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Billings, MT · Missoula, MT
| Montana State University Billings | The University of Montana | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $16,524/yr | $16,784/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $13,927/yr | $13,960/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $18,209 | $22,400 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $14,387/yr | $14,892/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $16,749/yr | $17,180/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $18,948/yr | $19,269/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $20,035/yr | $20,930/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $193/mo | $237/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $9,980/yr | $12,804/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $12,974/yr | $12,804/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $1,450/yr | $2,650/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $5,570/yr | $4,832/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $20,054/yr | $23,570/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $7,280/yr | $8,552/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $22,897/yr | $33,671/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 25% | 28% |
| Students taking federal loans | 28% | 41% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | No data reported | 96% |
| SAT average | No data reported | 1190 |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | No data reported | 23–28 |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | No data reported | English 22–32 · Math 19–24 |
| Admissions data from | No data reported | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | No data reported | 9,464 |
| Students accepted | No data reported | 9,048 |
| Students who enrolled | No data reported | 1,652 |
| Accepted students who enroll | No data reported | 18% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | No data reported | 1% |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | No data reported | 1% |
| High-school GPA | No data reported | Required |
| High-school transcript | No data reported | Required |
| Essay | No data reported | Not considered |
| Recommendation letters | No data reported | Not considered |
| Class rank | No data reported | Optional (considered if sent) |
| College-prep program | No data reported | Required |
| Demonstrated competencies | No data reported | Not considered |
| Work experience | No data reported | Not considered |
| English proficiency test | No data reported | Required |
| Other admission tests | No data reported | Not considered |
| Legacy considered | No data reported | Not considered |
| SAT/ACT policy | Open admission (everyone qualified gets in) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 30% | 48% |
| Freshmen who come back | 56% | 75% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $44,296/yr | $44,511/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $25,006–$65,133 | $25,532–$67,661 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 36% | 46% |
| White students graduating | 34% | 51% |
| Black students graduating | 0% | 6.7% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 13% | 42% |
| Asian students graduating | 25% | 75% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $39,531/yr | $35,729/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 61% | 65% |
| Graduate on time | 17% | 34% |
| Pell students who graduate | 25% | 42% |
| First-gen students who finish | 18% | 31% |
| Low-income students who finish | 18% | 29% |
| Students who transfer out | 19% | No data reported |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $43,272/yr | $40,221/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Health Professions 23% · Business, Management & Marketing 21% · Liberal Arts & General Studies 10% | Business, Management & Marketing 14% · Social Sciences 9% · Natural Resources & Conservation 9% |
| Most popular program | Health Professions — 23% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 14% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 21% of degrees | Social Sciences — 9% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Liberal Arts & General Studies — 10% of degrees | Natural Resources & Conservation — 9% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Psychology — 9% of degrees | Health Professions — 9% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Education — 7% of degrees | Visual & Performing Arts — 8% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $71,449/yr | Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration — $112,341/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 8.2% | 16% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 2,626 | 7,488 |
| Students per professor | 14 : 1 | 17 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 248 | 2,920 |
| Average professor pay | $7,728/mo | $9,310/mo |
| Full-time professors | 63% | 69% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities | Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities |
| Median family income | $34,882 | $36,050 |
| Setting | City (midsize) | City (small) |
| Location | Billings, MT | Missoula, MT |
| Region | Rocky Mountains | Rocky Mountains |
| Founded | 1927 | 1893 |
| Public or private | Public | Public |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Master's Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs | Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 2.1% | 0.6% |
| Men | 35% | 43% |
| Women | 65% | 57% |
| White students | 75% | 71% |
| Black students | 0.9% | 0.9% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 8% | 6.2% |
| Asian students | 1.1% | 1.2% |
| Two or more races | 6.4% | 14% |
| Other / not reported | 6.4% | 5.4% |
| Special type | None | None |
| First-generation students | 38% | 30% |
| Part-time students | 31% | 14% |
| Students age 25+ | 30% | 20% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $8,173/yr | $10,436/yr |
| Endowment | $36.8M | $287.4M |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 571 | 3,029 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | $4,832/yr | No data reported |
| Meal plan charge | $4,168/yr | No data reported |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | 19 meals/week | Varies by week |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Semester |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | No | No |
| ROTC | Yes — Army | 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 | No | Yes |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | No | 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 II without football | NCAA Division I-FCS |
| Football team | No | Yes |
| Varsity teams | 15 | 11 |
| Student athletes | 246 | 373 |
| Athletic scholarships | $1.5M | $6.4M |
| Athletics budget | $5.8M | $30.4M |
| Athletics revenue | $6.0M | $30.4M |
| Recruiting spend | $27,723 | $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.