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Bozeman, MT · Missoula, MT
| Montana State University | The University of Montana | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $22,499/yr | $16,784/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $17,797/yr | $13,960/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $22,500 | $22,400 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $18,570/yr | $14,892/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $21,977/yr | $17,180/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $24,732/yr | $19,269/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $25,905/yr | $20,930/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $239/mo | $237/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $14,000/yr | $12,804/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $14,000/yr | $12,804/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $1,450/yr | $2,650/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $4,026/yr | $4,832/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $25,905/yr | $23,570/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $8,460/yr | $8,552/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $33,287/yr | $33,671/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 16% | 28% |
| Students taking federal loans | 31% | 41% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 82% | 96% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 1065–1285 | No data reported |
| SAT average | 1183 | 1190 |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | 21–27 | 23–28 |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | English 20–27 · Math 19–27 | English 22–32 · Math 19–24 |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 21,975 | 9,464 |
| Students accepted | 19,081 | 9,048 |
| Students who enrolled | 3,634 | 1,652 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 19% | 18% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | 25% | 1% |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | 41% | 1% |
| High-school GPA | Required | Required |
| High-school transcript | Required | Required |
| Essay | Not considered | Not considered |
| Recommendation letters | Not considered | Not considered |
| Class rank | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| College-prep program | Optional (considered if sent) | Required |
| Demonstrated competencies | Not considered | Not considered |
| Work experience | Not considered | Not considered |
| English proficiency test | Required | Required |
| Other admission tests | Not considered | Not considered |
| Legacy considered | Not considered | Not considered |
| SAT/ACT policy | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 57% | 48% |
| Freshmen who come back | 79% | 75% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $53,263/yr | $44,511/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $31,991–$78,911 | $25,532–$67,661 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 57% | 46% |
| White students graduating | 59% | 51% |
| Black students graduating | 33% | 6.7% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 40% | 42% |
| Asian students graduating | 46% | 75% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $44,757/yr | $35,729/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 73% | 65% |
| Graduate on time | 37% | 34% |
| Pell students who graduate | 43% | 42% |
| First-gen students who finish | 45% | 31% |
| Low-income students who finish | 43% | 29% |
| Students who transfer out | 24% | No data reported |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $48,622/yr | $40,221/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Business, Management & Marketing 16% · Engineering 13% · Health Professions 8% | Business, Management & Marketing 14% · Social Sciences 9% · Natural Resources & Conservation 9% |
| Most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 16% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 14% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Engineering — 13% of degrees | Social Sciences — 9% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Health Professions — 8% of degrees | Natural Resources & Conservation — 9% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 8% of degrees | Health Professions — 9% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Psychology — 5% of degrees | Visual & Performing Arts — 8% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Construction Engineering Technology/Technician — $77,139/yr | Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration — $112,341/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 32% | 16% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 14,451 | 7,488 |
| Students per professor | 18 : 1 | 17 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 2,089 | 2,920 |
| Average professor pay | $9,762/mo | $9,310/mo |
| Full-time professors | 58% | 69% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities | Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities |
| Median family income | $56,045 | $36,050 |
| Setting | City (small) | City (small) |
| Location | Bozeman, MT | Missoula, MT |
| Region | Rocky Mountains | Rocky Mountains |
| Founded | 1893 | 1893 |
| Public or private | Public | Public |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity | Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 0.8% | 0.6% |
| Men | 54% | 43% |
| Women | 47% | 57% |
| White students | 83% | 71% |
| Black students | 0.6% | 0.9% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 6.6% | 6.2% |
| Asian students | 1% | 1.2% |
| Two or more races | 5.5% | 14% |
| Other / not reported | 2.2% | 5.4% |
| Special type | None | None |
| First-generation students | 23% | 30% |
| Part-time students | 11% | 14% |
| Students age 25+ | 7.8% | 20% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $9,613/yr | $10,436/yr |
| Endowment | $313.0M | $287.4M |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 4,764 | 3,029 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | Varies by week | Varies by week |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Semester |
| Federal designation | Land-grant institution | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | Yes | No |
| ROTC | Yes — Army, Air Force | Yes — Army |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | No | No |
| Credit for life experience | Yes | No |
| Online classes | Yes | Yes |
| Whole degrees online | Yes | Yes |
| Weekend & evening classes | No | No |
| Teacher certification | Yes | Yes |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | Yes |
| Job placement for graduates | Yes | Yes |
| On-campus day care | Yes | Yes |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | Yes | No |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | Yes | Yes |
| Credit for military training | Yes | Yes |
| Student veteran organization | Yes | Yes |
| Tuition payment plan | Yes | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | No | No |
| Prepaid tuition plan | No | No |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NCAA Division I-FCS | NCAA Division I-FCS |
| Football team | Yes | Yes |
| Varsity teams | 11 | 11 |
| Student athletes | 313 | 373 |
| Athletic scholarships | $7.1M | $6.4M |
| Athletics budget | $32.9M | $30.4M |
| Athletics revenue | $33.7M | $30.4M |
| Recruiting spend | $476,247 | $546,902 |
Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.