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MSU recognized on list of best colleges in each state

Posted at 1:46 PM, May 22, 2018
and last updated 2018-05-22 15:46:19-04

BOZEMAN — Montana State University has been recognized on a list of the best colleges in every state in the nation costing less than $20,000 per year. MSU also earned the No. 5 ranking on an affiliated list of the top 10 states with the most affordable flagship universities.

The rankings were made by Howmuch.net, a cost information website. To assemble the rankings, the organization compiled data from U.S. News & World Report’s annualBest College Rankings and then determined the top-ranked college in every state costing less than $20,000 per year in tuition and fees (excluding room and board). The estimated yearly cost for freshmen Montana resident students enrolled at MSU in the 2017-2018 school year was $7,079, according to data from MSU’s Office of Planning and Analysis.

In its accompanying write-up, Howmuch.net noted that most students actually pay less than the published tuition rates due to financial aid received.

“Fullytwo-thirds of college kids receive some sort of financial aid in the form of scholarships or grants. That means that if you can combine a scholarship with a low tuition bill from one of these schools, you will be in the best possible position to escape student loan debt altogether,” the organization noted.

The MSU Office of Planning and Analysis reports that approximately 69 percent of all undergraduates at MSU received financial aid in 2016-2017, with an average total award of $10,909 from all aid sources.

“MSU is proud to offer a world-class education that’s recognized as affordable,” said Chris Kearns, MSU vice president for student success. “We are also proud of our university’s Office of Financial Aid Services, which works diligently to ensure that students who need additional support have access to education and the ability to reach their educational goals.”

Contact: Chris Kearns, MSU vice president for student success, 406-994-2828 or chris.kearns@montana.edu