By Anne Cantrell MSU NEWS SERVICE
Caleb Cowen said he chose Montana State University for many reasons – one of them being that it simply “felt like home.”
Cowen is one of a record 17,165 students to enroll at MSU this fall. That headcount is up from last fall’s total, which was itself a record at 17,144. Montana State is the largest university in the four-state region that includes Wyoming and the Dakotas.
Cowen, who is from Billings, is studying biomedical engineering and is a member of the university’s Hilleman Scholars Program. He said being part of that leadership program for Montana students helped him feel confident about choosing MSU.
“Being able to connect with all sorts of people from different places in Montana helped solidify that feeling of home,” he said.
MSU welcomed 3,743 new, first-time college students this fall — among them are 1,572 Montana residents. For years, MSU has enrolled more Montana residents than any other college or university in the state, and this fall Montana students make up 50% of MSU’s entire student body, a count of 8,519. In all, MSU enrolled 15,142 undergraduate students, a record, and 2,023 graduate students.
“It’s humbling that so many students have chosen to start their futures at Montana State University,” said MSU President Brock Tessman. “Our mission is to open the door to higher education for as many students as we can and offer them a first-rate education in a wide range of disciplines. And we are committed to helping our students meet their educational and career goals and to providing excellent support and resources for them every step of the way.”
In addition to record headcount, MSU set a record in full-time equivalent, or FTE, enrollment at 15,785. FTE is calculated by dividing the total credits taken by all MSU students by a “full-time” number of credits — 15 for undergraduates or 12 for graduate students. A high FTE enrollment is a sign that students are taking more courses per semester.
“Students who take more courses per semester graduate faster, which means they are also likely to leave and start their careers well prepared and with less college debt,” said Steven Swinford, MSU’s vice president for student success.
MSU encourages its undergraduate students to take at least 15 credits per semester and has for more than a decade. Any credits a student takes beyond their first 12 per semester do not add to their tuition bill, so 15 or 18 credits cost the same tuition as 12.
“We call this focus the Freshman 15, but it’s really something we recommend for all students,” Swinford said. “It’s a great way for our students to save money and graduate faster. We’re proud that since 2011, the proportion of MSU students taking at least 15 credits has increased from less than half to more than two-thirds.”
This fall, 87% of incoming freshmen and 69% of all undergraduate students are taking part in the Freshman 15, both records.
MSU’s student retention rate increased this fall to a record of 81.8%. That measures the number of students who return for their second fall at MSU and is considered highly predictive of student success and eventual graduation. Among existing MSU students, a total of 89% who were eligible to register for fall 2025 are attending classes.
In terms of graduation, MSU awarded 3,438 degrees last academic year, and the university set new records for four-year, five-year and six-year graduation rates.
“Record headcounts would not be possible if we were not working day in and day out to keep students in school and on track to graduation,” Swinford said. “That plays a direct role in our increases in graduation rates, and that is something we are immensely proud of at MSU.”
As the largest university in Montana, MSU continues to play a vital role in meeting the state’s workforce needs. Accordingly, MSU saw strong enrollment in Gallatin College MSU, the university’s two-year programs that prepare students for immediate employment in in-demand fields, with an enrollment of 1,078 students.
“The growth we’re seeing this fall reflects the confidence students and families place in Montana State University,” said Robert Mokwa, MSU’s provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. “As the state’s land-grant university, our mission is to expand access to higher education, prepare graduates for Montana’s workforce needs and advance knowledge that benefits communities across the state. None of this would be possible without our exceptional faculty, who challenge, mentor and inspire students every day.”
First-year undergraduate student Wyatt Westerman, who is interested in wildlife ecology, said he was drawn to MSU because of the university’s strength in science, technology, engineering and math fields. “I liked that they offer a science-based curriculum here at MSU,” he said. “I was very aware that MSU is renowned for its research and of all the studies they put out and what they do here.”
In his free time, Westerman said, he has been enjoying going to MSU’s Student Wellness Center and playing pickup basketball there. And, while he said school has been smooth for him so far, he appreciates that resources for tutoring and other sources of help are easily available.
“Resources are not hard to find; there are fliers everywhere, and there are constantly reminders on ways to seek tutoring,” he said. “That’s really nice to know. As the school year progresses and courses maybe become more challenging, I know where to go.”
Other facts about MSU’s fall enrollment:
- MSU enrolled 700 students who are receiving veteran benefits, a 21% increase.
- MSU welcomed 848 American Indian/Alaska Native students this fall, and the number of African-American students set a record at 344, an increase of 7% over last year. The university also set records for the number of students who are Hispanic (1,124) and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (153).
- The university enrolled 160 new, incoming students who received the Montana University System Honor Scholarship, accounting for 65% of all the award’s recipients in the state.
- MSU welcomed 421 dual-enrollment students, an increase over last fall. Dual-enrollment allows Montana high school students to earn college credit and get a jump start on their degrees. Dual-enrollment credits at MSU are housed in Gallatin College MSU.
- MSU’s largest college is Letters and Science with 3,371 students, followed by the Norm Asbjornson College of Engineering with 3,352; the Jake Jabs College of Business and Entrepreneurship with 2,426; Agriculture with 2,004; Education, Health and Human Development with 1,714; the Mark and Robyn Jones College of Nursing with 1,285; and Arts and Architecture with 1,177.
The fall headcount is tallied after the 15th day of classes each semester.
