Montana State University 2026 Research.com Rankings

Montana State University has been named the top college in Montana for 2026 by Research.com, a national ranking organization that publishes annual evaluations of colleges and universities across the United States.

In addition to earning the state’s highest overall ranking, Montana State University (MSU) was recognized as the No. 1 most affordable college in Montana and the No. 1 best-value college in the state. The university also ranked No. 4 among Montana’s most popular colleges, a category determined by the number of applications received, with higher applicant volumes generally indicating greater competitiveness for admission.

MSU’s affordability was also recognized on a national scale. Research.com ranked the university as the fifth most affordable college in the western United States and the 18th most affordable college nationwide.

The rankings highlight MSU’s role as Montana’s land-grant university, noting its strong academic programs in agriculture, natural resource management, and engineering. The report also emphasizes the university’s significant research activity across a broad range of disciplines, as well as its location in Bozeman, which offers easy access to Yellowstone National Park and other renowned natural attractions.

According to Research.com, its rankings are based on quantitative data from independent sources rather than surveys or opinion polls, providing an objective assessment of institutional performance.

MSU has also earned national recognition for its research excellence. The university has repeatedly received Carnegie R1 status, a designation reserved for institutions with very high levels of research activity and doctoral education. During the 2024–25 academic year, MSU recorded a university-high $288.7 million in research expenditures.

The university has experienced substantial enrollment growth in recent years, becoming the first institution in Montana to surpass 17,000 students in 2024. MSU also reports strong student retention and graduation rates and remains the largest employer in Bozeman and one of the state’s leading employers overall.

Additional distinctions include consistent placement among the top three military-friendly universities in the nation by Military Friendly and ranking among the top 3.7% of institutions worldwide according to the Center for World University Rankings.

More information about Montana State University’s academic programs is available at montana.edu/academics, and prospective students can apply at montana.edu/apply.

If you choose to submit standardized test scores as part of your application, request that your official scores be sent directly from the testing agency. ACT scores can be ordered through ACT at act.org using Montana State University’s ACT code, 2420. SAT scores can be sent through the College Board at collegeboard.org using MSU’s SAT code, 4488.

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