Montana State University
Montana State University — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Montana State University at a Glance
Montana State University (MSU) is a public land-grant research university in Bozeman, Montana, United States. It enrolls more students than any other college or university in the state. MSU offers baccalaureate degrees in 60 fields, master's degrees in 68, and doctoral degrees in 35 through its nine colleges. More than 16,700 students attended MSU in fall 2019, taught by 796 full-time and 547 part-time faculty. In the Carnegie Classification, MSU is placed among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very…
1893
133 years old
$320M
$319.6 million (2025)
17,165
15,142 undergrad · 2,023 grad
1,370
1,170 acres
Identity
Is Montana State University Worth It?
At a value score of 34/100, Montana State University is a below-average value relative to its cost. Graduates earn $53,263 — 1% below average — while paying $22,499/year. Consider alternatives with better earnings-to-cost ratios.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.7 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 57% graduation rate is a serious red flag — fewer than 6 in 10 students finish. Those who don't graduate may still carry student debt without the higher-earning credential to show for it.
Bottom line: consider whether the specific program you're interested in at Montana State University has outcomes that justify the cost — the institution-wide numbers suggest caution.
How Montana State University compares to peer public colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #95 of 114 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California State University-Los Angeles | 100 | $3,967 | $59,211 |
| #2 | Foothill College | 100 | $7,653 | $57,072 |
| #3 | Modesto Junior College | 100 | $2,818 | $42,368 |
| #4 | Santa Ana College | 100 | $3,133 | $43,552 |
| #5 | Santa Monica College | 100 | $2,779 | $42,193 |
| #6 | Skyline College | 100 | $1,738 | $55,702 |
| #95 | Montana State University | 34 | $22,499 | $53,263 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Montana State University's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%).
Best Programs at Montana State University
The highest-earning program at Montana State University is Computer Science at $71,400/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Film/Video and Photographic Arts at $21,700/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Computer Science graduate from Montana State University earns $71,400, while a Film/Video and Photographic Arts graduate earns $21,700. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Computer Science graduates carry $24,475 in median debt vs. $25,000 for Film/Video and Photographic Arts.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $22,499/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | $71,400 | $71,400 | $24,475 |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $62,300 | $62,300 | $20,327 |
| Construction Engineering Technologies | $59,100 | $59,100 | $27,887 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $58,000 | $58,000 | $23,736 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $57,700 | $57,700 | $23,250 |
| Civil Engineering | $54,500 | $54,500 | $26,000 |
| Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians | $50,900 | $50,900 | $25,000 |
| Chemical Engineering | $40,000 | $40,000 | $21,147 |
| Business/Commerce, General | $37,900 | $37,900 | $23,510 |
| Economics | $35,400 | $35,400 | $20,307 |
| Sociology | $33,500 | $33,500 | $22,275 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $33,200 | $33,200 | $21,750 |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | $32,700 | $32,700 | $22,892 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $31,900 | $31,900 | $26,000 |
| Political Science and Government | $31,200 | $31,200 | $22,200 |
| Agricultural Business and Management | $30,400 | $30,400 | $20,000 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $30,300 | $30,300 | $24,898 |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | $29,100 | $29,100 | $22,000 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $28,600 | $28,600 | $21,750 |
| Psychology, General | $28,300 | $28,300 | $25,000 |
| Plant Sciences | $27,900 | $27,900 | $21,735 |
| Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General | $27,800 | $27,800 | $24,194 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $26,400 | $26,400 | $19,875 |
| History | $26,400 | $26,400 | $25,000 |
| Animal Sciences | $25,400 | $25,400 | $19,625 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $24,000 | $24,000 | $26,589 |
| Biology, General | $23,500 | $23,500 | $20,945 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | $23,400 | $23,400 | $30,990 |
| Music | $22,900 | $22,900 | $24,750 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $21,700 | $21,700 | $25,000 |
Similar Colleges in MT
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Bozeman, MT
- Student Body
- 14,451 students
- Admission Rate
- 82%
- Graduation Rate
- 57%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $22,499
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $53,263
- Median Student Debt
- $22,500