Admission Requirements for Transfer Students

Thank you for your interest in applying to Montana State University! Below you will find an overview of the application process and admissions requirements for transfer students at Montana State University. 

1. Be a prospective transfer student!

Transfer students at MSU are students who have attempted 12 or more quarter or semester credits of college-level courses at a regionally accredited institution after high school graduation. College-level coursework includes courses that are applicable towards at least an associate degree and does not include remedial, developmental, certificate, continuing education coursework. 

If you have previously attended MSU as a degree-seeking student and wish to resume your undergraduate studies at MSU after earning college credit elsewhere, you are considered a returning student and can work with the Office of the Registrar to continue your enrollment at MSU.

If your college credit was earned while in high school or you attempted fewer than 12 college-level credits after graduating from high school, you are considered a first-time student at MSU and should complete the freshman application. Learn more about how your prior college credit will transfer to MSU on the Transferring Credit to Montana State page. 

2. Submit a Transfer Application

MSU accepts and reviews all applications on rolling basis throughout the year. To ensure a timely admission decision, please be sure to provide the following information for each institution you have attended when prompted on the application:

• dates of your prior college attendance
• the number of college-level credits you have attempted and earned
• your cumulative GPA

MSU's application is easy to complete and does not require written essays or letters of recommendation.  If you wish to apply now, please use the button below.

If you are a student at another Montana State University campus, please fill out the Seamless OneMSU form. This form may be found under the Student Services tab in your MyInfo account, and is titled
"MSU System Transfer and Multi-Campus Application Request Form."

If you are currently a student at a Montana University System campus, please fill out our Transmittal of Application Materials request form and submit it to the Registrar's Office at your current institution.

3. Pay the Application Fee -- Not required for Montana Residents

MSU requires an application fee for Non-Resident applicants before the Office of Admissions can consider the application for admission. The fee must be paid before the application for admission will be processed.

The application fee to apply to MSU is $38 for an online application or $30 for the paper application.

If you have already applied to MSU but still need to submit your application fee, you can pay your fee online using the button below.

If you would rather pay by check, please send your $38 payment to:  

Montana State University
Office of Admissions
201 Strand Union
PO Box 172190
Bozeman, MT 59717

Be sure to include a note with student name and birth date with your payment. 

4. Track Admissions Status in MyInfo

Applicants can track their admissions status and outstanding admissions requirements through their MyInfo account. First-time users will first need to Claim/Retrieve their NetID.

First-time and returning users can find detailed instructions on accessing MyInfo here.

5. Confirm Academic Eligibility

Transfer applicants are considered for admission to MSU if they are in good standing at all regionally accredited colleges or universities previously attended. The MSU Office of Admissions considers a 2.0 (or C average) cumulative transferable GPA the minimum to be in good academic standing for admission. The MSU Office of Admissions can admit transfer students who report good standing at their previous institutions based on the self-reported information provided on their application. 

If you completed the transfer application but did not include the hours and GPA for all institutions previously attended, you can update your academic history using the Transfer Self Report Form.

If youhave a cumulative transferable GPA of less than 2.0 or have ever been suspended from a current or prior institution, you will need to submit official college transcripts from your previous institutions before MSU can review your application. Your application will be reviewed for admissibility on an individual case-by-case basis after all required official transcripts are received.

6. Send Official College Transcripts

The MSU Office of Admissions will confirm academic eligibility for admission and perform initial transfer credit evaluations after receiving the applicant's official college transcript(s). For more information on how prior college coursework will transfer to MSU, refer to the Transferring Credit to Montana State page.

Official transcripts must be sent directly to the Office of Admissions from each regionally accredited college or university attended. Official transcripts can be sent through a secure electronic transcript service (Parchment, National Student Clearinghouse, etc.) or mailed directly from the institution to the MSU Office of Admissions. 

Physical copies of official final transcripts should be mailed to:

MSU Office of Admissions
P.O. Box 172190
Bozeman, MT 59717-2190

Transcripts sent through unsecured email attachments, mailed in unsealed envelopes, or faxed will be considered unofficial with the exception of transcripts faxed directly from another Montana University System institution with aMACRAO-fax stamp.

A registration hold will be placed on student's accounts if the Office of Admissions has not received all required copies of final official transcripts by the 15th class day of the student's first term of attendance. 

7. Submit Immunization Records

All students are required to submit two immunization records before they able to register for classes. Required immunizations include documentation of two eligible MMR vaccinations and completion of MSU's Tuberculosis Screening Form. More information regarding MSU's specific immunization requirements and instructions for submitting immunization documents are available on the Student Wellness website.

If you have questions regarding immunization and health record requirements, please contact the Student Health Services directly at (406) 994-2311 or via email at immune@montana.edu.

8. Register for and Complete Online Transfer Orientation

Orientation is required for all degree-seeking students at MSU before they can register for classes. The Transfer Orientation at MSU is primarily online, self-paced, and indicates a student's intent to enroll. You can find specific instructions for how to register for orientation here.

Orientation registration for Summer and Fall 2025 opens February 12, 2025.

The online orientation opens to registered students on May 1, 2025.

If you have questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to us! You can email our staff at admissions@montana.edu, or call us Monday - Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm MT at 1-888-MSU-CATS.