Montana State University

Quick Facts: 2012-2013

Please visit Admissions for undergraduate admission information and the Graduate School for admission for graduates.

 Affiliated Campuses

On July 1, 1994, the Montana Board of Regents of Higher Education restructured the state's colleges and universities into two umbrella universities, Montana State University and the University of Montana. MSU is the home campus for Montana State University, with the following affiliates:

Additional data for schools in the Montana University System are available through the MUS website. Please keep in mind that data may vary from that of our individual websites' reports; depending on when they were generated and what criteria were required, there can be slight differences. MSU's websites generally report data from a snapshot taken each Fall semester on the 15th class day for our reporting throughout the year.

 Academic Programs

MSU offers baccalaureate degrees in 60 fields with many different options, master's degrees in 45 fields, and doctoral degrees in 20 fields. MSU also offers a specialist degree in Education. The College of Nursing offers a Post-Master's Nurse Practitioner (FNP) certificate as well as a Certificate in Nursing Education option. For more information on specific programs, see:

MSU now offers associate degrees and other programs through the new Gallatin College.

Also, please visit our Extended University website for online degree and certificate programs.

Accreditation

MSU has been accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) since 1932. Eligible professional academic and service programs within the University are accredited by the following agencies:

  • Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (for Student Health Service)
  • Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET)
  • Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND)
  • American Psychological Association (for PhD level Internships in Counseling and Psychological Services) (APA)
  • Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
  • Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
  • Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
  • National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB)
  • National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD)
  • National Association of Schools of Music (NASM)
  • National Collegiate Athletic Association (for Intercollegiate Athletics) (NCAA)
  • Northwest Association of Secondary and Higher Schools
  • Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC)

Enrollment by College

Headcount enrollment in fall of 2012 was 14,660 students.

  Undergrad Graduate Total
Agriculture 859 148 1,007
Arts & Architecture 1,235 113 1,348
Business 1,151 46 1,197
Education & HHD 1,437 365 1,802
Engineering 2,581 187 2,768
Graduate School 0 280 280
Letters & Science 3,066 483 3,549
Nursing 884 83 967
Gallatin College 228 0 228
University College 1,331 0 1,331
Other 0 183 183
Total 12,772 1,888 14,660

Summer school of 2012 was attended by 3,733 students.

 Full and Part Time Enrollment

The fall semester of 2012 had a total enrollment of 14,660 students. Of these, 11,167 (76%) attended full time and 3,493 (24%) attended part time.

Undergraduates Full Time Part Time Total TOTAL
Male Female Male Female Male Female
Non-degree 72 62 11 13 83 75 158
First-Time Freshmen 1237 962 295 216 1532 1178 2710
Continuing Freshmen 660 416 209 166 869 582 1451
Sophomores 1199 956 196 188 1395 1144 2539
Juniors 1112 940 110 130 1222 1070 2292
Seniors 1427 1272 235 217 1662 1489 3151
Second Degree 120 163 59 129 179 292 471
Subtotal 5827 4771 1115 1059 6942 5830 12772
Graduates Male Female Male Female Male Female TOTAL
Non-Degree Graduates 30 27 76 147 106 174 280
Master's Candidates 225 213 312 438 537 651 1188
Doctoral Candidates 50 24 188 158 238 182 420
Specialist Candidates 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Subtotal 305 264 576 743 881 1007 1888
Total 6132 5035 1691 1802 7823 6837 14660

Historical enrollments 1893-present are also available.

Student Demographics

The student body attending fall semester of 2012 had the following characteristics:

Sex Undergrad Graduate Total %
Male 6942 881 7823 53%
Female 5830 1007 6837 47%
Ethnicity Undergrad Graduate Total %
Hispanic/Latino 388 43 431 3%
American Indian/Alaska Native 284 37 321 2%
Asian 106 23 129 1%
Black/African American 81 6 87 1%
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander 5 1 6 0%
White 10928 1556 12484 85%
Two or more races 380 32 412 3%
International 473 126 599 4%
Unknown 127 64 191 1%
Age Undergrad Graduate Total %
Average 22 33 N/A N/A
Fee Status Undergrad Graduate Total %
Resident 8680 1156 9836 67%
WUE 602 N/A 602 4%
Nonresident 3490 732 4222 29%
Pell Recipients Undergrad Graduate Total %
FY 2011 3794 0 3794 N/A
Geographic Region Undergrad Graduate Total %
Montana 7910 853 8763 60%
Other US 4376 857 5233 36%
Foreign 388 117 505 3%
Unknown 98 61 159 1%

Geographic origin is not the same as fee status. Students may come from other states and establish residency in Montana, and students from Montana whose parents are residents of other states may not have resident fee status.

Students attending MSU in fall of 2012 originally came from all 56 counties in Montana, 50 U.S. states, and 66 foreign countries.

Past distributions of the student population by ethnicity are also available under Trend Data.

Entering Freshmen

The entering freshman class of fall 2012 had 2710 students. The average age of traditional freshmen was 18.6 years, and the average age of nontraditional freshmen was 22 years.

The following averages were achieved by the full-time, bachelor-degree-seeking, entering freshmen that submitted scores. Historical averages are also available.

Actual Required
High School GPA 3.41 2.50
Graduating Class Percentile 70.1 50.0
Comprehensive ACT 25.2 22.0
Total SAT 1707 1540

Fifty five percent (1491) of the entering freshmen were Montana residents. The remaining 45 percent were from other states (1176) or foreign countries (35) or unreported (8). Freshmen declared majors in the following colleges:

Count Percentage
Agriculture 163 6%
Arts & Architecture 278 10%
Business 215 8%
Education & HHD 184 7%
Engineering 628 23%
University College 548 20%
Letters & Science 516 19%
Nursing 122 5%
Gallatin College 56 2%

Retention and graduation rates for recent entering freshmen classes are also available.

 Student Expenses

Financial Aid Services and the Controller's Office estimate the following expenses for a full-time undergraduate student attending school during fall and spring semesters:

2012-13
Resident Nonresident
Tuition/Fees* $6,705 $20,062
Room/Board** 8,070 8,070
Books/Supplies 1,190 1,190
Personal/Miscellaneous 3,220 3,220
TOTAL $19,185 $32,542

*Tuition and fees listed are based on the average amount charged to full-time students (12 or more credits per semester for an academic year (two semesters). Actual fees paid may vary based on the number of credits carried each semester. All fees are subject to change without notice.

**Food and housing costs will vary depending on a student's living arrangement and lifestyle. These figures are an average of costs incurred by students living on campus in a residence hall and off campus in a shared apartment.

NOTE: All students will also be charged a supplemental health insurance fee every semester. A student who already has adequate insurance and provides proof of coverage may request a refund.

For more information, please consult the detailed fee schedules:

Historical charges for tuition and fees, insurance, and room and board are also available.

Financial Aid

Please visit Financial Aid Services online for more information about aid available through MSU.

A historical breakdown of awards by source is also available.

Degrees Awarded

In 2011-12, the University awarded 2444 degrees:

  • Non degree Certificate: 8
  • Certificate of Applied Science: 20
  • Associate of Applied Science: 31
  • Bachelor's degrees: 1794
  • Master's degrees: 538
  • Specialist degrees: 0
  • Doctoral degrees: 53

MSU has granted 105,519 certificates and degrees in its 119 year history (1893-2012). MSU has awarded 8 non degree certificates, 33 Certificates of Applied Science, 41 Professional degrees, 40 Associates of Applied Science, 88,829 Bachelor's, 14,640 Master's, 8 Specialist degrees, and 1,920 Doctorates.

Each year the Career Services Office at Montana State University-Bozeman conducts a survey to determine placement rates and salary survey information for new MSU graduates. Results from the 2010 Graduating Class Career Destinations survey are now available.

Historical information on degrees awarded by major is also available.

Athletics

MSU is a member of the NCAA Division I Big Sky Conference.

  • Men compete in football (I-AA), basketball, indoor and outdoor track, alpine and nordic skiing, cross country, and tennis.
  • Women compete in basketball, volleyball, indoor and outdoor track, cross country, tennis, alpine and nordic skiing, and golf.
  • Rodeo competition for men and women is conducted through the Big Sky Region of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association.

The school colors are blue and gold, and teams are nicknamed "The Bobcats."

For more information about Bobcat Athletics, contact

Peter Fields
Director, Department of Athletics
Montana State University
Bozeman, MT 59717
or visit Bobcat Athletics online.

Alumni

MSU has granted 105,519 certificates and degrees in its 119 year history (1893-2012). MSU has awarded 8 non degree certificates, 33 Certificates of Applied Science, 41 Professional degrees, 40 Associates of Applied Science, 88,829 Bachelor's, 14,640 Master's, 8 Specialist degrees, and 1,920 Doctorates. The database contains current, active addresses for 85,116 individual alumni, 48% of whom reside in Montana.

For more information about the Alumni Association, contact

Jaynee Groseth
President and CEO, Alumni Association
Montana State University
Bozeman, MT 59717

or visit the Alumni Association online.

Research and Creative Activity

As a land-grant university, MSU has a long tradition of supporting basic and applied research and creative activity. During 2011-12 the University, through competitively awarded grants and contracts, had $112,304,270 in research expenditures – 88.5% from federal agencies, 8.7% from private corporations and foundations, and 2.8% from state sources. MSU currently holds 84 patents for innovations and processes developed through faculty research, with 65 additional patents pending, and has 205 license and option agreements with private firms, 87 of which are with Montana companies. Visit Research, Creativity & Technology Transfer online for more information about MSU's research programs.

Montana Agricultural Experiment Station

The Montana Agricultural Experiment Station was established at MSU by acts of the Legislature of Montana in 1893 under authorization provided by the Hatch Act of 1887. The research program encompasses several academic departments, service divisions, and laboratories located at MSU and seven research centers located around the state:

In addition, the Fort Keogh Livestock and Range Research Station at Miles City is a cooperative program with the US Department of Agriculture.

Visit the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station online for more information.

Montana Extension Service

The Extension Service was created by the federal Smith-Lever Act of 1914. Programs of the Extension Service are funded cooperatively through a legal partnership among federal, state, and county governments. Extension offices are located in 53 counties and seven tribal reservations serving 56 counties. Programs address societal needs in the general areas of agriculture, family living, community and economic development, and youth development. Visit the MSU Extension Service online for more information.

General Operations Funding

MSU's legislative appropriation for 2011-12 was collected and spent as follows ("Unrestricted Operating Account", Reports Bud300):

Revenue Amount %
Tuition & Fees 106,356,918 69%
State Allocations 46,814,816 30%
Other Revenues 1,053,112 1%
Transfers 708,749 0%
Total $154,933,594 100%
Expenditures Amount %
Instruction $69,635,266 45%
Research 1,627,013 1%
Public Service 1,725,069 1%
Academic Support 18,894,085 12%
Student Services 10,800,844 7%
Institutional Support 10,831,865 7%
Physical Plant 14,255,494 9%
Scholarships 16,641,154 11%
Transfers 10,522,804 7%
Total 154,933,594 100%

Please see FTE, revenue, and expenditures for historical data.

Employees

 

Based on a fall 2012 snapshot of the personnel file, MSU employs 3,054 permanent faculty and staff, and 616 graduate teaching and research assistants. Of the 3,054 permanent employees, 2,334 are full time and 720 are part time; 1,374 are men and 1,680 are women. Total faculty number is 1,154, which includes 781 full-time and 373 part-time faculty and department heads, (includes 917 instructional faculty and 237 faculty in administrative/managerial, research and service positions). Classified, professional, and service staff number 1,900.

  Number of Employees   Gender
Admin/Managerial Total FullTime PartTime Full Time
Equivalent		 Men Women
Pres/VP/Deans/Directors 58 56 2 57.60 29 29
Faculty Total FullTime PartTime Full Time
Equivalent		 Men Women
Heads/Directors 34 34 0 34.00 24 10
Tenurable Instructional 438 422 16 433.28 287 151
Adjunct Instructional 445 124 321 238.59 184 261
Research 53 31 22 40.83 36 17
Ag Exp Station/Ext Service 109 99 10 104.31 53 56
Library 17 15 2 15.90 9 8
Subtotal 1154 781 373 924.51 622 532
Staff Total FullTime PartTime Full Time
Equivalent		 Men Women
Contract Professional 774 597 177 690.27 327 447
Classified Professional 266 233 33 254.00 101 165
Secretarial/Clerical 236 167 69 206.31 12 224
Technical/Paraprofessional 278 232 46 258.45 93 185
Skilled Crafts 52 50 2 51.00 52 0
Service/Maintenance 294 274 20 285.04 167 127
Subtotal 1900 1553 347 1745.07 752 1148
Graduate Assistant Total FullTime PartTime Full Time
Equivalent		 Men Women
Teaching   0   n/a    
Research   0   n/a    
Subtotal 616 0 616 n/a 353 263
Total Total FullTime PartTime Full Time
Equivalent		 Men Women
With Grad Assistants 3670 2334 1336 n/a 1727 1943
Without Grad Assistants 3054 2334 720 2727.18 1374 1680

Information Contacts

Campus Operator....................... 406-994-0211
Admissions, Undergraduate......... 406-994-2452
Admissions, Graduate................. 406-994-4145
Alumni Affairs............................. 406-994-2401
Ask-Us Information Desk........... 406-994-4636
Bobcat Athletics......................... 406-994-4221
Bobcat Booster Club.................. 406-994-3741
Career Services.......................... 406-994-4353
Conference Services................... 406-994-3333
Financial Aid Services................. 406-994-2845
MSU Foundation........................ 406-994-2053
Orientation.................................. 406-994-2827
Planning and Analysis................. 406-994-2341
President's Office........................ 406-994-2341
Provost's Office.......................... 406-994-4371
Registrar..................................... 406-994-2601
Residence Life............................ 406-994-2661
Information Technology Center.... 406-994-3042
University Relations..................... 406-994-4571

Please see our online directories for phone numbers and e-mail addresses for individual faculty, staff, and students.