Public Graduate Fair 54/100

Montana State University Billings

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Billings, Montana

About Montana State University Billings

Montana State University Billings is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Billings, Montana. It enrolls 2,626 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Acceptance
Graduation
21.2%
Net Price
$16,524
Median Earnings (10yr)
$44,296
Enrollment
2,626
Student : Faculty
14:1

Accreditor Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Open / Online). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Fair
54/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Open / Online
Outcomes 33
Value 40
Affordability 31
Selectivity

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

Admissions data is not yet reported for Montana State University Billings.

Acceptance Rate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
Not reported

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Montana State University Billings isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $16,524 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.

Average Net Price
$16,524
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
25%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
28%
Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$7,280
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$22,897
Room & Board (on-campus)
$9,980
Room & Board (off-campus)
$12,974
Books & Supplies
$1,450
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$5,570
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$5,570
Total Cost of Attendance
$20,054

Application fee: $30 (one-time, due at submission)


Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

  • Under $30,000
    $13,927
  • $30,001 – $48,000
    $14,387
  • $48,001 – $75,000
    $16,749
  • $75,001 – $110,000
    $18,948
  • Over $110,000
    $20,035

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$2,625
10% percentile
$4,648
25% percentile
$18,209
Median percentile
$19,745
75% percentile
$31,889
90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $11,000 ↓ $7,209
No Pell $9,250 ↓ $8,959
Dependent students $8,750 ↓ $9,459
Independent students $12,336 ↓ $5,873
Female students $10,250 ↓ $7,959
Male students $9,500 ↓ $8,709
Pell recipients: 18.0% (3,279 students)No Pell: 15.1% (2,757 students)Dependent students: 14.3% (2,608 students)Independent students: 20.2% (3,677 students)Female students: 16.8% (3,055 students)Male students: 15.6% (2,832 students)Overall Median$18,209
Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $7,782, less than completers ($18,209), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

21% of full-time students who enrolled at Montana State University Billings graduate within six years, and 56% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate
21%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
56%
Returning for their second year
What this means: Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Montana State University Billings earn a median of $44,296 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$44,296
Earning > $25K
70%
10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

$39,000$40,000$42,000$43,000$45,0006 yrs8 yrs10 yrs

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

By Gender

Female graduates
$32,500

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates
$48,500

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.


By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)
$34,500

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)
$40,700

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)
$44,800

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $16,000, about 33% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.

Loan Repayment Progression

Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.

Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt 12.3 pts across 6 years
71.5%1yr76.4%3yr83.8%5yr
What this signals: Strong. 84% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Montana State University Billings is home to 2,626 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 38% are first-generation college students.

Total Enrolled
2,626
Part-Time
31%
First-Generation
38%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents
White 75.1% 1,973
Other 12.0% 315
Hispanic 8.0% 210
International 2.1% 54
Asian 1.1% 30
Black 0.9% 23
White: 75.1% (1,973 students)Other: 12.0% (315 students)Hispanic: 8.0% (210 students)International: 2.1% (54 students)Asian: 1.1% (30 students)Black: 0.9% (23 students)Total2,626

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Montana State University Billings. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting
Midsize City Billings, Montana
Housing
Partly residential 571 beds available
Adult Learners
30% of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAA athletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semester scheduling structure

What You Can Study

Montana State University Billings offers an extensive catalog of programs: 63 distinct programs across 23 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

12 Programs
6 Programs
2 Programs
3 Programs
3 Programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Montana State University Billings is 14:1, close to the national average.

Student : Faculty
14:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$8,712
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$33M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$63,186
9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

145 instructional faculty across 5 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank Faculty Count Share Avg Salary
Full Professors 22 15% $91,419
Associate Professors 24 17% $68,601
Assistant Professors 44 30% $55,025
Instructors 7 5% $51,045
Lecturers 48 33% $56,791

Pros & Cons of Montana State University Billings

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Montana State University Billings tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS
  • Below-average net price
  • Reasonable class sizes
CONS
  • Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
  • First-year retention is below typical

Frequently Asked Questions about Montana State University Billings

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Montana State University Billings.

How much does Montana State University Billings cost?
The average net price after aid at Montana State University Billings is $16,524 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Montana State University Billings worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $44,296 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $16,524 per year. That's roughly 2.7x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Montana State University Billings known for?
Montana State University Billings is best known for its programs in Business, Liberal Arts, Nursing. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Montana State University Billings graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Montana State University Billings are $44,296, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Montana State University Billings accredited?
Yes. Montana State University Billings is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
How many students attend Montana State University Billings?
Montana State University Billings enrolls 2,626 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Montana State University Billings?
Montana State University Billings graduates 21% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Montana State University Billings a public or private college?
Montana State University Billings is a Public institution.
Where is Montana State University Billings located?
Montana State University Billings is located in Billings, Montana.
What programs does Montana State University Billings offer?
Montana State University Billings offers 63 distinct programs. The most popular include Business, Liberal Arts, Nursing.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Montana State University Billings?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Montana State University Billings is 14:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.

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