A college's ethnic diversity is indicated by the student body's equal inclusion of students from different backgrounds . Students at MSU are mostly White with a small Hispanic population. The school has very low racial diversity. 14% percent of students are minorities or people of color (BIPOC). The ethnic breakdown is detailed in the following table.
| Race | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| White |
86%
|
| Black |
1%
|
| Hispanic |
4%
|
| Asian |
1%
|
| American Indian / Alaskan |
2%
|
| Hawaiian / Pacific Islander |
0%
|
| Two or more races |
3%
|
| International |
3%
|
| Race Unknown |
1%
|
There are 36% more female students than male students enrolled at Montana State University with a gender ratio of 7% women to 5% men. Compared to the US average of 56% female students, MSU has a significantly lower gender diversity than other US colleges and is not inclusive of females.
| Gender | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| Men |
5%
|
| Women |
7%
|
| Gender | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| Men |
883
|
| Women |
1,205
|
MSU serves a high number of out-of-state students with 64% of the student body residing outside of Montana or from other countries.
| Origin | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| In State |
36%
|
| Out of State |
64%
|
| Foreign |
0%
|
| Unknown Location |
0%
|
16% of students can be considered low-income as indicated by their receipt of Federal Pell Grant Aid.
| Segment | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| Students Over 25 Years Old | 13.9% |
| Part time Undergrads | 14.5% |
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=180461 IPEDS survey data for Montana State University.
Last updated February 24, 2025