Montana State University College Portrait
Montana State UniversityBozeman, MT 59717
(406) 994-2452
Montana State University
Our mission statement: Montana State University, the State's land-grant institution, educates students, creates knowledge and art, and serves communities, by integrating learning, discovery, and engagement.
At Montana State University, students will find a challenging and diverse learning environment that promotes the exploration, discovery and dissemination of new knowledge. MSU students, regardless of discipline, participate in a research or creative experience. These active, hands-on learning experiences give students a chance to practice what they’ve learned and provide excellent preparation for careers after college. MSU’s reputation for excellence and spectacular Rocky Mountain setting attract high quality students and faculty. Through its proximity to Yellowstone National Park and the Rocky Mountains, the university has developed a range of exciting field research programs. Whether it be searching for exotic microorganisms in Yellowstone’s thermal pools or digging for dinosaurs in the reaches of eastern Montana, our landscape offers opportunities found in few other places in the world.
Living in the Bobcats Community
Nearby attractions: Bridger Bowl Ski Area, 16 miles; Big Sky Ski Resort, 45 miles; Lee Metcalf Wilderness Area, 10 miles; Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, 25 miles; Yellowstone National Park, 80 miles; Glacier National Park, 350 miles.
Montana State University is a safe, supportive community offering significant opportunity to integrate educational experience with the great outdoors. The academic culture is one of collaboration in which faculty members mentor students to help them focus their work, develop ideas and create partnerships across disciplines. In so doing, students explore new ideas addressing significant global issues. The environment on campus is responsive, friendly and offers peer mentoring, caring staff, approachable administration, and a comprehensive network of student clubs and activities.
Additionally, Bozeman affords an unparalleled quality of life. It is a unique small town with the energy and cultural offerings of an urban area, and yet has a friendly, casual feel. Surrounded by four mountain ranges, national forests, spectacular ski resorts and blue-ribbon trout streams, the area offers countless opportunities for an active and inspiring lifestyle.
The Big Picture: How many students were on campus in Fall 2011?
More Information
| Total Students | 14,153 | |
|---|---|---|
Undergraduate Snapshot
| Total Undergraduate Students | 12,188 | |
|---|---|---|
| Gender | ||
| Women | 5,588 | 46% |
| Men | 6,600 | 54% |
| Race/Ethnicity | ||
| American Indian / Alaskan Native | 235 | 2% |
| Asian | 99 | 1% |
| African American / Black | 82 | 1% |
| Hispanic | 322 | 3% |
| Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | 5 | <1% |
| White | 10,542 | 86% |
| Two or More Races | 350 | 3% |
| International | 441 | 4% |
| Race/Ethnicity Not Reported | 112 | 1% |
| Where do MSU undergraduates call home? | |
|---|---|
| Montana | 65% |
| Other US States & Territories | 33% |
| Other Countries | 3% |
| How old are MSU undergraduates? | |
| Average Age | 22 |
| Percent of Undergraduates Age 25 or Older | 18% |
New Student Applications (Fall 2011)
New Freshmen High School Background and Test Scores
Test(s) Required for Admission: SAT or ACT recommended
| Test Scores of Enrolled New Freshmen | ACT | SAT |
|---|---|---|
| Composite | 21 - 27 | |
| Math | 21 - 27 | 500 - 630 |
| English | 20 - 27 | |
| Critical Reading | 490 - 620 |
50% of admitted students have test scores within the ranges listed, 25% have scores above, and 25% have scores below.
| High School Background of Enrolled New Freshmen | ||
|---|---|---|
| Percent in top 25% of High School Graduating Class | 43% | |
| Percent in top 50% of High School Graduating Class | 73% | |
| Percent of New Freshmen who submitted HS GPA | 66% | |
| Average High School GPA (4-point scale) | 3.28 | |
| Percent who submitted High School GPA | 94% | |
Sticker Price: How much does it cost on average?
Typical Undergraduate Costs for 2010-11 without Financial Aid (Full-Time, In-State Students)
Total Typical Cost of Attendance: $18,592.00
Fees listed are based on the average between in-state and out-of-state fees and are charged to full-time students (12 or more credits per semester for an academic year). Some fees are fixed charges while others vary with the number of credits taken. Some fees are charged only to students carrying seven or more credits.
Out-of-State & Other Costs
More Information
The cost to attend Montana State University varies based on the individual circumstances of students and may be reduced through grants and scholarships.
How much would I pay?
Financial Aid: How much help is there to pay?
Scholarships & Grants
- 41% of 2010-11 full-time undergraduates received need-based grants or scholarships; the average award for the year was $5,504.00. Scholarships and grants are financial aid that does not need to be repaid and is sometimes referred to as gift aid.
Annual Need-Based Loans
- 45% of 2010-11 full-time undergraduates received need-based work-study and/or loans (not including parent loans); the average loan for the year was $4,469.00. Loans need to be repaid. Typically, repayment starts once you are no longer enrolled full-time. Please refer to page 12 of the Funding Education Beyond High School guide on the US Department of Education's Federal Student Aid website for more information about Financial Need.
Percent of 2009 Full-time Beginning Students Receiving Each Type of Financial Aid
NOTE: Students may receive aid from more than one source.
MSU Classes & Instructors
| Classroom Environment | |
|---|---|
| Students per Faculty | 17 to 1 |
| Undergraduate classes with fewer than 30 students | 57% |
| Undergraduate classes with fewer than 50 students | 85% |
| Total Full-Time Instructional Faculty | 569 |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Are Female | 37% |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Are Persons of Color | 6% |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Have the Highest Academic Degree Offered in Their Field of Study | 75% |
More Information
Campus-based Housing
75% of new freshmen live in campus-based housing or residence halls.
25% of all undergraduates live on campus
More Information
Campus Safety
The mission of the Montana State University Police Department is to provide MSU’s students, employees, and visitors a safe and secure environment for living and learning. The mission for every member of the Department is to consistently seek and find ways to affirmatively promote, preserve, and deliver security, safety, and quality services to members of our community.
Campus Crime Statistics
Carnegie Classification of Institutional Characteristics
The Carnegie Classification's were created "to reference the great diversity of colleges and universities in the United States, and ... enable [people] to identify groups of roughly comparable institutions." For information on the Carnegie Classifications system, please visit their website: http://classifications.carnegiefoundation.org/
- Basic Type
- Research Universities (very high research activity)
- Size and Setting
- Large four-year, primarily residential
- Enrollment Profile
- Very high undergraduate
- Undergraduate Profile
- Full-time four-year, selective, higher transfer-in
- Undergraduate Instructional Program
- Professions plus arts & sciences, high graduate coexistence
- Graduate Instructional Program
- Doctoral, STEM dominant
NOTE: Institutional classifications based on the Carnegie 2005 edition.
More Information
Student Activities and Involvement at MSU
Students who are actively involved in their own learning and development are more likely to be successful in college. Colleges and universities offer students a wide variety of opportunities both inside and outside the classroom to become engaged with new ideas, people, and experiences. Institutions measure the effectiveness of these opportunities in a variety of ways to better understand what types of activities and programs students find the most helpful.
Institutions participating in the VSA program measure student involvement on campus using one of four national surveys. Results from the one survey are reported for a common set of questions selected as part of VSA. Following are the selected results from the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE). The questions have been grouped together in categories that are known to contribute to student learning and development. The results reported below are based on the responses of seniors who participated in the survey.
Group Learning Experiences
- 97% percent of seniors worked with classmates on assignments outside of class.
- 63% of seniors tutored or taught other students
- 24% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week participating in co-curricular activities such as student organizations and intramural sports
Active Learning Experiences
- 91% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week preparing for class
- 27% of seniors worked on a research project with a faculty member
- 51% of seniors participated in an internship, practicum, or field experience
- 62% of seniors participated in community service or volunteer work
- 18% of seniors participated in study abroad
- 97% of seniors made at least one class presentation last year
Institutional Commitment to Student Learning and Success
- 94% of seniors believe this institution provides support for student success
- 69% of seniors rated the quality of academic advising at this institution as good or excellent
- 56% of seniors reported that this institution provided help in coping with work, family and other non-academic responsibilities
- 93% of seniors reported working harder than they thought they could to meet an instructor's standards or expectations
Student Interaction with Campus Faculty and Staff
- 57% of seniors believed that the campus staff were helpful, considerate, or flexible
- 78% of seniors believed that faculty are available, helpful, or sympathetic
- 95% of seniors reported that faculty members provided prompt feedback on their academic performance
- 72% of seniors discussed readings or ideas with faculty members outside of class
Experiences with Diverse Groups of People and Ideas
- 66% of seniors reported that they often tried to understand someone else's point of view
- 75% of seniors reported their experience at this institution contributed to their understanding people of other racial and ethnic backgrounds
- 37% of seniors often had serious conversations with students of a different race or ethnicity
Student Satisfaction
- 82% of seniors would attend this institution if they started over again
- 84% of seniors rated their entire educational experience as good or excellent
- 87% of seniors reported that other students were friendly or supportive
Evaluation of Experiences
Survey Administration Process
Survey Information
Majors and Degrees
| Degrees awarded at Montana State University in 2010-11 | |
|---|---|
| Associate's | 9 |
| Bachelor's | 1,809 |
| Master's | 492 |
| Doctoral | 56 |
| Total | 2,366 |
More Information
| Areas of Study with the largest number of bachelor's degrees awarded in 2010-11 | |
|---|---|
| ENGINEERING | 12% |
| BUSINESS, MANAGEMENT, MARKETING, AND RELATED SUPPORT SERVICES | 10% |
| HEALTH PROFESSIONS AND RELATED PROGRAMS | 9% |
| VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS | 8% |
| EDUCATION | 7% |
| Links to degree programs at Montana State University |
|---|
Associate'sBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral |
Student Success & Progress Rate
A 78% four-year success and progress rate means that 78% of students starting in Fall 2005 either graduated or are still enrolled at a higher education institution four years later.
More Information
Counts for the Fall 2005 entering class shown in the graph above.
- 2,102 First-Time, Full-Time Students
- 645 Full-Time Transfer Students
Success & Progress Rate Table
Retention of Freshman Class
First-time students in Fall 2010 that returned for their second year: 74%
More Information
Student Learning at Montana State University
All colleges and universities use multiple approaches to measure student learning. Many of these are specific to particular disciplines, many are coordinated with accrediting agencies, and many are based on outcomes after students have graduated.
The ETS-Proficiency Profile (formerly known as MAPP) was selected to measure student learning outcomes, specifically, written communication and critical thinking. The test is described as “an integrated test of general education skills. The full MAPP assessment provides skills sub scores for critical thinking, reading, writing and mathematics. It also provides context based sub scores for humanities, social sciences and natural sciences. For the purposes of the VSA, only written communication and critical thinking sub scores will be utilized. Both norm and criterion referenced scores are provided. Norm referenced scores are used for baseline performance or for institutional comparison while criterion referenced scores are beneficial for determining strengths and weaknesses in curriculum. As a result, MAPP can be utilized to provide institutional reporting as required by the VSA and, if desired, expanded to provide information for curricular improvement. Both paper and web based forms are available. Scores can be received by the student and/or institution immediately with the web based version."
Students and transfers are combined in the assessment results under the "Pilot Project to Measure Core Learning Outcomes" section below.
Learning Assessment Examples
Pilot Project to Measure Core Learning Outcomes
Colleges and universities participating in the College Portrait measure the typical improvement in students' abilities to think, reason, and write using one of three tests. This is part of a pilot project to better understand and compare what students learn between their freshman and senior years at different colleges and universities.
2010 - 11 Results from the ETS Proficiency Profile (formerly MAPP)
The ETS Proficiency Profile (formerly MAPP) measures critical thinking, analytic reasoning, and written communication and reports separate scores on critical thinking and written communication.
Test Administration Process
Test Information
Critical Thinking Results for First-time, Full-time Students
The increase in learning on the performance task is at or near what would be expected at an institution testing students of similar academic abilities.
Freshman Score: 112
Senior Score: 118
ETS score range: 100 to 130
Average ACT scores for tested students
Freshman Score: 25
Senior Score: 27
Written Communication Results for First-time, Full-time Students
The increase in learning on the performance task is at or near what would be expected at an institution testing students of similar academic abilities.
Freshman Score: 115
Senior Score: 118
ETS score range: 100 to 130
Average ACT scores for tested students
Freshman Score: 25
Senior Score: 27
Critical Thinking Results for Full-time Transfer Students
The increase in learning on the performance task is at or near what would be expected at an institution testing students of similar academic abilities.
Freshman Score: 0
Senior Score: 0
ETS score range: 100 to 130
Written Communication Results for Full-time Transfer Students
The increase in learning on the performance task is at or near what would be expected at an institution testing students of similar academic abilities.
Freshman Score: 0
Senior Score: 0
ETS score range: 100 to 130