Montana College and University Application & Admission Policies

FOR ACCEPTANCE INTO A MONTANA UNIVERSITY OR COLLEGE...

Achieve one of the following:

  1. Earn at least a 2.5 high school GPA; or

  2. Rank in the top half of the school’s graduating class; or

  3. Earn a minimum composite score of 22 for the ACT or 1540 for the SAT (exception: MSU‐Northern requires ACT score of 20, SAT score of 1440).

Complete either the Regents’ College Preparatory Program or the Rigorous Core College Preparatory Program

Complete the Regents’ College Preparatory program: mathematics (3 years), English (4 years), lab science (2 years), social studies (3 years), and college prep electives (2 years), which include world language, computer science, visual and performing arts, and career/technical education units that meet the office of public instruction guidelines.

Complete the Rigorous Core College Preparatory Program:

  • Mathematics (4 years)

  • English (4 years)

  • Lab sciences (3 years)

  • Social studies (3 years)

  • College prep electives (3 years), which include world language, computer science, visual and performing arts, and career/technical education units that meet the office of public instruction guidelines. *The Rigorous Core is an advanced alternative to the Minimum Core for math proficiency standards.

High school students who successfully complete the Rigorous Core are eligible for the MUS Honor Scholarship.

For more information on the MUS college preparatory program and rigorous core, click here.

Demonstrate Mathematics Proficiency via one of the following methods:

  • Earn a minimum ACT math score of 22

  • Earn a minimum SAT score of 520

  • Earn a minimum score of 3 or above on the AP calculus AB or BC subject examination or a score of 4 on the IB calculus test

  • Earn a minimum of 50 on the CLEP subject examinations in selected topics [college algebra, college algebra-trigonometry, pre-calculus, calculus, or trigonometry]

  • Complete the Rigorous Core College Preparatory Program

Demonstrate Writing Proficiency via one of the following methods:

  • Earn a minimum ACT writing/English score of 18

  • Earn a minimum SAT score of 440

  • Earn a minimum score of 7 on the ACT/SAT writing essays

  • Earn a minimum score of 3.5 on the MUS writing assessment test (MUSWA)

  • Earn a minimum score of 3 on the AP English language or literature exam

  • Earn a minimum score of 4 on the IB language A1 exam

  • Earn a minimum score of 50 on the CLEP subject exam in composition

Two-year Campuses and Two-year Programs

Students who have not yet demonstrated the ability to meet the mathematics or writing proficiency standards may be admitted without condition to a two-year college; however, certain programs within the college, such as Nursing, may have higher admission standards.

Two-year Degree Programs
Students whose mathematics scores are below 18 on the ACT or 440 on the SAT may be fully admitted to a two-year degree program of the MUS, but may not be admitted to a four-year degree program of the MUS.