Montana State University

If you are planning on applying to MSU, the fee for the application is $38.

MSU Admissions Stats at a Glance

Here's an overiew of some of MSU's admissions stats.

MSU 2022	Admissions Statistics
Mean Unweighted GPA	3.5
Admitted Students in Top 10% of Graduating Class	19.82%
Admissions Test Policy	Not optional and are considered
Applicants Who Submit SATs	26.3%
Applicants Who Submit ACTs	41.5%
Waitlist	No

Montana State University Application Deadlines

These are the application deadlines for Montana State University.

Application Type	Offered	Application Deadline	Notification Deadline
Early Decision I	No	––	––
Early Decision II	––	––	––
Early Action	Yes	––	––

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Want to Apply Early to MSU?

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MSU does not offer early decision but does offer early action.

➡️ See a list of some selective colleges that accept significantly more applicants during early decision or early action than during regular admission.

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More on Montana State University Admissions

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Is MSU Challenging To Get Into?

Getting into MSU is moderately difficult. MSU evaluates applicants carefully based on multiple criteria to decide who to admit, and who to deny.

In 2021, MSU accepted 73% of all applicants, around 19,481 from 26,667 applicants.

Schools that are moderately difficult to get into, like MSU, accept fewer than 85% of all applicants. At least 75% of all admitted students have GPAs in the top 50% of their high school class and scored over 1010 on the SAT or over 18 on the ACT.

Transferring to Montana State University

Transfer student admissions is moderately difficult.

For Students Waitlisted to MSU

MSU has not reported data for waitlisted and admitted students.

What's Most Important for Getting Into MSU?

Colleges consider a range of factors when deciding who to admit for their next incoming class. Each college decides which factors are given the most weight when choose which applicants to admit, and which to deny. When assembling your list of schools to apply to, you may want to consider your strengths and any possible weaknesses in your application, and choose schools that put the most emphasis on the areas where you shine.

Admissions Factors at MSU

Wondering what factors are considered by MSU during the admissions process? Take a look at the list below to see which factors are most important during the admissions process.

Admissions Factor	Level
Academic GPA	Very Important
Class Rank	Considered
Rigor of Secondary School Record	Considered
Standardized Test Scores	Considered

Make sure to check with MSU for more information on admission factors.

MSU Application Requirements

To apply to MSU, all applicants must submit the following items. Double check with MSU's admissions department to confirm all application materials and requirements.

Area	Required	Recommended	Required for Some	Details (If Any)
Written Essay or Personal Statement
Interview
Transcript(S) of College Record
Standardized Test Scores
Statement of Good Standing From Prior Institution(S)
Transcript of High School Record	√
Minimum High School GPA (On 4.0 Scale)	2.5

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GPA and Testing

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What GPA Do I Need To Get Into MSU?

Students admitted to MSU have an average unweighted GPA of 3.5.

Out of all students that were admitted, 59.75% submitted a class rank. At MSU 19.82% of students ranked in the top 10% of their graduating class in high school, 44.4% were in the top 25% and 74.21% were in the top 50%.

GPAs of Admitted Students

At Montana State University, student GPAs fall in the following ranges.

GPA	Percent of Students
4.0 GPA	18.97%
3.75 and 3.99	23.39%
3.50 and 3.74	18.58%
3.25 and 3.49	12.4%
3.00 and 3.24	9.72%
2.50 and 2.9	12.5%
2.00 and 2.49	3.64%

This chart depicts the percentage of all enrolled, degree-seeking, first-time, first year (freshmen) students who had high school grade point average within the given ranges.

Note: Some schools choose not release this information. If you have any questions regarding missing numbers, be sure to reach out to MSU directly.

About GPAs

Your high school grade point average (GPA) is a number that highlights your high school academic performance. A weighted GPA or an unweighted GPA are the two possible GPA scores considered by colleges.

An unweighted GPA is an average of your scores from each class on a four-point scale. Unweighted GPAs range from 4.0 to under 1.0. A weighted GPA considers your average grade and the difficulty of your classes. A weighted GPA boosts your average by adding extra points for honors or Advanced Placement courses.

Standardized Test Scores

MSU looks at standardized tests scores during the admissions process.

MSU does not have a test optional admissions policy. Test optional schools allow students to choose if they want to submit ACT or SAT scores with their applications or not.

In 2022, 26.3% of MSU's first-year students submitted their SAT scores with their application. 41.5% of admitted applicants sent ACT scores.

What is a Good SAT Score for MSU?

To be competitive with other MSU applicants, you should aim to score between 1080 and 1280 (or higher!) on the SAT. At MSU 25% of admitted students scored higher than 1280 and 25% of scored lower than 1080, but the majority of students scored somewhere in between these two numbers.

On the SAT Math Section, 25% of MSU students scored 650 or higher and 75% of students scored 540 or higher. On the SAT Critical Reading section (formerly called the Verbal section), 25% of MSU students scored 650 or higher, and 75% scored a 540 or higher.

What is a Good ACT Score for MSU?

To be most competitive at MSU, you should strive to earn between 20 and 27 on the ACT.

An ACT score of 27 means you fall in the 75th percentile for MSU's admitted students. One out of every four students scored above a 27, and three out of four students scored lower than 27 on the ACT.

A 20 on the ACT is the 25th percentile for MSU students. Only one out of every four students scored below 20.

Want To Bring Up Your ACT Score? Access ACT practice tests and study tips and see upcoming ACT test dates.

More Information on Transferring to Montana State University

For transfer students, it is moderately difficult to get admitted to MSU. Transfer applications are processed on a on a rolling basis as they are received.

Transfer students can enroll in MSU during the following terms:

• Fall Term

• Spring Term

• Summer Term

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MSU Admissions FAQs

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Can I defer my acceptance to MSU?

✅ Yes, admitted students can defer their admission to MSU.

Does MSU accept transfer credits?

✅ MSU accepts eligible transfer credits from accredited institutions. MSU accepts:

• CLEP subject tests • DSST/DANTES

Does MSU accept Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) credits?

✅ MSU accepts International Baccalaureate credits (IB) credits and Advanced Placement (AP) credits.

Do I have to submit test scores to MSU?

✅ MSU is not test optional. You must submit test scores as part of the application.

What is MSU's acceptance rate?

✅ The acceptance rate for MSU is 73%.

What is the early decision acceptance rate at MSU?

❌ MSU does not offer early decision.

Want To Learn More About MSU?

To learn more about MSU, choose from the options below:

Overview

Student Life

Academics

Tuition & Aid

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