Apply online at montana.edu/apply

Montana State University will be offering millions of dollars in merit scholarships and awards to non-resident freshmen who apply for admission for the fall of 2023. You can find our scholarship information online at: montana.edu/scholarships.

Skip to Resident Freshman Scholarship information.

Non-Resident Freshman

Achievement Awards

Achievement Awards are automatic, merit-based scholarships based upon GPA and test scores. Award amounts will vary up to $48,000 (up to $12,000 per year renewable). These awards will be applied toward tuition only. All non-resident freshmen who submit an application for admission complete with self-reported high school GPA are automatically considered.

To be eligible, you must complete the following as soon as possible:

  1. Apply for admission to Montana State University. Apply online at montana.edu/apply. Be sure to include your self-reported GPA.

Apply early! These scholarships and awards may only be available for a limited time. It is essential to apply for admission as soon as possible. If you qualify, these scholarships will be automatically awarded when we have received your complete application (be sure to complete the section with self reported GPA). Scholarship recipients will be notified by mail.

Presidential Scholarship

The Presidential Scholarship is the most prestigious scholarship at Montana State University, recognizing academic excellence and demonstrated potential for leadership and service. Up to twenty-four such scholarships will be awarded to freshmen entering Montana State University each fall. The Presidential Scholarship includes a full tuition waiver and a generous stipend. Recent Presidential Scholars have gone on to receive such renowned awards as the Goldwater, Truman, Rhodes and Mitchell Scholarships.

Visit montana.edu/honors for an application. Those who apply for the Presidential Scholarship are automatically considered for the University Honors College. The application deadline is 5 p.m. MST on December 2, 2022. 

Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE)

MSU will be offering a limited number of Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) scholarships to new freshmen enrolling in the fall of 2023.

The final value for WUE at this time has not been finalized. WUE will equal 1.5 times the in-state tuition rate which will not be determined until May at the Montana Board of Regents meeting. All recipients will be notified as soon as that value is available via email and updated on this site. WUE will be a greater value than any Achievement Award previously offered.

The WUE Scholarship application is available on CatScholarships and the deadline for WUE scholarship consideration is January 3rd, 2023**. For detailed application instructions, please visit our WUE Application Instructions pages here.

WUE is not stackable with Achievement Awards and we will award you the scholarship of greater value. Please note, only recipients of awards will be notified.

*WUE States include: AK, AZ, CA, CO, HI, ID, NV, NM, ND, OR, SD, UT, WA, WY and CNMI.

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA):

MSU aims to make a college education affordable. Be sure to file your FAFSA to apply for federal grants, student and parent loans and work-study so that we can best meet your financial needs. MSU’s priority filing date is December 1, 2022. Filing the FAFSA by this date will give you priority consideration for all financial assistance programs at Montana State University. The MSU school code is 002532. The FAFSA Application can be found at fafsa.gov.

Making MSU Affordable

Freshman 15

At MSU, tuition doesn’t cost a penny more after you’ve registered for 12 credits in a semester. By using a flat rate tuition model, students can take 12+ credits without an additional cost while staying on track with a four year graduation plan. Visit montana.edu/freshman15 to view your potential savings.

Work on Campus

Working on campus at Montana State University offers great opportunities to make friends, learn new skills and earn extra cash for everything from textbooks to tuition. Plus, the convenience of working at MSU means you’ll never be far from your residence hall or classes. Benefits can include free Bobcat gear, flexible scheduling and even early move-in dates. Check out MSU job opportunities online at montana.edu/comeworkwithus.

Office of Financial Education

The Office of Financial Education provides resources to MSU students to help them gain financial independence and learn techniques to achieve their life goals. Students learn to tackle debt management and sound budgeting skills through one-on-one financial coaching, workshops and events and informational materials. Visit montana.edu/aycss/financialedu to learn more.

Payment Plans

MSU knows paying for college can be daunting, so an
interest-free payment plan is available to students who cannot pay their entire tuition bill in one lump sum. Instead of paying the bill in full, qualified applicants may pay their bill in four installments. Students are encouraged to visit
montana.edu/ubs/studentaccounts to learn more.

Estimate Costs

MSU strives to make a world-class education accessible and affordable. Interested in what your merit scholarship opportunity might be? Visit our Merit Scholarship Calculator at montana.edu/meritcalculator for an early estimate of your Achievement Award offer.

Estimated Annual Cost of Attendance

  • Nonresident Student Tuition/Fees $29,604
  • Room & Board $11,300
  • Books/Supplies $1,450
  • Nonresident Student Total Estimated Cost $42,354

As of printing date. Estimated costs may be adjusted. See details at montana.edu/expenses.

 

Resident Freshman

MSU Premier Scholarship Program

Montana State University will offer millions of dollars in scholarships and financial aid to talented Montana freshmen who apply for admission for the fall of 2023. Many scholarships will be awarded through the MSU Premier Scholarship Program. These awards will be targeted toward Montana freshmen who demonstrate academic promise based upon grade point average. You can find our scholarship information online at: montana.edu/scholarships.

To be eligible, you must complete the following as soon as possible:

  1. Apply for admission to Montana State University. You can apply online at montana.edu/apply.
    Be sure to include your self-reported GPA on the High School Self Report Form.

     

    Apply early! These scholarships and awards may only be available for a limited time. It is essential to apply for admission as soon as possible. If you qualify, these scholarships will be automatically awarded when we have received your complete application (be sure to complete the section with self reported GPA). Scholarship recipients will be notified by mail.

 

All Premier Scholarships are designated for tuition only. Students awarded renewable Premier Scholarships must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or greater, enroll for a minimum of 15 credits per semester and maintain resident status and continuous enrollment to retain the scholarship throughout their four years at MSU. MSU freshman scholarships and awards are available to those seeking undergraduate bachelor degree programs only.

Presidential Scholarship

The Presidential Scholarship is the most prestigious scholarship at Montana State University, recognizing academic excellence and demonstrated potential for leadership and service. Up to twenty-four such scholarships will be awarded to freshmen entering Montana State University each fall. The Presidential Scholarship includes a full tuition waiver and a generous stipend. Recent Presidential Scholars have gone on to receive such renowned awards as the Goldwater, Truman, Rhodes and Mitchell Scholarships.

Visit montana.edu/honors for an application. Those who apply for the Presidential Scholarship are automatically considered for the University Honors College. The application deadline is 5 p.m. MST on December 2, 2022. 

 

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

MSU strives to make a college education affordable for all Montana residents. Be sure to file your FAFSA to apply for federal and state grants, student and parent loans and work-study so that we can best meet your financial needs. MSU’s priority filing date is December 1, 2022. Filing the FAFSA by this date will give you priority consideration for all financial assistance programs at Montana State University. The MSU school code is 002532. The FAFSA Application can be found at fafsa.gov.

Making MSU Affordable

Freshman 15

At MSU, tuition doesn’t cost a penny more after you’ve registered for 12 credits in a semester. By using a flat rate tuition model, students can take 12+ credits without an additional cost while staying on track with a four year graduation plan. Visit montana.edu/freshman15 to view your potential savings.

Work on Campus

Working on campus at Montana State University offers great opportunities to make friends, learn new skills and earn extra cash for everything from textbooks to tuition. Plus, the convenience of working at MSU means you’ll never be far from your residence hall or classes. Benefits can include free Bobcat gear, flexible scheduling and even early move-in dates. Check out MSU job opportunities online at montana.edu/comeworkwithus.

Office of Financial Education

The Office of Financial Education provides resources to MSU students to help them gain financial independence and learn techniques to achieve their life goals. Students learn to tackle debt management and sound budgeting skills through one-on-one financial coaching, workshops and events and informational materials. Visit
montana.edu/aycss/financialedu to learn more.

Payment Plans

MSU knows paying for college can be daunting, so an interest-free payment plan is available to students who cannot pay their entire tuition bill in one lump sum. Instead of paying the bill in full, qualified applicants may pay their bill in four installments. Students are encouraged to visit montana.edu/ubs/studentaccounts to learn more.

Cat Scholarships

Some of the colleges and departments at Montana State University offer scholarships to incoming students. Explore the opportunities that may be available to you at montana.edu/admissions/scholarships/departmental. The Cat Scholarship application opens on November 1st and has a priority deadline of February 1st.

As Montana’s land-grant institution,

Montana State strives to provide Montana students with an affordable, world-class education. Interested in what your merit scholarship opportunity might be? Visit our Merit Scholarship Calculator at montana.edu/meritcalculator for an early estimate of your Premier Scholarship offer.

You may be eligible for additional need-based aid; visit the
Real Deal cost calculator at montana.edu/realdeal for your best estimate of what an MSU education would cost after your scholarships and financial aid.

Estimated Annual Cost of Attendance

  • MT Resident Tuition/Fees $7,726
  • Room & Board $11,300
  • Books/Supplies $1,450
  • MT Resident Total Estimated Cost $20,476

As of printing date. Estimated costs may be adjusted. See details at montana.edu/expenses.