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Montana University System - Admission Standards
Montana University System Board of Regents
 

Montana high school graduates who wish to enter one of the units of the Montana University System – University of Montana-Missoula, Montana State University-Bozeman, Montana State University-Northern, Montana State University-Billings, Western Montana College of UM or Montana Tech of the University of Montana – must meet both the entrance requirements and the Board of Regents college preparatory curriculum.

The entrance requirement, called “Numerics,” are as follows:

 
  • ACT Composite Score of 20 or higher (22 for UM-Missoula, MSU-Bozeman/Billings and Montana Tech)
  • Or SAT Combined Verbal, Math, and Critical Reading Standard Score of 1,540 or higher for UM-Missoula, MSU-Bozeman, U of M-Missoula ---- SAT score of 1,440 for admission to U of M Western and MSU-Northern
  • Or High school grade point average of 2.500 or higher
  • Or Rank in the upper half of her/his graduating class
  • Or Complete required college preparatory requirements

Students must present scores from the ACT or SAT and complete required college prep requirements. ACT is the preferred entrance examination.

The Regents College Preparatory Curriculum is as follows:

  1. 4 years of English
  2. 4 years of math including Algebra I, Geometry and Algebra II or higher or an ACT of 18 or SAT of 440
  3. 3 years of social studies including World History, U.S. History, Government and another course
  4. 2 years of laboratory science: Unified Lab Science, Biology, Chemistry I , or Physics; the other year can be one of those sciences or another college prep lab science such as, Physiology or Advanced Biology
  5. 2 years chosen from the following:
 
  • foreign language (preferably two years of the same language)
  • computer science
  • visual and performing arts, or
  • vocational education units which meet the Office of Public Instruction guidelines

The high school administration has submitted the high school curriculum to the Regents for approval. Those courses which were approved are identified in this document as follows: (Meets Montana College Prep Curriculum - Part A, B, C, D, OR E)

A limited number of entering freshmen who do not meet the Entrance Requirements (Numerics) may be exempted. A limited number of entering freshmen with College Preparatory course deficiencies may also receive exemptions. Exemptions are not automatic. Students must apply for them. STUDENTS WHO WILL NOT MEET THESE REQUIREMENTS BY GRADUATION SHOULD CONTACT THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM UNIT THEY WISH TO ATTEND. This contact should be made early in the senior year. For students who do not qualify for full-time attendance and who are not granted an exemption, part-time enrollment is an alternative. Once a student has earned a minimum of 12 qualifying semester credits, she or he may become a full-time student.

The following classes of students are not required to meet the admissions requirements:

 
  • Graduates who have been out of high school for three years.
  • Students who begin college part-time (11 or fewer credits per semester).
  • Students who enroll as Non-Degree students.
  • Students who transfer a minimum of 12 semester credits from another collegiate institution, e.g. a community college.