Additional Scholarships

Many different offices and programs at Montana State University offer scholarships to incoming students. In addition, Montana State University works in collaboration with scholarships organized by outside groups. To learn more about specific opportunities, please select an option from the list below.

 
Presidential Scholarship

The Presidential Scholarship is the most prestigious scholarship at Montana State University, in recognition of academic excellence and demonstrated potential for leadership and service. Up to twenty such scholarships will be awarded to freshmen entering Montana State University each fall. The Presidential Scholarship includes a full tuition waiver and a generous stipend renewable for up to four years. Finalists who do not receive the Presidential Scholarship will be considered for the Provost Scholarship, which also provides a full tuition waiver renewable for four years and a stipend. Presidential and Provost Scholars automatically receive admission to the Honors College.

The Presidential Scholarship application will open early this fall semester. Please visit the Honors College website for more information. Applications are due no later than December 6, 2025 at 5:00pm MT.

Your application for the Presidential Scholarship will also serve as an application to the Honors College.

Armed Forces Scholarships

ROTC Scholarships are available for both incoming high school students and current MSU students. These scholarships are merit based.

Air Force ROTC Scholarships

Scholarships through Air Force ROTC are available in two categories:

1.  High School Scholarships – High School Seniors compete nationally for 4 year scholarships.  Depending on the type of scholarship awarded, scholarships will cover up to $18,000 per year or full tuition and fees.  For more information on the High School Scholarship Program please visit the national Air Force ROTC website.

2.  In-College Scholarships – College students compete nationally for 2 year to 3.5 year scholarships.  Students must be active cadets in the AFROTC program for a semester to compete for these scholarships.  Award is based on college performance (academics, physical fitness and standing in program). For further information, visit the MSU Air Force ROTC Detachment online at their website or contact the Military Aerospace Science Department at afrotc@montana.edu, or 406-994-4022.

Army ROTC Scholarships

Scholarships through Army ROTC are available in three categories:

1. High School Scholarships – High School Seniors compete nationally for 4 year or 3 year scholarships.

2. Campus based scholarships are available for second semester freshman and sophomores and range from 2 to 3 years. Award is based on college performance (academics, physical fitness and standing in program).

3. National Guard and Army Reserve Minuteman Scholarships are available for High School Seniors and are available for 4 or 3 years.

• All Army ROTC scholarships pay full tuition and mandatory fees or $10,000/year for room and board, a yearly book allowance ($1200/year) and a tax-free monthly stipend (~$420/month) to defray the cost of living.

• At Montana State University a 4 year ROTC Scholarship is worth: $59,920 (MT Resident) or $138,336 (Non-Resident).

• Interested in Nursing? Army ROTC has 5 guaranteed Upper Division Nursing Seats.

• Students must meet basic eligibility requirements. For further information, contact the MSU Army ROTC Department at armyrotc@montana.edu or (phone 406-994-5477)  or visit the Army ROTC website.

Montana University System Scholarships

A number of scholarships are available to Montana residents and are awarded through the Montana University System. These awards include MUS Honor Scholarships, Governor's Best and Brightest, Honor Scholarship for National Merit Scholarship Semi-Finalists, and Community College Honor Scholarships. Visit the Montana University System Website for more information

National Merit Scholarships

Students enter the annual competition for Merit Scholarships as juniors by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). In September of the participant's senior year, approximately 15,000 are named Merit Program Semifinalists. Only Semifinalists continue in the competition, and they must qualify as Finalists in order to be considered for Merit Scholarships.

To be a Finalist, each Semifinalist must meet a number of additional requirements that include being fully endorsed and recommended for Merit Scholarships consideration by the high school principal, submitting SAT scores that confirm their earlier PSAT/NMSQT scores, providing evidence of very high academic performance throughout secondary school, and giving information about their activities and accomplishments outside the classroom.

College-sponsored Merit Scholarship recipients are chosen by officials of the sponsor college from among Finalists who report to National Merit Scholarship Corporation that the institution is their first choice. Winners selected by the college must have applied to that institution and be considered admissible by college officials. College-sponsored scholarships are not transferable.

Montana State University in Bozeman is proud to sponsor Merit Scholarships each year. Students are eligible for a minimum of $750/year and up to a maximum of $2,000/year depending on financial need. College-sponsored Merit Scholarships require full-time attendance and are renewable for up to four years of undergraduate study. Contact your high school counselor for more information.

Montana State University National Merit Scholar Program

Montana State University is proud to offer a new scholarship program to students who are selected as Finalists in the National Merit competition. The Montana State University National Merit Scholar Program will provide finalists who list Montana State as their first choice school with the National Merit Scholarship Corporation an award of a one-time $3,000 tuition scholarship* for the first year at Montana State. In addition, National Merit Finalists who list MSU as their first choice school will receive $750/year renewable for 4 years from MSU along with a generous Premier Scholarship (for residents) or Achievement Award (for nonresidents)*.

*If students are offered a MSU Presidential Scholarship, MSU Provost Scholarship, MUS Honor Scholarship or other full tuition scholarship waiver, they are advised to select the offer of the greatest value. Students offered multiple awards that are designated to cover base tuition cannot receive more than 100% of the cost of tuition from the combination of the awards. The base tuition amount does not include room and board, books, or other expenses.

For more information, please visit our National Merit Scholar Program website.

Native American Scholarships

Both need-based and academic scholarships are awarded to qualified Native American students. For need-based scholarships, applicants should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and submit it to the processing center prior to December 1. For academic scholarships (not need-based), applicants should contact the Department of Native American Studies, P.O. Box 172340, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717- 2340, (406) 994-3881. 

American Indian Tuition Waiver

The American Indian Tuition Waiver is available to Montana residents who are at least one-quarter American Indian blood or are enrolled members of a state or federally recognized Indian tribe which is located within the boundaries of the State of Montana. Students must also demonstrate financial need. For more information contact the MSU Office of Financial Aid at (406) 994-2845. Further Information for the Indian Tuition Waiver can also be found on the Montana University System Fee Wavier website.

Athletic Scholarships

In addition to the University Admissions Standards, athletes must meet NCAA Big Sky requirements and MSU requirements for athletic financial assistance.

Contact our Athletics Office using the information below to learn more.

Intercollegiate Athletics
P.O. Box 173380
Montana State University
Bozeman, MT 59717-3380
(406) 994- 4221

Choice Act & Yellow Ribbon Information

Montana State University complies with the Choice Act, Section 702 law for participants in Montgomery GI Bill or Post 9/11 GI Bill.  Those that do not meet qualifying requirements for the Choice Act, MSU still participates in the Yellow Ribbon Enhancement Program.  Please contact MSU Veteran Services at 406-994-3661 or vets@montana.edu or visit the Office of Veteran Services website for information.

If you have questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to us! You can email our staff at admissions@montana.edu, or call us Monday - Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm MT at 1-888-MSU-CATS.