Montana State University-Northern

What is the cost of studying for a year at Montana State University-Northern?

The published price of attending MSU-Northern depends substantially on Montana residency. In the 2025-26 figures, full-time undergraduate tuition and required fees together were $6,982 for in-state students and $21,757 for out-of-state students.

• In-state full-time undergraduate tuition: $5,010; required fees: $1,972.
• Out-of-state full-time undergraduate tuition: $19,785; required fees: $2,090.
• Reported annual room and board: $7,910; books and supplies: $1,460.

Those amounts are published components, not a complete or personalized cost-of-attendance estimate. Transportation and personal expenses can add materially to the total, and housing choices change what a student actually pays. Adding the listed room-and-board and book figures to tuition and fees yields about $16,352 for an in-state student or $31,245 for an out-of-state student, before transportation and personal expenses; it should not be mistaken for an official all-inclusive budget.

Net price is a different measure: it estimates what remains after grant and scholarship aid, not after loans. The reported average net price for students from families earning up to $48,000 was $9,242. Individual aid offers may differ, so applicants should compare the university's current cost-of-attendance budget with their own award letters.

What are the work-study opportunities at Montana State University-Northern?

Eligible MSU-Northern students may be able to combine financial aid with part-time employment, but Federal Work-Study is not the same as a job guarantee. Work-Study eligibility is determined through the aid process, and a student generally must obtain a position and earn wages for hours worked.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, is the starting point for federal aid consideration, including Work-Study. Students can also look for ordinary campus jobs, which may have different eligibility rules, and for paid opportunities related to a major. An internship should be evaluated separately: it may provide academic credit, wages, both, or neither.

For career planning, students should ask what support is currently available for résumé reviews, interview preparation, employer contacts, and finding internships in their field. The existence of an employment service should not be interpreted as a verified job-placement outcome.