Billings University Reports 100 Percent Acceptance Rate In New Rankings

If you're just curious how our local university stacks up nationally, U.S. News just gave us some numbers to chew on. Montana State University Billings landed at No. 95 in the Regional Universities West rankings for the 2026 edition of Best Colleges, and picked up a spot at No. 50 among Top Public Schools in the region.

MSU Billings Campus Has Grown Since Its 1927 Founding

MSU Billings has been part of this city since 1927, and today the 168-acre campus enrolls 3,881 undergraduates, with total enrollment reaching 4,129 once you count graduate students. I was curious what class sizes actually look like there, and the numbers are smaller than I expected: the student-to-faculty ratio is 14:1, and 53% of classes have fewer than 20 students. The school runs on a standard semester calendar.

MSU Billings Admissions Skip The Common App

Here's one that might surprise Billings parents navigating the college search: MSU Billings doesn't use the Common Application, and it's test-optional, according to its admissions profile. The school reported a 100% acceptance rate, an average high school GPA of 3.2 among admitted students, and an ACT range of 17 to 24 for the middle half of admitted applicants. If you're applying, mark your calendar for Aug. 8, the listed application deadline.

MSU Billings Tuition Runs Well Below Out-of-State Rates

For Montana families, the price tag is one of the biggest draws. In-state tuition and fees run $7,220 a year, while out-of-state students pay $22,691, according to the school's cost breakdown. Add another $9,260 for food and housing for the 2025-26 year. More than half of first-year students (54%) receive need-based financial aid, with an average package of $9,984. Once aid is factored in, the average net price for federal loan recipients comes out to $14,484 a year.

MSU Billings Business Program Draws The Most Graduates

Business, management, and marketing programs account for the largest share of MSU Billings graduates at 31%, with an average starting salary of $57,075, based on the school's academic data. Education is next at 11% of graduates, with an average starting salary of $45,454. Psychology accounts for 9% of graduates, liberal arts and general studies for 8%, and health professions for 7%.

MSU Billings Graduation Rate Sits At 17 Percent

This is the number that jumped out at me most: MSU Billings' four-year graduation rate is 17%. Six years out, the median salary for alumni is $39,531. Sixty percent of graduates took out some form of student loan, and the average debt at graduation is $24,022.

MSU Billings Offers Housing Options Beyond Standard Dorms

Campus housing at MSU Billings goes beyond your typical dorm setup, with coed dorms, apartments for married students, theme housing, and special housing for students with disabilities, according to the school's student life details. Athletically, the school fields 44 sports teams.

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Demographically, undergraduate enrollment is 62.3% female and 37.6% male. White students make up 75% of the student body, followed by Hispanic students at 8%, students identifying as two or more races at 6%, American Indian students at 5%, and international students at 2%, according to the school's campus information page.