Ohio University-Main Campus

85% admit · SAT 1190 · 19.6K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size
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University of North Dakota

77% admit · 10K undergrads

Similar sizeAlso public
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Kansas State University

87% admit · SAT 1165 · 15.1K undergrads

Similar scoresSimilar sizeAlso public
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Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

  1. 1
    IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  2. 2
    College Scorecard

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Entered fall 2023; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  3. 3
    IPEDS Admissions survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  4. 4
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  5. 5
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  6. 6
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  7. 7
    IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12

  8. 8
    College Scorecard Field of Study data

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  9. 9
    IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  10. 10
    IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  11. 11
    Common Data Set

    Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  12. 12
    IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  13. 13
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  14. 14
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  15. 15
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  16. 16
    IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  17. 17
    IPEDS Outcome Measures survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  18. 18
    Montana State University (2026)

    Montana State University · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 180461 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything