Montana State acceptance rate, cost and outcomes
Montana State University · Public · Bozeman, MT · 14,872 undergraduates (IPEDS fall 2023)
Montana State admitted 86.8% of applicants for fall 2023, up from 84.5% in 2013. Montana residents pay $8,948 in tuition and fees for 2025-26; out-of-state students pay $33,783.
Admit rate, 2013 to 2023
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| Fall | Admit rate | Applicants | Admitted |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 84.5% | 12,581 | 10,630 |
| 2014 | 83.8% | 13,799 | 11,570 |
| 2015 | 82.9% | 14,816 | 12,277 |
| 2016 | 82.9% | 15,996 | 13,256 |
| 2017 | 83.1% | 16,769 | 13,937 |
| 2018 | 81.7% | 18,637 | 15,226 |
| 2019 | 81.9% | 19,142 | 15,684 |
| 2020 | 80.8% | 18,892 | 15,260 |
| 2021 | 73.0% | 26,741 | 19,522 |
| 2022 | 73.3% | 28,794 | 21,116 |
| 2023 | 86.8% | 21,975 | 19,081 |
Applications went from 12,581 in fall 2013 to 21,975 in fall 2023. Admit rate = admitted ÷ applicants. Source: IPEDS fall admissions.1
What families actually pay
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| Family income | Net price / year, 2024-25 |
|---|---|
| $0 to $30,000 | $19,322 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 | $19,557 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | $21,133 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | $24,666 |
| Over $110,000 | $26,850 |
| Tuition and fees, in-state (2025-26) | $8,948 |
| Tuition and fees, out-of-state (2025-26) | $33,783 |
| Cost of attendance (2024-25) | $26,943 |
| Average net price, students with federal aid (2024-25) | $23,106 |
Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants, for first-time full-time students with federal aid paying the in-state rate, 2024-25. Tuition is 2025-26. Source: College Scorecard.2
SAT and ACT
Middle 50% (25th to 75th percentile) of enrolled first-year students who submitted scores: 25% submitted the SAT, 41% the ACT. Source: IPEDS fall 2023.1
Similar public colleges
| College | Admit rate | Tuition and fees |
|---|---|---|
| CSUF CA | 86.7% | $7,952 in-state |
| Western Carolina NC | 86.7% | $4,685 in-state |
| UNH NH | 86.9% | $19,682 in-state |
Same state and type first, then the nearest admit rate. Fall 2023 and 2025-26 figures.
What the numbers say
Fall 2023 brought 21,975 applications to Montana State, and 19,081 of them led to offers, an admit rate of 86.8%.1 In 2013 the rate was 84.5%, so it is now 2.3 percentage points higher.1 The path was not steady: the rate dipped to 73.0% in 2021 and 73.3% in 2022 before returning to 86.8% in 2023, and it declined in 5 of 10 yearly changes.1 Applications grew 75% across the decade, from 12,581 to 21,975, although the count had been 28,794 in 2022 and then dropped 24% by 2023.1
Scores are optional here; 25% of enrolled students sent SAT scores and 41% sent ACT scores.1 Middle SAT ranges were 530 to 640 in reading and writing and 530 to 630 in math, with ACT composites from 20 to 27.1
Tuition and fees for 2025-26 are $8,948 for Montana residents and $33,783 for others.2 The resident price is above the $8,230 median of 6 public bachelor's colleges in Montana.2 Net price changes little between the first bands, at $19,322 for $0 to $30,000 and $21,133 for $48,001 to $75,000, and it is $26,850 for families over $110,000.2
The 6-year graduation rate for 2019 entrants was 59%, compared with a state median of 46% across 9 colleges, and retention was 79%.2 Median earnings are $59,536 10 years after entry, and federal borrowers hold $19,500 in median debt.2
Every number on this page, with its source field
| Figure | Value | File, field, year |
|---|---|---|
| Applicants | 21,975 | IPEDS ADM2023, APPLCN, fall 20231 |
| Admitted | 19,081 | IPEDS ADM2023, ADMSSN, fall 20231 |
| Enrolled first-years | 3,634 | IPEDS ADM2023, ENRLT, fall 20231 |
| Undergraduates | 14,872 | IPEDS DRVEF2023, EFUG, fall 20234 |
| Admission policy | Selective (not open admission) | IPEDS IC2023, OPENADMP, 2023-243 |
| Test policy | Test-optional | IPEDS ADM2023, ADMCON7, fall 20231 |
| SAT reading/writing, 25th percentile | 530 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATVR25, fall 20231 |
| SAT reading/writing, 75th percentile | 640 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATVR75, fall 20231 |
| SAT math, 25th percentile | 530 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATMT25, fall 20231 |
| SAT math, 75th percentile | 630 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATMT75, fall 20231 |
| ACT composite, 25th percentile | 20 | IPEDS ADM2023, ACTCM25, fall 20231 |
| ACT composite, 75th percentile | 27 | IPEDS ADM2023, ACTCM75, fall 20231 |
| Enrolled students submitting SAT | 25% | IPEDS ADM2023, SATPCT, fall 20231 |
| Enrolled students submitting ACT | 41% | IPEDS ADM2023, ACTPCT, fall 20231 |
| Tuition and fees, in-state | $8,948 | College Scorecard, TUITIONFEE_IN, 2025-262 |
| Tuition and fees, out-of-state | $33,783 | College Scorecard, TUITIONFEE_OUT, 2025-262 |
| Cost of attendance | $26,943 | College Scorecard, COSTT4_A, 2024-252 |
| Average net price, students with federal aid | $23,106 | College Scorecard, NPT4_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $0 to $30,000 | $19,322 | College Scorecard, NPT41_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $30,001 to $48,000 | $19,557 | College Scorecard, NPT42_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $48,001 to $75,000 | $21,133 | College Scorecard, NPT43_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $75,001 to $110,000 | $24,666 | College Scorecard, NPT44_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income over $110,000 | $26,850 | College Scorecard, NPT45_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Graduation rate within 6 years | 59% | College Scorecard, C150_4, 2019 entrants2 |
| First-year retention | 79% | College Scorecard, RET_FT4, fall 2023 entrants2 |
| Undergraduates with a Pell grant | 19% | College Scorecard, PCTPELL, 2024-252 |
| Median earnings 10 years after entry | $59,536 | College Scorecard, MD_EARN_WNE_P10, 2022-232 |
| Median federal debt of graduates | $19,500 | College Scorecard, GRAD_DEBT_MDN, FY2024-252 |
| Median in-state tuition and fees, public colleges, Montana (N = 6) | $8,230 | College Scorecard, median TUITIONFEE_IN, public bachelor's institutions, 2025-262 |
| Median graduation rate within 6 years, Montana (N = 9) | 46% | College Scorecard, median C150_4, bachelor's institutions, 2019 entrants2 |
Sources
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): IPEDS admissions files, fall 2013 to fall 2023 (IC2013, ADM2014, ADM2015, ADM2016, ADM2017, ADM2018, ADM2019, ADM2020, ADM2021, ADM2022, ADM2023). Checked 26 Oct 2026.
- U.S. Department of Education: College Scorecard, Most Recent Institution-Level Data (Most-Recent-Cohorts-Institution (release of 15 Oct 2026)). Data years: 2019 entrants, 2022-23, 2024-25, 2025-26, FY2024-25, fall 2023 entrants. Checked 25 Oct 2026.
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): IPEDS Institutional Characteristics 2023-24 (IC2023.zip). Data years: 2023-24. Checked 26 Oct 2026.
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): IPEDS Fall Enrollment, derived variables, fall 2023 (DRVEF2023.zip). Data years: 2023. Checked 26 Oct 2026.
AdmitFacts is not affiliated with Montana State, the U.S. Department of Education or NCES. Missing values are shown as Not reported, never estimated. The file field behind each figure is listed under "Every number on this page". How we build each page