Montana State University In-State Rules

In-state residency regulations vary by university; so do the costs and benefits of earning in-state status.  Below, you will find an overview of the major in-state requirements for Montana State University, an exact accounting of what’s at stake, as well as a consideration of in-state residency’s influence on financial aid including popular Montana State University grants and scholarships.

Nicknames:

MSU, Montana State, Bozeman, Montana State University-Bozeman, MSU-Bozeman

 

Montana State University Tuition Overview:

$21,390 out-of-state tuition

$6,801 in-state tuition

$14,589 tuition savings/year

 

Montana State University Total Cost of Attendance:

$34,350 out-of-state residents

$19,761 in-state residents

$14,589 savings/year

 

Montana State University In-State Requirements:

I am biased, but what a cool state and school and place to be.  What’s even better is that earning in-state is a real do-able possibility with some planning, execution, and for the right kind of person.

The big things you need to be prepared for before getting ahead of yourself…

You must be willing to do a maximum of part-time school during your one-year domicile period.  No way out of this…it is black-and-white and it is what it is.

This could be a bummer for you, but that means you can’t live in the dorms during this time.  I know, lame right?  But feel free to live in the dorms next year OR start the one-year process a year later.

Next, you must be willing to work and make money in Montana—thankfully, what else would you do with all your free time anyway except work?  Not going to school full-time will leave you plenty of time, maybe too much time, on your hands so make some money instead of lying around spending it.

There are of course more intimacies and nuances to the process but to put it bluntly, if you’re not willing to consider the above, then don’t waste your time any further exploring in-state tuition here.  If you’re on board so far…next steps are suggested below.

 

Want more, a definitive report detailing everything important you need to know?  Check out In-State Angels’ MSU-Bozeman Report.

If you’d prefer we just take your information and tell you what your in-state prospects are at MSU-Bozeman, you may want In-State Angels’ MSU-Bozeman Customized Report.

To discuss MSU-Bozeman with an expert, check out Consulting.

Or maybe you’re interested in having In-State Angels completely oversee your quest for in-state residency and guarantee your results, you may want to check out In-State Angels’ Full-Client Assessment.

 

Montana State University Out-of-State Tuition vs. In-State Tuition:

An annual tuition difference of $14,589 is nothing to sneeze at. That’s worth over two years of in-state tuition!

 

Montana State University Financial Aid:

A couple things you need to know about financial aid as it relates to earning in-state residency at Montana State University:

1) Any financial aid including grants and scholarships that requires your being a tax dependent of somebody OR requires you to be an out-of-state resident will in general disqualify you from establishing residency.  This means that by accepting such awards, you will be getting no closer to in-state tuition.  There are some exceptions to this whereby certain awards you can accept during your domicile period but will automatically surrender upon earning in-state status.

2) Your financial aid is re-assessed after earning in-state status and your Expected Family Contribution will be taken into consideration in light of the vastly reduced tuition you will owe.

See article: Do Your FAFSA…You Will Thank Us Later

 

Montana State University Grants:

In addition to standard federal grants (Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant), Montana residents attending MSU are automatically considered for one or both of Montana’s higher education grants:

Montana Higher Education Grant

This state program is for Montana resident students with exceptional financial need (calculated based on FAFSA).

Montana Tuition Assistance Program – Baker Grants

This state program awards Baker Grants (named to posthumously honor Dr. Jeffrey D. Baker, a former Commissioner of Higher Education) to Montana residents based on financial need, expected family contribution, student earned income and amount of other financial aid.  The purpose of the Baker Grants, is to “offset any Federal Pell Grant dollars the student may have lost due to earned wages. It is the belief of the Board of Regents and the financial aid community that students should be rewarded for working and earning money to pay for their college costs.”

 

Montana State University Scholarships:

Freshman Achievement Awards (Nonresident)

Available to nonresident students, these achievement awards are based solely upon ACT composite or total SAT scores submitted upon application.  For instance, if your ACT score is 23/SAT 1560-1610, the award is $2,000/year for 4 years.  At the other end of the spectrum, an ACT score of 34+ or SAT is between 2220 and 2400, your award would be $15,000/year for 4 years.  Awards may only be used for tuition and they are given out until the money runs out.

Distinction Scholarships (Nonresident)

Incoming freshmen who do not meet the criteria for an Achievement Award will be considered for a Distinction Scholarship.  These take into account qualities like leadership experience, extracurricular activities and financial need.  Awards range from a one-time $500 award to $4,000 ($1,000/year for 4 years) and can be used for tuition only.

Freshman Premier Scholarships (Resident)

These awards, ranging from a one-time $1,000 award to $12,000 ($3,000/year for 4 years), are for Montana graduates based on test scores, GPA and financial need.

Honors College Scholarships:  Presidential and Provost

These freshman scholarships are highly competitive (about 5% of applicants are selected).  The Presidential Scholarship application also serves the application to the Honors College.  Criteria considered include test scores, class ranking, GPA, and demonstrated potential for leadership and service. Selected finalists must attend on-campus interviews in March.  From the finalists, approximately 20 will be awarded Presidential Scholarships and a handful will be awarded Provost Scholarships.  Both include full tuition waivers for four years, plus stipends to help cover fees and room and board.