Montana State University is somewhat selective in its admission process. The acceptance rate of Montana State University (MSU) is 73.33%. This means that 73 out of every 100 applicants get admitted.
How Competitive are Montana State University Admissions?
- Competitive: Applicants need good academics and extracurriculars.
- GPA, SAT/ACT, and AP/IB courses significantly impact admission chances.
- A holistic review considers essays, recommendations, and leadership roles.
To secure admission, you must convince the admission staff that you are both mentally and physically fit for the course of study. More importantly, your GPA, class performance, SAT/ACT scores, and IB or AP courses can help your application stand out. Additionally, if you do not perform well in one area, you can showcase your strengths in other areas, as the MSU is not very strict in its admission process, so improving other areas will help you secure admission.
As the acceptance rate is above 50%, you still have a chance if your GPA is not excellent. You can make up for a lower GPA by scoring high on the SAT, and ACT, and taking IB or AP courses.
Additionally, a well-written letter of recommendation, your participation in co-curricular and extracurricular activities, and your interpersonal communication skills can enhance your admission chances.
Montana State University Admission Requirements
MSU GPA Requirement
The average GPA of the admitted students at MSU is 3.5. MSU is highly selective.
Mostly A’s with a few B’s will keep you competitive. Taking AP/IB courses related to your field will improve your chances.
If your GPA is between 3.2 and 3.5, a strong SAT or ACT score is recommended. You need at least a 3.1 GPA to secure admission.
Can I Get Into MSU Without SAT Or ACT?: Montana State University considers admission test scores (SAT/ACT) during the application process but does not require them. Although it is not strictly a requirement, the test scores are considered for admission decisions. Hence, it is advisable to prepare well for the test and submit the best scores. Normally, students may appear in the test 4 to 5 times to improve their scores. Hence you are required to plan early and appear in upcoming SAT / ACT tests. Check the schedule of the test and plan accordingly. It is advisable to appear multiple times in the test unless you score well above the average SAT / ACT score of the admitted students, as given below.
Montana State University (MSU) SAT Requirements
Each school has different requirements for SAT and ACT testing. Only a few schools require the SAT or ACT, but many consider your scores if you choose to submit them. The test score policy is already mentioned.
Montana State University Average SAT Score: 1158
The average SAT score of the admitted students at Montana State University is 1158 on the 1600 SAT scale.
Montana State University SAT Competitiveness
This score makes it less competitive for SAT test scores. You need to put average efforts to score 1158 on the SAT.
Key Insight:Aim for the 75th percentile (1290 SAT or 27 ACT) to stand out. If your scores are below average, consider retaking the test. Montana State University allows Score Choice for the SAT and Superscoring for the ACT, giving you flexibility to submit your best scores.
If your score is below 1070, you must retake the SAT to improve your chances of admission to MSU. It is not strange to appear multiple times for the SAT to improve scores. Colleges don’t mind if you have appeared multiple times, but not more than 5 times.
Montana State University SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | 585 | 530 | 640 |
| SAT Reading | 595 | 540 | 650 |
| SAT Composite | 1158 | 1070 | 1290 |
It means that if you have scored less than 1070 then you are below most of the admitted students at MSU and your chances of admission are very few. But if you have scored 1290 or more, your chances of admission are higher. 25th percentile means that only 25% of the admitted students have fewer scores than this score. 75th percentile marks the score of the upper 25% of the students. View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1150
Can I get into Montana State University (MSU) with a 1300 SAT?
With a 1300 SAT Score, your chances of admission at Montana State University (MSU) are good but the admission staff at MSU tests your all-around personality and your academics. Your GPA, Class performance, SAT/ACT/Test scores, and AP or IB Courses can help your application stand out. Co-curricular and extra-curricular activities and interpersonal communication skills are very important. Additionally, if you cannot perform well in one area, you have a chance to showcase your strengths and abilities in other areas, improving other areas will help you secure admission. You need to show better performance in all areas. An equally high GPA, taking IB or AP Courses and your role in leadership activities will increase your chances of admission. However, if you equally compete well in all other areas, your chances of admission are high.
Montana State University (MSU) ACT Requirements
The average ACT Score at MSU is 24.
Montana State University ACT Competitiveness
This score makes Montana State University slightly Competitive for ACT scores. You need to well to score 24 on the ACT.
Montana State University ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 23 | 19 | 26 |
| ACT English | 23 | 19 | 26 |
| ACT Composite | 24 | 20 | 27 |
Can I get into Montana State University with a 27 ACT?
With a 27 ACT Score, your chances of admission at Montana State University are good but the admission staff does not check your ACT Score only. The College Admission process tests your all-around personality and academics. Your GPA, Class performance, SAT/ACT/Test scores, and AP or IB Courses can help your application stand out. Co-curricular and extra-curricular activities and interpersonal communication skills are very important. Additionally, if you cannot perform well in one area, you have a chance to showcase your strengths and abilities in other areas, improving other areas will help you secure admission.
SAT Vs ACT: Which score to send
You can compare your scores in SAT and ACT to the average SAT and ACT Scores of the admitted students at Montana State University. More importantly, comparing your scores with the 25th and 75th percentiles of SAT and ACT scores will give you a better understanding of where you stand. If your score on the SAT is near the 75th percentile SAT score, then you must send your SAT score. If your ACT score is near the 75th percentile, then you must send your ACT Score.
But there is more, if both of your scores are in the same range, then it is better to send an ACT Score, as in the case of ACT, you can control which score to send as opposed to SAT.
Here is how: When sending the ACT Score, you can decide which score you want to send to the colleges. You could take 8 ACT tests, and only send your highest one. This is not the case with the SAT, where your score report mentions all of your attempts.
View a list of all colleges with an average ACT score of 24.MSU Profile
Name: Montana State University (MSU)
Accredited by: Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
How much does a degree from MSU Cost?
The average annual cost of the degree at Montana State University is USD: 22506. As most of the students receive Pell Grants and Federal Grants the average annual net price a student has to pay at Montana State University is USD: 19600
How can I get a scholarship?
18.14% of the students are receiving Pell Grant and 32.46 percent are receiving Federal Grants. So it is a better choice to go to MSU and apply for PELL or federal loan grants.
At Montana State University, you will have no problem receiving any scholarship from the federal government. Fill in the FAFSA application form at the earliest and enlist MSU as your choice in the form.
How much a MSU Graduate make?
The average annual salary of the MSU graduate after 4-6 years of graduation is USD 53263. An average MSU graduate makes this much after 10 years of enrollment (4-6 years after graduation).
The average annual income of a graduate in the United States is USD: 40595
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Montana State University. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower than the requirements of Montana State University, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of South Alabama | University of South Alabama, AL | 1118 | 23 |
| Arkansas State University | Arkansas State University, AR | 1119 | 22 |
| University of Central Arkansas | University of Central Arkansas, AR | 1118 | 22 |
| Azusa Pacific University | Azusa Pacific University, CA | 1132 | 25 |
| University of La Verne | University of La Verne, CA | 1116 | 22 |
| William Jessup University | William Jessup University, CA | 1130 | NA |
| Fort Lewis College | Fort Lewis College, CO | 1147 | 22 |
| Western Connecticut State University | Western Connecticut State University, CT | 1126 | 24 |
| Lynn University | Lynn University, FL | 1126 | 24 |
| Florida Atlantic University | Florida Atlantic University, FL | 1112 | 23 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Montana State University. If your SAT or ACT score are competitive for Montana State University, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Arkansas | University of Arkansas, AR | 1167 | 25 |
| University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus | University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus, CO | 1150 | 24 |
| Regis University | Regis University, CO | 1149 | 24 |
| Western Colorado University | Western Colorado University, CO | 1154 | 25 |
| Howard University | Howard University, DC | 1164 | 23 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Montana State University. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham-Southern College | Birmingham-Southern College, AL | 1218 | 26 |
| University of Mobile | University of Mobile, AL | 1220 | 24 |
| Samford University | Samford University, AL | 1227 | 26 |
| University of Arizona | University of Arizona, AZ | 1229 | 25 |
| John Brown University | John Brown University, AR | 1218 | 26 |
Degree Programs
Bachelor Degree Programs
- Agricultural Business and Management
- Agricultural Production Operations
- Agriculture/Veterinary Preparatory Programs
- Animal Sciences
- Anthropology
- Architectural Sciences and Technology
- Area Studies
- Biology, General
- Biomedical/Medical Engineering
- Biotechnology
Full list of All degree programs offered by Montana State University.
Data on this page is sourced from IPEDS, College Scorecard's latest data as provided in 2024, US Department of Education's latest 2024 statistics, Institute's official websites and printed material as well as additional publicly available sources.