Montana State University has once again set a new all-time record for spring enrollment, with 16,237 students enrolled for the semester. This marks the fifth consecutive year of spring semester growth at Montana’s largest university.
The new enrollment figure represents a 1% increase over last year’s record-breaking spring enrollment, when MSU’s student count surpassed 16,000 for the first time. Over the past five years, MSU’s spring headcount has grown by 4.3%.
This semester’s enrollment includes a record 14,248 undergraduate students and 1,989 graduate students pursuing master’s or doctoral degrees. Among the student body, 8,187 are Montana residents, making up just over 50% of total enrollment.
“As Montana’s land-grant university, Montana State is proud to provide our students with opportunities that lead to academic success and career readiness,” said MSU President Waded Cruzado. “A record enrollment is more than a number: It reflects MSU’s commitment to fostering access to higher education and, ultimately, service to the people and communities of Montana and beyond.”
MSU has also seen a strong retention rate, with 92.3% of first-time students from the fall semester returning for the spring term. Steve Swinford, MSU’s vice president of student success, highlighted the university’s efforts in ensuring student persistence through improved support services, streamlined registration, and expanded course availability.
Additionally, MSU set a new record in full-time equivalent (FTE) enrollment, reaching 14,408. This 1.4% increase from last year suggests that students are taking more credit hours per semester, which can help them graduate on time while reducing overall tuition costs. Through initiatives like the Freshman 15 program, MSU has encouraged students to take at least 15 credits per semester to stay on track for graduation.
MSU Provost Robert Mokwa credited the university’s faculty for their role in student success. “Faculty at Montana State are the heart of our students’ success,” Mokwa said. “From providing exceptional classroom instruction to hands-on research opportunities and individualized advising, our faculty empower students to reach their full potential.”
Gallatin College MSU, the university’s fastest-growing college, also set a new enrollment record this spring with 1,410 students—a 5.8% increase from last year. The college, which focuses on vocational training and career technical education, saw a 10.7% rise in dual-enrollment students, with 763 Montana high school students earning college and high school credits simultaneously.
MSU’s latest enrollment record follows a historic fall semester when the university became the first in Montana to exceed 17,000 students, reaching a total of 17,144 in September. That milestone also came alongside record-high graduation and retention rates, further underscoring MSU’s continued growth and commitment to student success.
By Montana Newsroom Staff
