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

back to top button  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. Bozeman 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.

back to top button  Academic Programs

MSU offers baccalaureate degrees in 60 fields with many different options, graduate certificates in 12 fields, master's degrees in 68 fields, and doctoral degrees in 35  fields. MSU also offers a specialist degree in Education. The College of Nursing also offers a Certificate in Nursing Education option. For more information on specific programs, see:

MSU also offers associate degrees and other programs through Gallatin College.

For online degree and certificate programs.please visit our Academic Technology & Outreach website. 

back to top button  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)
  • Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
  • 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
  • Society for Range Management (SRM)

back to top button  Enrollment by College (College of 1st Major)

Headcount enrollment in fall of 2021 was 16,841 students.

College Undergrad Graduate Total
Agriculture 1,555 265 1,820
Arts & Architecture 1,058 115 1,173
Business 1,755 58 1,813
Education & HHD 1,279 461 1,740
Engineering 3,346 241 3,587
Graduate School 0 215 215
Letters & Science 3,037 672 3,709
Nursing 1,161 146 1,161
Gallatin College 814 0 814
University College 663 0 663
Honors 0 0 0
Total 14,668 2,173 16,841

Summer school of 2021 was attended by 4,016 students.

back to top button  Full and Part Time Enrollment

The fall semester of 2021 had a total enrollment of 16,841 students. Of these, 12,984 (77%) attended full time and 3,857 (23%) attended part time.   

Undergraduates
Full Time
Part Time
OVERALL TOTAL
Male
Female
Other/No Response
Male
Female
Other/No Response
Non-degree
7
17
0
130
147
19
320
First-Time Freshmen
1,766
1,443
8
264
213
2
3,696
Continuing Freshmen
539
360
10
199
154
1
1,263
Sophomores
1,360
1,088
6
225
205
4
2,888
Juniors
1,179
1,130
13
122
100
2
2,546
Seniors
1,635
1,536
14
258
211
5
3,659
Second Degree
76
126
4
26
60
4
296
Subtotal
6,562
5,700
55
1,224
1,090
37
14,668
Graduates
Full Time
Part Time
OVERALL TOTAL
Male
Female
Other/No Response
Male
Female
Other/No Response
Non-Degree Graduates
0
6
0
39
61
1
107
Master's Candidates
178
228
3
294
447
5
1,155
Doctoral Candidates
56
111
2
297
243
5
714
Specialist Candidates
0
0
0
1
1
0
2
Graduate Certificate
2
12
0
14
96
2
126
Professional
28
41
0
0
0
0
69
Subtotal
264
398
5
645
848
13
2,173
TOTAL
6,826
6,098
60
1,869
1,938
50
16,841

Historical enrollments 1893-present are also available.

back to top button  Student Demographics

The student body attending fall semester of 2021 had the following characteristics:

Sex Undergrad Graduate Total %
Male 7,786 909 8,695 51%
Female 6,790 1,246 8,306 48%
Other/No Response 92 18 110 1%
Race/Ethnicity Undergrad Graduate Total %
Hispanic/Latino 755 94 849 5%
American Indian/Alaska Native 216 48 264 1.5%
Asian 155 28 183 1%
Black/African American 73 7 80 0.5%
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander 13 0 13 0.1%
White 12,360 1,688 14,048 83.5%
Two or more races 774 90 864 5%
International 193 194 387 2%
Unknown 129 24 153 1%
Total 14,668 2,173 16,841 100%
Age Undergrad Graduate Total %
Average  21  31 N/A N/A
Residence Status Undergrad Graduate Total %
Resident 7,790 1,112 8,902 53%
WUE 1,781  N/A 1,781 10.5%
Nonresident 5,907 1,061 6,158 36.5%
Pell Recipients Undergrad Graduate Total %
Fall 2021 2,546 0 2,546 N/A

Students attending MSU in fall of 2021 originally came from all 56 counties in Montana, 49 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, and 63 foreign countries.

Past distributions of the student population by race/ethnicity are also available.

back to top button  Entering First-Time Students

The entering first-time class of fall 2021 had 3,868 students. The average age of traditional freshmen in this group was 18.3 years, and the average age of nontraditional freshmen was 25.8 years.

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

  Actual Required
High School GPA 3.5 2.50
Graduating Class Percentile 69th 50.0
Comprehensive ACT 24.6 N/A
Total SAT 1198 N/A

Thirty-four percent (1,303) of the entering first-time students were Montana residents. Of the remaining, 65% were from other states (2,540) and less than 1% were from other countries (25).

First-time students declared majors in the following colleges:

  Count Percentage
Agriculture 366 9.5%
Arts & Architecture 286 7%
Business 545 14%
Education & HHD 265 7%
Engineering 833 21.5%
University College 394 10%
Letters & Science 754 19.5%
Nursing 247 6%
Gallatin College 178 4.5%

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

back to top button  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:

 

Description
2021-22
Resident Nonresident
Tuition/Fees* $7,528 $28,264
Room/Board** 11,100 11,100
Books/Supplies 1,450 1,450
Personal/Miscellaneous 4,068 4,068
TOTAL $24,146 $44,882

*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.

back to top button  Financial Aid

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

back to top button  Degrees Awarded

In 2020-21, the University awarded 3,410 degrees and certificates:

  • Certificate of Applied Science: 52
  • Certificate (Graduate):  93
  • Certificate (Undgraduate):  12
  • Associate of Applied Science:  55
  • Associate of Arts or Science: 62
  • Bachelor's degrees: 2,638
  • Master's degrees: 406
  • Specialist degree: 2
  • Professional degree:  26
  • Doctoral degrees: 64

MSU has granted 133,651 certificates and degrees in its 128 year history (1893-2021). MSU has awarded 632 non-degree certificates, 582 Certificates of Applied Science, 132 Professional degrees, 395 Associates of Applied Science, 362 Associate's, 110,135 Bachelor's, 18,860 Master's, 26 Specialist degrees, and 2,527 Doctorates.

Each year the Career Services Office at Montana State University conducts a survey to determine placement rates and salary survey information for new MSU graduates. Results from the 2021 Graduating Class Career Destinations survey are now available.

Historical information on degrees awarded by year is also available.

back to top button  Athletics

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

  • Men compete in football (I-AA), basketball, indoor and outdoor track and field, alpine and nordic skiing, cross country, and tennis.
  • Women compete in basketball, volleyball, indoor and outdoor track and field, 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

Leon Costello
Director, Department of Athletics
Montana State University
Bozeman, MT 59717

or visit Bobcat Athletics online.

back to top button  Alumni

MSU has granted 133,651 certificates and degrees in its 128 year history (1893-2021). MSU has awarded 632 non-degree certificates, 582 Certificates of Applied Science, 132 Professional degrees, 395 Associates of Applied Science, 362 Associate's, 110,135 Bachelor's, 18,860 Master's, 26 Specialist degrees, and 2,527 Doctorates.

For more information about the Alumni Association, contact

Kerry Hanson
Vice President of Alumni Relations
Montana State University
Bozeman, MT 59717

or visit the Alumni Association online.

back to top button  Research and Economic Development

As a land-grant university, MSU has a long tradition of supporting basic and applied research and creative activity. The university’s overall research enterprise did $193 million in work for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021. That includes $138.6 million in competitively won federal, state, and private  funds, as well as $2.7 million in gift and state appropriated funds for research.

MSU currently (2020-2021) holds 58 patents for innovations and processes developed through faculty research, with 52 additional patents pending, and has 297 license and option agreements, 87 of which are with Montana companies. Visit Research and Economic Development online for more information about MSU's research programs.

back to top button  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 the following 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.

back to top button  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.

back to top button  General Operations Funding

MSU's legislative appropriation for 2019-2020 was collected and spent as follows ("Unrestricted Operating Account", Reports Bud300):

Revenue Amount %
Tuition & Fees $145,557,917 66%
State Allocations 72,976,353 33%
Other Revenues 2,219,112 1%
Total $220,753,382 100%
Expenditures Amount %
Instruction $122,083,701 52.6%
Research 1,069,195 0.5%
Public Service 2,502,837 1.1%
Academic Support 31,036,192 13.4%
Student Services 33,046,329 14.2%
Institutional Support 23,291,151 10%
Physical Plant 28,719,191 12.4%
Scholarships 1,264,282 0.5%
Total $232,012,877 100%

back to top button  Employees

Below are the number of employees for Fall 2021:

 
 
Number of Employees
 
 
 
Gender
Faculty/Staff
Total
FullTime
PartTime
Full Time
Equivalent
Men
Women
Not Reported
Pres/VP/Deans/Directors
60
56
4
58.1
36
24
0
Tenurable Faculty
581
575
6
579.3
321
260
0
Non Tenurable Faculty
719
227
492
428.3
262
452
5
Staff
1950
1711
239
1833.3
844
11.4
2
  Subtotal
3310
2569
741
2899.0
1463
1840
7
Graduate Assistant
Total
FullTime
PartTime
Full Time
Equivalent
Men
Women
Not Reported
Teaching/Research
895
0
895
n/a
391
492
12

back to top button  Information Contacts

Contact Phone Number
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 406-994-1563
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.