Fall 2023

Each year, Montana State University offers millions of dollars in scholarships and financial aid to talented Montana freshmen who apply for admission. Learn more about various programs and opportunities for students below.

 

BlogCats icon Test Optional

Test scores are no longer required for admission or scholarship consideration at Montana State University for the foreseeable future. Please note that other academic information, including a self-reported cumulative GPA, is still required. Students can still submit ACT/SAT scores for math and writing placement purposes.

 

If you have taken or are planning to take the ACT/SAT, we invite you to send your test scores to MSU as they may be utilized for placement into your appropriate math and writing courses, but they will not be required.

 

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Montana Premier Scholarship

Available for qualifying resident students.

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Montana Treasure State Scholarship

Available for qualifying first generation resident students.

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Cat Scholarships

Departmental scholarships available for qualifying students who apply by February 1st, 2023.

 

Montana Premier Scholarship Program

Many scholarships will be awarded through the MSU Premier Scholarship program. These awards will be granted to Montana freshmen who demonstrate academic promise based upon academic performance.  

 

Montana Premier Scholarship Awards are automatic, merit-based scholarships based upon a student’s cumulative high school GPA. Award amounts will vary between $1,000 to $2,500 per year, renewable for four years. All freshmen from Montana who submit an  application for admission, complete with cumulative high school GPA provided on the Self Report Formwill be automatically considered. The Premier Award ranges are as follows:

 

Cumulative High School GPA

Montana Premier Scholarship Value
4.0+
$2,500 per year renewable for four years ($10,000 four-year value)
3.5 - 3.99
$2,000 per year renewable for four years ($8,000 four-year value)
3.0 - 3.49
$1,500 per year renewable for four years ($6,000 four-year value)
2.7 - 2.99
$1,000 per year renewable for four years ($4,000 four-year value)

 

All Premier Scholarships are designated for tuition only. Students awarded renewable Premier Scholarships must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or greater, enroll for a minimum of 15 credits per semester, maintain resident status and continuous enrollment to retain the scholarship throughout their four years at MSU. MSU freshman scholarships and awards are available to those seeking undergraduate bachelor degree programs only.

 

Please note that test scores are not required for consideration. However, students are encouraged to send us their ACT and/or SAT scores for academic placement.

Montana Treasure State First Generation Scholarship

Montana State University is excited to continue to support our first-generation Montana resident students with the Montana Treasure State First Generation Scholarship. This award is given to Montana resident students that self-report they are a first-generation student on their application for admission. This award is valued at $1,500 per year and is renewable for four years ($6,000 total value). This award can be stacked on top of a Montana Premier Scholarship that a student may receive. 

 

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Presidential Scholarship

Discover MSU's most prestigious academic scholarship, offered by the Honors College.

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Cost of Attendance

Check out Montana State University's estimated cost of attendance. including tuition, fees, housing, and more.


 

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Office of Financial Aid

Explore programs offered by Financial Aid and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

 

 


get info Want more information about MSU? We're here to help.

If you have questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to us! You can email our staff at [email protected], or call us Monday - Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm MT at 1-888-MSU-CATS.

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Frequently Asked Questions:

The Premier Scholarship is specific to tuition only, so this scholarship cannot stack with the MUS Honors Scholarship or the Presidential Scholarship. If you are granted a Premier Scholarship and then receive the Presidential or MUS Honors Scholarship, we will honor the award of the higher value.

No. If you accept your current Premier Scholarship offer, that does not disqualify you from still being considered for the Presidential Scholarship or any greater value scholarship.

Yes. We evaluate students for scholarships based on their GPA when they apply, but may be able to reconsider their Premier Scholarship offer if their GPA changes. Please contact your Admissions Evaluator to make updates to your application.

We consider transfer students to be students that have taken 12 or more college credits after graduating high school. If you took college credits while still enrolled in high school, you will still be considered a freshman and be eligible for freshman scholarships.

Scholarship offers are specific to the start term on your application. We reevaluate scholarships each year, so you can not defer your scholarship to a later term. If you defer for a semester or year, you will be reevaluated for scholarships based on that years parameters. 

Montana State University offers several departmental and college specific scholarships. Please take a look at our Cat Scholarships page to see all we offer!