Montana State University

https://www.montana.edu

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2024 Undergraduate Tuition

$6,299

4.01% growth from 2023

2024 Average Net Price

$20,142

After Financial Aid

2024 Acceptance Rate

82.1%

21,652 Applicants

2024 Enrolled Students

17,135

79.1% Full-Time

2024 Graduation Rate

57%

1,544 Graduates

About

Montana State University is a higher education institution located in Gallatin County, MT. In 2024, the most popular Bachelors Degree concentrations at Montana State University were Registered Nursing (374 degrees awarded), General Business (366 degrees), and General Psychology (153 degrees).

In 2024, 3,683 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Montana State University. 52.3% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 47.7% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (3,091 degrees), 15.9 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, two or more races (195 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at Montana State University is $6,299, which is $−25,621 less than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,920).

Photo by Tim Evanson

Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity Doctoral Universities

Costs

In 2024, the median undergraduate tuition at Montana State University is $6,299, which is $25,621 less than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,920).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $20,142.

In 2024, 69% of undergraduate students attending Montana State University received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 31% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$6,299

2024 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2024, the cost of tuition at Montana State University was $6,299. The cost of tuition at Montana State University is $−25,621 less than than the overall (public and private) national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,920).

This chart compares the tuition costs of Montana State University (in red) with those of other similar universities.

Average Net Price

$20,142

2024 Value

8.81%

1 Year Growth

In 2024 Montana State University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $20,142. Between 2023 and 2024, the average net price of Montana State University grew by 8.81%.

This chart compares the average net price of Montana State University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

Average net price is calculated from full-time beginning undergraduate students who were awarded a grant or scholarship from federal, state or local governments, or the institution.

Other Student Expenses

$13,446

Room and Board

$1,450

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at Montana State University was of $13,446 in 2024. The cost of room and board increased by 19% between 2023 and 2024.

During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $1,450. The cost of books and supplies did not change during the same period.

This chart compares the average student costs at Montana State University (in red) with that of similar universities.

Financial Aid by Income Level

69%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

31%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

69% of undergraduate students at Montana State University received financial aid through grants or loans in 2024. This represents a growth of 2.99% with respect to 2023, when 67% of undergraduate students received financial aid.

This chart compares the average award discount at Montana State University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

The average award discount is the ratio between the average grant or scholarship value, and the cost, which is the sum of out-of-state tuition, room, board, book, supplies, and other expenses.

Admissions

Montana State University received 21,652 undergraduate applications in 2024, which represents a 1.47% annual growth. Out of those 21,652 applicants, 17,786 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 82.1% acceptance rate.

There were 17,135 students enrolled at Montana State University in 2024. 21% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

Montana State University has an overall enrollment yield of 20.3%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

82.1%

Acceptance Rate in 2024

17,786

Accepted Out of 21,652

In 2024, the undergraduate acceptance rate of Montana State University was 82.1% (17,786 admissions from 21,652 applications). This is lower than the acceptance rate of 2023, which was 86.8%. Between 2023 and 2024, the number of applicants declined by 1.47%, while admissions declined by 6.79%.

This chart compares the acceptance rate of Montana State University (in red) with that of other similar universities, and the chart below shows the acceptance rate by gender.

SAT Scores

21%

Submission Percentage (2024)

759

Scores Submitted (2024)

21% of enrolled first-time students at Montana State University in 2024 submitted SAT scores with their applications.

The following chart shows the average SAT scores for the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile of applicants for each section of the test that they are evaluated on.

Enrollment

Montana State University had a total enrollment of 17,135 students in 2024. The full-time enrollment at Montana State University is 13,548 students and the part-time enrollment is 3,587. This means that 79.1% of students enrolled at Montana State University are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at Montana State University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 81.8% White, 6.37% Hispanic or Latino, 5.24% Two or More Races, 1.65% American Indian or Alaska Native, 1.04% Asian, 0.584% Black or African American, and 0.0759% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

Students enrolled at Montana State University in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Male (45.8%), followed by White Female (38.2%) and Hispanic or Latino Female (3.09%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly White Female (45%), followed by White Male (29.4%) and Hispanic or Latino Female (3.62%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

79.1%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Montana State University in 2024, both undergraduate and graduate, is 17,135 students. The full-time enrollment at Montana State University is 13,548 and the part-time enrollment is 3,587. This means that 79.1% of students enrolled at Montana State University are enrolled full-time compared with 77.3% at similar Doctoral Universities.

This chart shows the full-time vs part-time enrollment status at Montana State University (in red) compares to similar universities.

Retention Rate over Time

79%

2024 Retention Rate

Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall. The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at Montana State University was 79%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Doctoral Universities (82%), Montana State University had a retention rate lower than its peers.

This chart shows the retention rate over time at Montana State University (highlighted in red) compares to similar universities.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity (2024)

White
14,010 enrolled students
Hispanic or Latino
1,092 enrolled students
Two or More Races
898 enrolled students

The enrolled student population at Montana State University is 81.8% White, 6.37% Hispanic or Latino, 5.24% Two or More Races, 1.65% American Indian or Alaska Native, 1.04% Asian, 0.584% Black or African American, and 0.0759% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders. This includes both full-time and part-time students as well as graduate and undergraduates. By comparison, enrollment for all Doctoral Universities is 46.2% White, 16.3% Hispanic or Latino, and 10.4% Black or African American.

Any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis is categorized as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the share of those students are shown in the chart below. Additionally, 141 students (0.823%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2024, 173 more women than men received degrees from Montana State University. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at Montana State University is white (3,091 degrees awarded). There were 15.9 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, two or more races (195 degrees).

The most common Bachelor's Degree concentration at Montana State University is Registered Nursing (374 degrees awarded), followed by General Business (366 degrees) and General Psychology (153 degrees).

In 2024, the most specialized majors across all degree types at Montana State University, meaning they have significantly more degrees awarded in that concentration than the national average across all institutions, are Architecture and Related Services (75 degrees awarded), Physical Sciences (154 degrees), and Natural Resources & Conservation (103 degrees).

Common Jobs by Major

Software developers

Most Common Job

The most common jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Montana State University are Software developers (526,858 people), Other managers (406,881 people), Miscellaneous engineers, including nuclear engineers (391,250 people), Civil engineers (319,260 people), and Mechanical engineers (224,666 people).

The most specialized majors at Montana State University in 2024 are Architecture and Related Services (75 degrees awarded), Physical Sciences (154 degrees), Natural Resources & Conservation (103 degrees), Human Sciences (155 degrees), and Engineering (449 degrees) (as of 2024).

Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Surgeons

Highest Paying Job

The highest paying jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Montana State University are Surgeons, Diagnostic medical sonographers, Podiatrists, Physicians, and Nurse anesthetists

The most specialized majors at Montana State University are Architecture and Related Services (75 degrees awarded), Physical Sciences (154 degrees), Natural Resources & Conservation (103 degrees), Human Sciences (155 degrees), and Engineering (449 degrees) (as of 2024).

Common Industries by Major

Architectural, engineering & related services

Most Common Industry

The most common industries for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Montana State University are Architectural, engineering & related services (640,612 people), Computer Systems Design (541,139 people), Construction (376,653 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (346,864 people), and Elementary & secondary schools (245,594 people).

Majors Awarded

IPEDS uses the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) standard, so the categories may not match the exact concentrations offered by Montana State University.

Most Common (2024)

Welding Technology
35 degrees awarded
Carpenter
12 degrees awarded
Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) Machinist Technology
6 degrees awarded

In 2024, the most common 1 to 2 year postsecondary certificate concentration at Montana State University was Welding Technology with 35 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of degree-majors recipients from 1 to 2 year postsecondary certificate programs at Montana State University according to their major.

Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

1,755

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2024

1,928

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2024

In 2024, 1,755 degrees were awarded to men at Montana State University, which is 0.91 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (1,928).

This chart displays the sex disparity between the top 5 majors at Montana State University by degrees awarded.

Most Common Male Majors

In 2024, 242 degrees were awarded to men at Montana State University in General Business, which is 1.95 times more than the 124 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2024, 320 degrees were awarded to men at Montana State University in Registered Nursing, which is 4.51 times more than the 71 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

35%

100% Completion Time

57%

150% Completion Time

In 2024, 35% of students graduating from Montana State University completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 57% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 60% within 200%.

The following chart shows these completion rates over time compared to the average for the Doctoral Universities Carnegie Classification group.

Graduation rate is defined as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within a specific percentage of "normal time" to completion for their program.

Graduation Rate by Race and Sex

Showing demographic groups with ≥ 5 graduating students.

White Female

Highest Graduation Rate (64.6%)

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate in 2024 at Montana State University is Female and White (64.6% graduation rate). Across all Doctoral Universities, Asian Female students have the highest graduation rate (75.5%).

The department of education defines graduation rate as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within 150% of "normal time" to completion.

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) categorizes any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the graduation rate of those students is shown in the chart below. Additionally, 0.849% of graduates (13 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2024)

White
3,091 degrees awarded
Two or More Races
195 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
170 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at Montana State University is white (3,091 degrees awarded). There were 15.9 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, two or more races (195 degrees).

1.03% of degree recipients (38 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic (2024)

White Female
1,604 degrees awarded
White Female
1,597 degrees awarded
White Female
1,551 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at Montana State University is white female (1,604 degrees awarded). There were 1 times more white female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white female (1,597 degrees).

Operations

Montana State University has an endowment valued at nearly $313M, as of the end of the 2024 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of 17M (5.42%) compared to the 9.4% average return (23.7M on 252M) across all Doctoral Universities.

In 2024, Montana State University had a total salary expenditure of 677M. Montana State University employs 194 Professors, 153 Assistant professors and 146 Associate professors. Most academics at Montana State University are Male Professor (129), Female Assistant professor (80), and Female Associate professor (77).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Montana State University are: Service, with 343 employees, Business and Financial Operations, with 341 employees, and Management with 278 employees.

Endowment

$313M

2024 Endowment

8.48%

growth from 2023

Montana State University has an endowment valued at about $313M, as of the end of the 2024 fiscal year. The endowment of Montana State University grew 8.48% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $60.9M higher than than the median endowment of Doctoral Universities according to the Carnegie Classification grouping.

This line chart shows how the endowment at Montana State University (in red) compares to that of some similar universities.

The small bar chart below shows the endowment quintiles for all universities in the Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity Carnegie Classification grouping.

Salary Expenditure

$282M

2024 Salaries

8.87%

growth from 2023

In 2024, Montana State University paid a median of $282M in salaries, which represents 41.7% of their overall expenditure ($677M) and a 8.87% growth from the previous year. This is compared to a 9.63% growth between 2022 and 2023, and a 4.69% growth between 2021 and 2022.

Instructional Salaries

$62.2M

Instructional Salaries

626

Number of Employees

In 2024, Montana State University paid a total of $62.2M to 626 employees working as instructors, which represents 22% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $4.1M (2.29%) for similar Doctoral Universities.

Occupations by Share

In 2024, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Montana State University were Service with 343 employees, Business and Financial Operations with 341 employees, and Management with 278 employees.

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