Hires

Large

Default

Tablet Portait

Handheld Landscape

Handheld Portait

Montana State University

Bozeman, MT

Montana State University with the Bridger Mountains

About This Campus

Montana State University is a land-grant institution offering undergraduate and graduate programs in liberal arts, basic sciences, and the professional areas of agriculture, architecture, business, education, engineering, and nursing, all of which relate to the needs of a technological society. The University was founded in 1893 and today has over 16,000 students, an academic faculty of approximately 550, and another 200 professionals engaged in research. MSU is located in Bozeman, city of over 50,000, situated in a scenic area of the country, just 90 miles north of Yellowstone National Park and within an easy drive of Teton and Glacier National Parks. Situated at the foot of the northern Rockies, Bozeman offers a variety of year-round activities for the outdoor enthusiast. Superb fishing, hunting, skiing, rock/ice climbing, kayaking, rafting, and camping are at MSU's doorstep along with a number of historical sites named by Lewis and Clark's expedition.

Location Information

Bozeman is a small town surrounded by five mountain ranges and sits at 5000 feet above sea level. It boasts four seasons, lakes, rivers, ski areas, trails for hiking, biking, a quaint downtown, and active music scene. Housing is very tight so if you are interested in living in on-campus housing, please apply for housing ASAP. Students should be flexible with living off-campus in case on-campus housing is unavailable. On-campus housing is much easier to access in Spring Semester.

Helpful Information

You will find that most of the student population enjoys to be outside. Therefore, you will want to have some kind of transportation, either a bike or car. Our bus system is extensive throughout the valley and to the ski areas, but will not take you to places like Yellowstone or Glacier National Parks, a good long drive away. Our winters can be cold, so be prepared for negative twenty degrees for a few days. We have wonderful second hand stores to buy winter gear or any kind of sports equipment.

2023/2024 Placement

------
Host Payment
Open
Home Payment
Closed

2024/2025 Placement

Learn more about Chance of Placement
and choosing alternate options.

Fast Facts

------
Location | Bozeman
Population | 50,000
Enrollment | 16,000
Language | English
Calendar | Semester
Canada | Home & Host
Term Dates
Fall | 08/26-12/13
Spring | 01/13-05/04

Campus Diversity

------
1st Nation/Native | 5%
Asian | 4%
Black | 1%
Hawaiian/P.I. | 0%
Hispanic/Latino | 4%
Two or more | 0%
White | 86%
Other | 0%
International | 0%
featured area
research

Academics

RegistrationClosed Programs
All Theater, upper division courses in Film, Photography, Graphic Design, upper division Clinical Nursing, Music Technology, and Student Teaching.

Limitations
Enrollment in Business, Ecology, Environmental Science, Natural Resources, Psychology, and Education courses is VERY limited. Incoming NSE students MUST have flexibility in course selection, despite the early registration date. Priority registration does not always ensure that students will be able to register for certain courses early. Equivalent prerequisites and math-level requirements are strictly enforced for all courses that require them. Registration in Architecture and Art is very limited and restricted to majors only. A portfolio may be required.

Notable Academic Programs

  • Biotechnology - We have degree programs in animal, plant, and microbial systems.
  • Native American Studies - MSU has 8 unique, native American tribal lands within its borders.
  • Environmental Sciences - Our environmental sciences departments are vast and have Yellowstone National Park and the national forests to utilize as their laboratories.
  • Snow Science - MSU has the only undergraduate degree in snow science in the country. Students have hands-on labs with avalanches and snow pack studies in the mountains surrounding Bozeman.
  • Geology - Our geology programs are extensive and have the surrounding mountains as their outdoor examples of the material the students learn within the classroom. Professors use many field trips to showcase the ideas.

Unique Academic Programs

  • Snow Science
  • Industrial Engineering
  • Paleontology
  • Japanese Studies
  • Sustainability Studies

Options
Honors Access: Yes

Undergraduate Majors Open to NSE Students

Accounting, Agricultural Business, Agricultural Education... ++ show all

Conditions

GPA and Other Academic Requirements
  • No students accepted from NSE members within my own state
  • 2.5 GPA
Exchange Preferences
  • Full-year exchange Accepted
  • Single term exchange Accepted
Summer Exchange
  • Not available
International Students (Visa Students)
  • Will not accept
Canadian Students
  • Will accept Home/Host Pay

Tuition / Finances

Figures per Semester are current as of 02/06/23

Finances
  • Campus Budget
  • Fees are subject to change without notice.
  • Two semesters = one academic year
  • Three quarters = one academic year
Tuition and Fees Per Semester - Host Payment Students
  • Estimated cost: $3863.
  • Expect 5-15% increase for the subsequent academic year.
  • Figures are based on 15 hours. Actual costs may be greater or less depending upon your actual enrollment.
  • Figures do not include costs you will incur for course specific enrollment (e.g., laboratory courses, student teaching, studio art)
  • See below for credit hour restrictions and/or miscellaneous fees applicable to Host Payment students.
Tuition and Fees - Home Payment Students
  • No tuition/fees are paid to the host campus.
  • Figures do not include costs you will incur for course specific enrollment (e.g., laboratory courses, student teaching, studio art)
  • See below for credit hour restrictions and/or miscellaneous fees applicable to Home Payment students.
Maximum Credit Hours Per Semester
  • Host Payment: 21
  • Home Payment: 21

Financial Aid for NSE Students
Regardless of Payment Plan, financial aid is awarded by and disbursed from your home campus.

Miscellaneous Fees - Per Semester

Purpose Amount Period Plan Status
NSE Program Fee $75 Year Host & Home Mandatory
Housing Deposit $300 Semester Host & Home Optional
Activity Fee $15 Year Host Mandatory
Recreation Fee $25 Year Host Mandatory
ID Card $20 Year Host & Home Mandatory
Parking Fee $235 Year Host Mandatory

Important Notes: A housing deposit of $300 is required if choosing on campus housing. For students only exchanging Fall semester and living on-campus, a Contract Release application must be submitted through the Housing Portal to cancel the housing contract for the spring semester. Students may submit an appeal for the $300 cancellation fee by emailing University Student Housing with a brief summary of why the student should not have to pay the cancellation fee. Please contact University Student Housing for the contact information for the staff member who manages the appeal process. Appeals are not guaranteed.

Room / Meals

Figures are current as of 02/06/23

On-Campus Housing Per Semester
  • On-Campus Housing
  • 25% living on campus
  • Double: $5650 (includes meals)
  • Full-year contract required for a full-year exchange
Off-Campus Housing
  • Off-Campus Housing
  • Approximate monthly cost: $750
  • Proximity to campus: walking distance
  • Local Public Transportation Available to Campus
Notes About Housing
Housing is VERY competitive, both on- and off-campus. If you are interested in living in on-campus housing, please apply for housing ASAP. Students should be flexible with living off-campus in case on-campus housing is unavailable. On-campus housing is much easier to access in Spring Semester. You are allowed to apply for housing before you are formally admitted, so please apply as soon as possible: https://www.montana.edu/housing/ A housing deposit of $300 is required if choosing on campus housing. For students only exchanging Fall semester and living on-campus, a Contract Release application must be submitted through the Housing Portal to cancel the housing contract for the spring semester. Students may submit an appeal for the $300 cancellation fee by emailing University Student Housing with a brief summary of why the student should not have to pay the cancellation fee. Please contact University Student Housing for the contact information for the staff member who manages the appeal process. Appeals are not guaranteed.

Meal Plans

Notes About Meal Plans
MSU has several meal plan options. Choose the one that fits your lifestyle best. Our newest dining hall opened Fall 2018. Commuter meal plans are available for students living off-campus.

Health

Figures per Semester are current as of 02/06/23

Purpose Amount Period Plan Status
Health Insurance $2337.50 Semester Host & Home Optional

Exchange with Canada - Health Insurance
Students do not need to purchase health insurance.

Requirements

    Comments on Problems or Conditions for Access
    Access to our local airport is an easy 20 minute drive from campus. Local taxis will bring you directly to campus. We also have the Greyhound Bus terminal in Bozeman. No train access available.

    Other Health Related Comments
    You do not need to purchase the MSU health insurance, but you must be able to show proof of health insurance.

    All data in this document is the responsibility of the campus and has been provided by the campus NSE coordinator.
    Welcome to NSE!
    Select the campus you currently attend...
    Start Here!
    To see the correct schools, first select the campus you currently attend...
    We use cookies on this site to personalize content and ads, provide social media features and analyze web traffic. By using this site, you are consenting for us to set cookies.