Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $25,905. College Scorecard.
Net price by family income
Average after grants and scholarships for Montana residents receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard, latest reported year
Sticker price, line by line
| Per year, living on campus | In-state | Out-of-state |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & fees | $8,460 | $33,287 |
| Housing & meals | $13,446 | $13,446 |
| Books & supplies | $1,450 | $1,450 |
| Personal & travel | $3,692 | $3,692 |
| Living-at-home adjustment | −$1,143 | −$1,143 |
| Total cost of attendance | $25,905 | $50,732 |
Cost items: IPEDS 2023-24, on-campus budget. Total: College Scorecard, which averages students living on and off campus; the adjustment row reconciles the two. Out-of-state total = in-state total with out-of-state tuition.
Debt after graduation
College Scorecard; Urban Institute Education Data Portal
Who gets aid
College Scorecard
MSU net price compared with other Montana colleges
MSU has the 12th-lowest average net price of 13 Montana colleges we cover. Schools around it:
| Rank | College | Avg. net price | Graduation | Earnings, 10 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Montana State University-Northern | $12,664 | 41% | $49,505 |
| 6 | Montana Technological University | $16,481 | 58% | $54,329 |
| 7 | Montana State University Billings | $16,524 | 30% | $44,296 |
| 8 | The University of Montana-Western | $16,558 | 51% | $43,229 |
| 9 | The University of Montana | $16,784 | 48% | $44,511 |
| 10 | University of Providence | $17,649 | 28% | $48,296 |
| 11 | Rocky Mountain College | $19,751 | 48% | $49,036 |
| 12 | Montana State University | $22,499 | 57% | $53,263 |
| 13 | Carroll College | $23,960 | 69% | $61,772 |
College Scorecard, latest year. Average for all aided students; your price depends on income. All Montana colleges →
Why MSU costs more or less than similar schools
| School | Acceptance | You'd pay | Graduation | Earnings, 10 yrs | Price gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montana State University | 82% | $22,499 | 57% | $53,263 | This school |
| The University of Montana | 96% | $16,784 | 48% | $44,511 | |
| Montana Technological University | 91% | $16,481 | 58% | $54,329 | |
| The University of Montana-Western | 100% | $16,558 | 51% | $43,229 | |
| Montana State University-Northern | — | $12,664 | 41% | $49,505 |
College Scorecard, latest reported year. “You'd pay” follows your residency and income choices above.
Why the price is different
Montana State University would cost you $5,715 more per year than The University of Montana, on average.
- Higher sticker price at Montana State University, mostly from higher housing & meal costs (+$1,254).
- The University of Montana gives aided families $3,380 more in grants, on average.
| Per year, Montana resident | MSU | The University of Montana | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition & fees | $8,460 | $8,552 | −$92 |
| Books & supplies | $1,450 | $1,100 | +$350 |
| Housing & meals | $13,446 | $12,192 | +$1,254 |
| Personal & travel | $3,692 | $3,784 | −$92 |
| Living-at-home adjustment | −$1,143 | −$2,058 | +$915 |
| Sticker price | $25,905 | $23,570 | +$2,335 |
| Average grants | −$3,406 | −$6,786 | +$3,380 |
| You pay | $22,499 | $16,784 | +$5,715 |
“+” means MSU costs more; “−” means it costs less. Grants are the sticker price minus the net price. Cost items: IPEDS, on-campus budget. Sticker and net price: College Scorecard, latest reported year; the adjustment reconciles the two. Net price is an average for first-time, full-time students receiving federal aid, not a quote.
MSU cost questions
How much is tuition at MSU?
Tuition and fees are $8,460 a year for Montana residents and $33,287 for out-of-state students.
What is the total cost of attending MSU?
The total cost of attendance, including housing, meals, books and personal costs, is $25,905 a year for Montana residents living on campus and about $50,732 for out-of-state students.
What do families actually pay at MSU?
After grants and scholarships, students receiving federal aid pay $22,499 a year on average. Families earning $0–30k pay $17,797; $48–75k pay $21,977; $110k+ pay $25,905. These figures are for Montana residents.
How much debt do MSU graduates have?
The median federal loan debt at graduation is $13,748, and 3.5% of borrowers defaulted within three years of entering repayment (2017 cohort).
Is MSU the right fit for your family?
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS; Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-By). Net price is an average for first-time, full-time students receiving federal aid, not a quote; confirm with the school's net price calculator. Back to Montana State University overview