For admission purposes, freshmen are those who have completed high school or its equivalent and have never attended a college or university, or after completion of high school or its equivalent, have attempted fewer than 12 quarter or semester college-level credits at another regionally accredited college or university. Student who have earned college-level course credit, AP or IB credits while still in high school are also considered incoming freshmen.
Academic Eligibility (In- and Out-of-State Students)
Admission requirements are as follows for both in-state and out-of-state freshmen:
Graduation from a Regional accredited high school or accredited by the State Department of Education or passing a General Educational Development (GED) exam. (GED scores are required of graduates from non-accredited high schools and from those who did not complete high school.)
To be admitted, prospective freshman must have one of the following:
A 2.5 cumulative grade-point average (on a 4.0 scale) OR
ACT Enhanced Composite score of 22 OR
SAT combined critical reading/mathematics/writing score of 1540 (1030 if taken before March 2005) OR
rank in the upper half of the graduating class
Math scores of 18 on ACT or 440 on SAT, or four years of rigorous high school Math (Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry & a course beyond Algebra II,) and three years of science courses with grades of C or better in all courses, or AP math scores of 3 or above on Calculus or Statistics.
Effective 2008 Fall semester minimum Writing Proficiency scores of a 17 on the Combined English/Writing section of the Optional Writing Test or a 6 on the Writing Subscore of the ACT; or a 420 on the Writing Section or a 6 on the Essay of the SAT; or score of a 3 on the Montana University System Writing Assessment; or AP score of 3 or above on the English Language of English Literature Exam.
Effective 2009 Fall semester minimum Writing Proficiency scores of a 18 on the Combined English/Writing section of the Optional Writing Test or a 7 on the Writing Subscore of the ACT; or a 440 on the Writing Section or a 7 on the Essay of the SAT; or score of a 3.5 on the Montana University System Writing Assessment; or AP score of 3 or above on the English Language of English Literature Exam.
If you plan to take the ACT, be sure to sign up for the optional writing section.
Successful completion of a College Preparatory Curriculum:
Four years of English: Courses should emphasize the development of written and oral communication skills and literature.
Three years of Mathematics: Courses should include algebra I, geometry, and algebra II (or the sequential content equivalent of these courses). Students are encouraged to take a math course in their senior year.
Three years of Social Studies: Courses should include global studies (such as world history or world geography); American history; and government, economics, Indian history, psychology, sociology, or other third-year courses.
Two years of Laboratory Science: One year must be earth science, biology, chemistry, or physics, and the other year can be one of the above sciences or another approved college preparatory science.
Two years chosen from the following: foreign language (preferably two years); computer science; visual and performing arts; or approved vocational education unit
In- and out-of-state applicants who have not completed the numeric admission requirements or the college preparatory requirements stated above may be considered for an admission exemption. The Office of Admissions will determine the status of such applicants.
Due to the limited number of admission exemptions available, priority consideration will be given to those who apply prior to March 1 for the Fall Semester. Students applying after that date may be unable to attend the Fall Semester but may be considered for the following term.
Out-of-state applicants who have not completed the college preparatory requirements stated in #5 above may satisfy the requirements by providing evidence that they have:
Completed a similar college preparatory program required in their home state. Evidence of this completion must be certified by the high school.
or
Met two of the three numeric admission requirements stated above.
Information about these alternative methods for meeting academic requirements for Montana State University can be obtained by contacting The Office of Admissions , 406-994-6617.
The following categories of students are exempt from most of the admissions requirements:
Non-traditional age students (students who graduated from high school three or more years ago)
Non-degree undergraduate students
Students who do not meet all of the freshman admission requirements listed above are still encouraged to apply for admission and submit the necessary credentials. Montana State is allowed a finite number of exemptions to the stated requirements above and will examine each student’s credentials on a case by case basis for admissibility. Some students who do not meet the requirements above will be admitted regularly and can enroll full time. Others may be admitted as a full-time conditional student. Under this category, students may take up to 7 credits at Montana State University in Bozeman and up to an additional 7 credits from the College of Technology-Great Falls while on the Bozeman campus. Students who take a combination of at least 12 credits will qualify for federal financial aid as a full-time student. Once the student has earned 7 credits from MSU with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0, he/she will be admitted as a regular full-time student.
College-level Courses, Advanced Placement, and International Baccalaureate Credits Earned
Students who have earned college-level course credit from an accredited college or university should have an official transcript sent to Montana State University Admissions, 201 Strand Union Building (SUB), PO Box 172190, Bozeman, MT 59717-2190 after all courses have been completed.
Transfer credit will also be awarded for Advanced Placement (AP) examinations with a score of 3 or better and International Baccalaureate (IB) examinations with a score of 4 or better (HL only). Applicants should request their official scores be sent to the Admissions Office.
Transfer Equivalencies
Advanced Placement
International Baccalaureate
Freshman Students Denied Admission
Students interested in appealing the admission decision should refer to Appeal of Admission Decisions.
Application Procedure
Receipt of the following credentials in The Office of Admissions constitutes a complete application for admission.
Application form: The application form may be obtained from your Montana high school counselor or from The Office of Admissions , Montana State University, P.O. Box 172190, Bozeman, MT 59717-2190 (406-994-2452). Return the completed and signed application form to The Office of Admissions , Montana State University, P.O. Box 172180, Bozeman, MT 59717-2180 (406-994-6617). An online application form can be found at http://www.montana.edu/wwwcat/appopts.html.
$36 application fee (online application); $30 application fee (paper application): Checks should be made payable to Montana State University. The application fee will not be waived, deferred, or refunded. The fee must be paid before the application for admission will be processed.
Student Self-Report form: This form, required of all first-time, full-time applicants who have been out of high school less than three years, will be used to determine admission status prior to the receipt of the final high school transcript after graduation. Admission status will be determined from the high school courses taken, grade-point average (GPA), test scores, and class rank reported on the Student Self-Report form.
High school transcript: After graduation, a complete and official transcript must be sent directly from the high school to The Office of Admissions . Courses completed, GPA (on a 4.0 scale), rank in class, and date of graduation must be posted. Students who did not graduate must request an official transcript posting courses completed and date of withdrawal to be sent directly from the high school to The Office of Admissions .
GED report: When required, a complete official General Educational Development (GED) score report must be sent directly from the testing agency to The Office of Admissions .
ACT/SAT scores: Freshmen are required to take the American College Test (ACT) or the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). The results of the tests are used in determining admission status and in assisting with academic planning. Scores can be obtained by contacting American College Testing, P.O. Box 451, Iowa City, IA 52243, or SAT CEEB College Board, P.O. Box 592-A, Princeton, NJ 05840. Applicants who graduated three or more years prior to the semester in which they intend to enroll are not required to submit test results. Arrangements to take the ACT test may be made by contacting the MSU Testing Service, 406-994-6984.
College/university transcripts: Applicants who have attended another college or university must request that an official transcript be sent directly from each institution to The Office of Admissions .
Advanced Placement: Applicants who have completed an Advanced Placement Examination should request that the official scores be sent directly to The Office of Admissions . Grades of 3, 4, or 5 on an Advanced Placement Examination will be granted college credit (but no grade) for the appropriate courses. See this link: Advanced Placement Course Equivalencies
International Baccalaureate: Applicants who have completed an International Baccalaureate coursework should request that the official scores be sent directly to The Office of Admissions . Courses labeled as Higher Level with grades of 4 or higher will be granted college credit for equivalent coursework. See this link: International Baccalaureate Course Equivalencies
Requests to have credentials sent to Montana State University must be initiated by the applicant. Requests should be made in writing directly to the registrar at the former high school, college, university, or agency. Credentials must be sent directly from the school to The Office of Admissions . Credentials received from the student will not be accepted.
Application materials and fees will be retained for one year from the original applied term. To apply for a semester other than the one originally intended, The Office of Admissions must be notified as soon as possible.