Public
Accredited · Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
Havre, Montana
Montana State University-Northern — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
2.79Avg GPA
$17,363Annual Cost
$49,505Grad Salary
29.7%Pell Grant
Avg GPA
2.79
Selectivity
Open Enrollment
Institution Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
SAT Middle 50%
-40–30
Avg Net Price
$14,164
Need-Based Aid
29.7% receive Pell
Montana State University-Northern, established in 1929, serves the Hi-Line region from its 55-acre campus in Havre. The university features diesel technology labs, nursing simulation centers, and agricultural research facilities. MSU-Northern specializes in Diesel Technology, Nursing, and Education programs with hands-on learning approaches. The university maintains partnerships with regional school districts and industries.
MSU-Northern is unranked among national universities but holds distinction for its Diesel Technology program, one of the oldest in the nation. The university serves about 1,200 students with a 13:1 student-faculty ratio. Unique aspects include undergraduate research opportunities in alternative fuels and partnerships with tribal colleges. The Hi-Line location provides access to both agricultural and energy industry experiences.
Montana State University-Northern Acceptance Rate
Montana State University-Northern runs an open-access admission policy — with a 100% acceptance rate, the focus is on getting qualified students in, not filtering them out.
What to Expect
- Eligibility First: A high school diploma or GED typically clears the main bar.
- Plan Ahead for Placement: Placement tests can shape which courses you start in — worth preparing for.
Selectivity at a Glance
Open Enrollment
Selectivity scale: Open Enrollment — rate not reported
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Slightly below-average GPA? A strong test score or clear leadership track record can still keep you competitive.
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
2.79 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
2.59 – 2.78
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 2.34
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Montana State University-Northern Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Montana State University-Northern follows a Rolling Admissions policy, meaning applications are reviewed as they arrive and there is no single fixed deadline, though the priority deadline of November 1 is recommended for the best chances of admission and financial aid.
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 91 days left — Rolling
Rolling Admissions — Apply Anytime
Montana State University-Northern reviews applications continuously throughout the year. Seats and scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so applying early gives you a significant advantage for both admission and financial aid.
Rolling
November 1
Rolling
April 1
Rolling
July 1
💡 The scholarship deadline (Institutional scholarships vary by program) often falls before the regular admission deadline. Submit your application and FAFSA early to be considered for maximum aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
Montana State University-Northern GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at Montana State University-Northern is 2.79. That makes admissions here moderately selective. Most admitted students carry a blend of A's, B's, and the occasional C.
A stronger SAT or ACT score can comfortably offset a GPA on the lower end of this range.
Most schools report GPA on a weighted or unweighted 4.0 scale differently — for an unweighted profile like this, students with AP/IB coursework typically carry a weighted GPA of 2.99–3.19.Montana State University-Northern GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Holistic review is critical for admission.
Recommended Strategy: Requires Contextual Factors (Leadership, hardship, or talent).
Where your GPA falls in this range shapes what the rest of your application needs to do:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
2.79 – 4.00
Strategic Reach
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
2.59 – 2.78
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
2.39 – 2.58
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 2.38
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- MSU-Northern application fees vary sharply by residency and transfer status: free for MT residents, $30 for others, $8 for MT system transfers via transmittal.
- Diesel Technology offers a seamless AAS-to-BS pathway with no lost credits, including a Field Maintenance option combining welding/fabrication with diesel repair for field-based careers.
- ASN nursing admission is separate from general admission, with its own May 1?June 15 window and a 2.85 extracted GPA requirement across four named prerequisites.
- The university reports a 94% job placement rate and graduate earnings ~50% above the Montana four-year college average.
- Rigor Over Raw Number: A slightly lower GPA (say 3.8) paired with multiple AP or IB courses often outweighs a flat 4.0 from a standard curriculum.
- Trajectory Matters: A lower start in 9th or 10th grade, followed by a clear upward trend senior year, reads as academic resilience rather than a weakness.
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at Montana State University-Northern
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on Montana State University-Northern's verified institutional data
--%
Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
⚠️ Note: Predicting based on regional averages as this institution does not publicly report full score datasets.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
Montana State University-Northern Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if Montana State University-Northern is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into Montana State University-Northern Without SAT or ACT?
Montana State University-Northern's test-score policy isn't published. As a default, submit your score only if it's at or above the state/national average — a below-average score can work against you.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Montana State University-Northern
Inclusive Strategy: Success & Transfer
Montana State University-Northern provides an open gateway to higher education. Success here is about using available resources well and planning your longer-term academic or career path.
Use the ApplyMontana Fee Structure to Your Advantage
MSU-Northern uses the shared ApplyMontana portal across the Montana University System. The application fee is waived entirely for Montana residents, costs $30 for everyone else, but drops to just $8 if you're transferring from another Montana University System school via an official transmittal. If you're a Montana resident or transferring within-state, make sure your application routes through the correct (cheaper or free) pathway rather than defaulting to the standard non-resident fee.
Enter Diesel Technology Through the AAS-to-BS Pathway, Not as a Restart
MSU-Northern's Diesel Technology program offers a genuinely seamless AAS-to-BS pathway with no lost credits, including a Field Maintenance option that layers welding and fabrication onto core diesel coursework for mobile/on-location repair careers. If the goal is a bachelor's degree, start in the AAS track deliberately rather than treating the associate degree as a separate stopping point - the credits are designed to stack directly into the BS.
Treat ASN Nursing as a Separate, Narrow-Window Application
Admission to MSU-Northern does not include admission to the ASN nursing program, which applies separately during a specific May 1?June 15 window and requires an extracted GPA of 2.85 (with a "C" or better) across four specific prerequisites: College Algebra, Anatomy & Physiology I, College Writing I, and General Chemistry. Note that MSU-Northern's own materials are inconsistent about the required entrance exam (one page cites a Kaplan Nursing Entrance Exam at 65%, another describes only "a standardized or teacher-constructed test") - call the Department of Nursing directly to confirm the current exact requirement before the window closes.
Use the Outcomes Data as Application Leverage, Not Just Marketing
MSU-Northern explicitly reports a 94% job placement rate and graduate earnings roughly 50% above the average for Montana four-year college graduates - these are real, measured outcomes the university leads with. For technical/career-focused program applicants, referencing this employment-outcomes focus directly in an application statement or advisor conversation signals genuine alignment with what this specific campus is built to deliver, distinct from a generic "good school" pitch.
Expert Insight:
Because "Montana State University" is also the name of the much larger Bozeman flagship campus, generic searches for admission requirements, deadlines, acceptance rates, and even application portals often surface Bozeman-specific information (different fees, different academic profile, different deadlines) that simply doesn't apply to the Northern campus in Havre. Always verify any detail against msun.edu specifically, not montana.edu.
Montana State University-Northern Profile
Full Name
Montana State University-Northern
City
Havre
State
Montana
ZIP Code
59501
Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
Is a Montana State University-Northern Degree Worth It?
Montana State University-Northern offers a rigorous academic environment, but 'worth it' is a personal calculation of cost, program fit, and outcomes — the figures below are a starting point.
The average household income among admitted students is $43,700, with a graduate unemployment rate of 5.15%.
How much does a degree from Montana State University-Northern Cost?
The sticker price is $17,363/year, but the average net price students actually pay — after Pell and federal grants — is closer to $14,164.
29.7% of students receive a Pell Grant and 28% take federal loans at Montana State University-Northern — file your FAFSA early and list Montana State University-Northern as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a Montana State University-Northern Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $49,505 — about 22% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Degree Programs at Montana State University-Northern
Bachelor Degree Programs
Masters Degree Programs
Associate Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Montana State University-Northern Admissions
Median earnings for Montana State University-Northern graduates sit around $49,505 a year.
At about $17,363 a year, Montana State University-Northern is on the more affordable end.
About 29.7% receive a Pell Grant at Montana State University-Northern — moderate odds, largely income-dependent, but an early FAFSA filing still helps.
Admitted students at Montana State University-Northern average a 2.79 GPA.
Montana State University-Northern doesn't publish a hard GPA floor — but landing at or above 2.49 keeps you in the typical applicant range; below it, lean on essays and recommendations.
Below 2.39, Montana State University-Northern becomes a harder reach — though a strong test score, meaningful activities, and AP/IB coursework can still make a real case.
The application deadline for Montana State University-Northern is November 1 for Rolling applicants. Rolling Admissions is also offered, so applying early improves your chances.
The application fee is 30. Fee waivers may be available — check with admissions.
The scholarship/financial aid priority deadline is Institutional scholarships vary by program. Submit FAFSA before then for maximum consideration.
Yes — transfers are common. Have transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement ready to make your case.
Strong academics, a focused extracurricular profile, and standout essays move the needle most — along with a competitive SAT/ACT score where relevant.