Admission Requirements for High School and Transfer Students

First-Time Students Who Graduated From High School Within The Last Three Years Applying to:

• The College of Allied Health Professions
• The College of Arts and Sciences
• The College of Business
• The College of Education, and The College of Professional Studies

If you are a first-time college student, or have attempted fewer than 12 college-level credits, and you graduated from high school within the last three years, you must meet the following admission standards and college preparatory classes. Out-of-state students will be required to meet the same admission requirements and their own state's college preparatory curriculum, if it is acceptable to the Montana Board of Regents. Students from a state without an acceptable college preparatory curriculum must meet two of the three admission standards listed below.

Admission Standards

College Preparatory Curriculum

• Four years of English
• Three years of math, including Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II, or sequential equivalent.
• Three years of social studies, including global studies (such as world history or world geography); American history; and government, economics, or Native American history, or other third-year course.
• Two years of laboratory science. One year must be earth science, biology, chemistry, or physics; the other year can be one of those sciences or another approved college preparatory lab science.
• Two years chosen from the following: foreign language (preferably two years of one language), computer science, visual and performing arts, or vocational education

Students who do not meet the admission requirements have four options to enter Montana State University Billings:

• Enroll as a part-time student with 7 or less credits the first semester of attendance.
• Enroll part-time during summer semester.
• Enroll as a student at MSU Billings College of Technology. After successful completion of the first semester, enroll at the main campus of MSU Billings.
• Enroll at a community college or another accredited college and attempt at least 12 credits or make up any deficiencies in college preparatory curriculum and transfer to Montana State University Billings.

Home-schooled or Non-high school graduates may be admitted on the basis of the General Educational Development (GED) test or ACT COMPASS. Various boards establish minimum scores for these tests. Students who complete one of these tests and seek admission to college less than three years from the date they would have graduated from high school and want to enroll full-time will be admitted. Scores from the ACT or SAT are still required of this group of students who enter the University less than three years from the date their high school class would have graduated. There are no minimum scores attached to this test, but a national test score from either the ACT or SAT is required.

First-Time Students Applying to The College of Technology

A high school diploma from an accredited high school, a GED, or the ACT COMPASS is required of all students to b admitted. Some programs have special entry requirements; contact the College of Technology for this information at (406) 247-3000.

Note: Admission requirements do not apply to part-time students taking seven credits or less or students attending Summer Semester only.

High School Students

Get a jump start on earning your college degree! Enroll in college courses, while you are still in high school. Get more information here.

Transfer Students

If you have attempted 12 or more college-level credits at another accredited college or university you are considered to be a transfer student. Montana resident transfer students will be admitted upon receipt of an official and complete transcript from each college or university attended. As a resident transfer student applicant you must be in good standing at your previous institution, eligible to continue or return to that institution. A non-Montana resident transfer student must be in good standing and have a 2.00 cumulative grade point average for all college level work to be admitted.

Get the Transcript Evaluation Request Form

Non-Degree Seeking Students

An applicant who wishes to pursue studies for personal growth and who does not wish to work toward a formal degree at Montana State University Billings may apply as a non-degree student. Acceptance into this category does not constitute acceptance into a degree-granting program. All applicants should have sufficient educational background to qualify for the course or courses in which enrollment is sought and must certify on the application form that they have graduated from high school or have passed the General Education Development Test (GED). A maximum of 32 semester hour credits earned as a non-degree student may be applied to an undergraduate degree at Montana State University-Billings if the applicant applies and is accepted into a degree program. Financial aid is not available to students in this category, nor may they qualify for the Western Undergraduate Exchange program. This category is not open to students currently on academic suspension from Montana State University Billings or on academic suspension from any other college or university. No academic credentials or transcripts are required in support of the application; however, non-degree students who later wish to change to a degree program must furnish required supporting credentials and must meet all the regular admission requirements.

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