Montana State UniversityStudent Guide

Academic dates, campus language, housing, and student-life references for Montana State University. Core organization is free for students.

Public Research University in Bozeman, MT. Operating on a semester system.

Looking for dorms? Scroll for the dorm and housing breakdown below.

Free for all Montana State University students. No credit card required.

17K+

Total Enrollment

Research University

Institution Type

36

Housing Buildings

Student guide · Fall 2026

The semester, explained for Montana State University

Dates from the active academic calendar, plus the campus language and local details students actually need. Every entry comes from DormWay's approved campus reference library.

Relevant term
Fall 2026
Campus terms
24
Local details
14

Academic calendar

Fall 2026 runs Aug 26, 2026 – Dec 17, 2026. Calendar aliases that share a date range are grouped together, with every source term still shown.

15 entries
  1. Fall 2026 First Session
  2. Fall 2026Relevant now
  3. Fall 2026 Late Start
  4. Fall 2026 Second Session
  5. Spring 2027
  6. Summer 2027 May 4X4
  7. Summer 2027 First 6-week Session
  8. Summer 2027 Full Semester 12-week Session
  9. Summer 2027 June 4X4
  10. Summer 2027 8-week Intersession
  11. Summer 2027 Second 6-week Session
  12. Summer 2027 July 4X4
  13. Summer 2027 Late Summer Start
  14. Fall 2027
  15. Spring 2028

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Campus language

Search the full glossary. Nothing is sampled or hidden when the search field is empty.

24 terms

A

ASMSU
Associated Students of Montana State University, the student government body.

B

Brawl of the Wild
The official name for the athletic rivalry series between MSU and UM.

C

Cat-Griz
The intense annual rivalry between the MSU Bobcats and the University of Montana Grizzlies.
CatCash
A debit-like system where funds are loaded onto a student ID for use at campus dining and retail locations.
Champ
The official Bobcat mascot of Montana State University.

G

Go Cats
The standard greeting, cheer, and sign-off used by students and alumni.

H

Hedges
Refers to North Hedges or South Hedges, the two high-rise residence hall towers on the west side of campus.

I

Indulge
The bakery and dessert station located within the Rendezvous Dining Pavilion.

K

KGLT
The campus-based community radio station (91.9 FM).

L

Langford
Langford Hall, the only all-male residence hall on campus.

M

Miller
Miller Dining Commons, the primary dining hall serving the west side of campus.

N

North
North Hedges, one of the two high-rise residence halls on the west side of campus.

O

OP
The Outdoor Program, providing gear rentals and guided outdoor trips for students.
OSE
Office of Student Engagement, the department that oversees clubs and campus activities.

P

PACE
Procrastinator Activities and Campus Events, the student-led board that plans concerts and movies.

R

Rendezvous
Rendezvous Dining Pavilion, the large, modern dining hall located on the east side of campus.
RHA
Residence Hall Association, the student organization representing those living on campus.
Roskie
Roskie Hall, a residence hall known for its unique layout and social atmosphere.

S

South
South Hedges, the twin high-rise residence hall to North Hedges.
SRO
Standing Room Only, a popular coffee and snack kiosk located in the Strand Union Building.

T

The M
The large white letter 'M' on the side of Mount Baldy, a popular hiking destination for students.
The Quads
The Quadrangle, a group of four historic residence halls (A, B, C, and D) located near the center of campus.
The Union Market
The main food court area located within the Strand Union Building (SUB).

Y

Yellowstone
Yellowstone Hall, a newer residence hall primarily for first-year students.

Places and practicalities

Buildings, logistics, and other local references drawn from the approved campus snapshot.

14 details
CatCard
The official MSU student ID card used for building access, meal plans, and library services.
CatCourse
The online schedule-builder tool used by students to plan their classes before registration.
ChampChange
An incentive program where students earn points for attending campus events, which can be traded for prizes.
D2L
Desire2Learn (Brightspace), the online learning management system used for course assignments and grades.
DegreeWorks
The online academic planning and tracking tool used to monitor progress toward graduation.
Gaines
Gaines Hall, a primary building for chemistry and modern languages.
Jabs
Jabs Hall, the modern building housing the Jake Jabs College of Business and Entrepreneurship.
miller_dining_commons
Miller Dining Commons
Norm
Norm Asbjornson Hall, the high-tech building housing the College of Engineering and the Honors College.
rendezvous_dining_pavilion
Rendezvous Dining Pavilion
Streamline
The free public bus system that provides transportation around Bozeman and the MSU campus.
The Brick
Brick Breeden Fieldhouse, the arena used for basketball games, indoor track, and major concerts.
The Lib
Renne Library, the main campus library.
The SUB
The Strand Union Building, the central hub for student services, food, and the bookstore.

Quick answers

Useful facts students can verify from the guide above.

What academic term is relevant now?
Fall 2026 runs Aug 26, 2026 – Dec 17, 2026.
How much campus context is included?
24 approved campus terms and 14 local details are included in full.
Are all approved campus terms included?
Yes. The complete approved glossary is available in the scrollable, searchable campus-language section.
Where does this guide come from?
Calendar dates, campus terms, and local details come from DormWay's approved campus reference library.

Class of 2030 · Montana State University

You just committed to Montana State University.

The four months ahead don’t need to be one giant open tab. Sign up and we’ll only email you when Montana State University actually needs you to do something this summer — orientation, housing, course registration, immunization. That’s the whole product.

What we’ll email you about

  • Jul 15

    Final high school transcripts due

    Required · source

  • Aug 1

    MMR Immunization records due

    Required · source

  • Aug 21

    Fall bill payment deadline

    Required · source

One email per real deadline. Source link cited every time. We re-check 7 days before each one fires.

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Assisted

Find a few communities to try at Montana State University

These are things we discovered from public campus sources. We are constantly looking for more.

Tell us what we missed

58 mapped items from 22 public sources

Interest filters
  • Major-aligned clubs, pre-professional groups, and research communities.
  • Performing arts, visual arts, student publications, film, and music.
  • Cultural orgs, identity communities, and faith-based groups.
  • Volunteer groups, civic engagement, mutual aid, and student government.
  • Outdoor clubs, intramural sports, club sports, and rec center programs.
  • Entrepreneurship, hackathon teams, makerspaces, and engineering project teams.
  • Casual hangouts, interest groups, and open events without applications.

Worth a look

Alpha Gamma Rho

A social and professional fraternity for young men pursuing careers in the agriculture, food, or fiber industries.

Regular commitment

Source: montana.edu · Verified 2 months ago

Learn More

Alpha Omicron Pi

A Panhellenic sorority focused on sisterhood, scholarship, leadership, and service. Their philanthropy supports the Arthritis Foundation.

Regular commitment

Source: montana.edu · Verified 2 months ago

Learn More

ASMSU Exponent

The official, independent student-run newspaper of Montana State University, published weekly during the academic year.

ASMSU Programming Board

A student-led component of the Office of Student Engagement that provides convenient, affordable, and engaging events and activities for all MSU students.

Source: montana.edu · Verified 2 months ago

Learn More

ASMSU Senate

The legislative branch of MSU's student government, composed of elected senators from each academic college. The Senate is responsible for passing legislation and approving the budget for student fees.

Regular commitment

Source: montana.edu · Verified 3 months ago

Learn More

Easy to try first

Astronomy and Physics Club

Promotes interest in astronomy and physics through public outreach, observing nights, and discussions. Open to all majors.

Drop in any time

Backcountry Hunters and Anglers at MSU

A collegiate chapter of the national Backcountry Hunters & Anglers organization, focused on conservation, ethics, and education for hunting and fishing on public lands.

Drop in any time

Campus rituals

Annual 'M' Photo

First-year students gather in Bobcat Stadium to form a giant 'M' for a class photo, a tradition that kicks off their journey at MSU.

Drop in any time

Source: montana.edu · Verified 2 months ago

Learn More

Resources & spaces

Allen Yarnell Center for Student Success

Offers a wide range of services to support students, including academic advising, career coaching, success planning, and financial education.

Open to all

Career Services

Offers career coaching, resume and cover letter reviews, mock interviews, and hosts career fairs to help students explore career options and secure internships and jobs.

Open to all

Using DormWay at Montana State University

What the product handles for students.

Syllabus to schedule

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Workload planning

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Free student access

Core organization is free for Montana State University students. Optional Pro tools are in development.

Montana State University on DormWay

Current DormWay activity for this campus

36

Active Students

37

Syllabi Analyzed

28

Courses on DormWay

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Popular Courses

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ANSC 434RBIOB_100IN_001_202670Calculus IChemistryCollege Algebra with Co-requisiteMontana Tribal Cultures, Histories, and Current IssuesMUSI_203IA_001_202670Physiology of Animal Reproduction

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Life in Bozeman for Montana State University Students

Everything you need to know about living and studying in Bozeman.

Timezone

Mountain Time (MT)

Median Rent

$1,900

Cost of Living Index

120

Student Population

17,000

City Transportation

Walkability

50

Bikeability

70

Public Transit

Streamline

Nearest Airports

Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport

Climate Averages

Climate

Semi-arid

Avg Annual Temp

41°F

Avg Snowfall

82 in

Campus Operations Snapshot

Parking and Transit

Parking Garage

garage • Levels 1 and 2 for visitors

Enforced 6 am to 8 pm; Maximum daily rate $12.00.

Harrison Street

surface_lot • Day use only

Enforced 6 am to 6 pm; Maximum daily rate $8.00.

Bobcat Lot 25

surface_lot • South campus stadium lots

Enforced 6 am to 6 pm.

Campus News

Latest updates from Montana State University

MSU Receives $1.5 Million Grant to Study Adaptive Grazing Management

Researchers received a grant to study 21st-century grazing practices using satellite imagery and drones with ranchers across Montana.

Oct 12, 2026

Read More

African wild dogs travel long distances to recover populations, MSU study finds

A paper by ecology professor Scott Creel reveals movement patterns that could allow populations to recover in areas where they were locally extinct.

Oct 7, 2026

Read More

Museum of the Rockies to celebrate National Fossil Day

The family-friendly event on Oct. 10 will include hands-on fossil activities and talks with MSU experts.

Oct 7, 2026

Read More

Timely Warning: Increase in minibike and bicycle thefts across campus, particularly near residence halls.

Timely Warning: Increase in minibike and bicycle thefts across campus, particularly near residence halls.

Read More

Drink Spiking Awareness: Reports of possible drink spiking at student gatherings highlight importance of vigilance.

Drink Spiking Awareness: Reports of possible drink spiking at student gatherings highlight importance of vigilance.

Read More

Upcoming Events

What's happening at Montana State University

Indigenous Peoples' Day Special Lunch & Dinner

October 12, 2026

Miller Dining Hall and Rendezvous Dining Pavilion

A special meal at the dining halls honoring Indigenous art and culture through storytelling and crafts.

LRES Fall Seminar Series: Marianne Cowherd

October 12, 2026

Byker Auditorium, Chemistry & Biochemistry Bldg

Assistant Professor Marianne Cowherd discusses 'Attributing the 2026 Western US snow drought to climate change'.

Navigating SBIR/STTR Workshop

October 20, 2026

EngineWorks, 2425 Technology Blvd

An interactive workshop focusing on federal research and development funding for translational technologies.

2026 Faculty Symposium

October 26, 2026

MSU Campus

Considering how intentional teaching goals and meaningful reflection shape the work of educators.

MBB Tip-Off Halloween Carnival

October 28, 2026

Brick Breeden Fieldhouse

Kick off the men's basketball season with a festive night of interactive games, music, and food.

Dorms & On-Campus Housing at Montana State University

Various dorm and housing options are available for students.

32 known dorm and housing options. The first 24 are shown below; the rest are available in the expandable list.

Branegan Court

Room types: 2-bedroom, townhouse

Gallatin Hall

Room types: two-bedroom, three-bedroom, four-bedroom

Grant Chamberlain

Room types: apartment

Hannon Hall

Capacity: 400

Room types: single, double

Hapner Hall

Capacity: 400

Room types: single, double

Headwaters Complex

Capacity: 600

Room types: two-bedroom, three-bedroom, four-bedroom

Hyalite Hall

Capacity: 500

Room types: single, double

Jefferson Hall

Room types: two-bedroom, three-bedroom, four-bedroom

Johnstone Center

Capacity: 200

Room types: single, double

Julia Martin Apartments

Capacity: 100

Room types: apartment-style units

Langford Hall

Capacity: 400

Room types: single, double

Madison Hall

Room types: two-bedroom, three-bedroom, four-bedroom

McIntosh Court

Room types: apartment, townhome

Mullan Hall

Capacity: 400

Room types: single, double

Nelson Story & Peter Koch Towers

Room types: apartment

Nelson Story Tower

Room types: apartment

Nelson Story Towers

Room types: 1-bedroom

North Hedges

Capacity: 200

Room types: single, double

Paisley Court

Room types: apartment

Peter Koch Tower

Room types: apartment

Quad A

Room types: single, double

Quad B

Room types: single, double

Quad C

Room types: single, double

Quad D

Room types: single, double

Show the remaining 8 housing options

Quad E

Room types: single, double

Quad F

Room types: single, double

Quads

Capacity: 400

Room types: apartment-style units

Residence Life Apartments

Capacity: 150

Room types: 2-bedroom, 3-bedroom

Roskie

Capacity: 400

Room types: single, double

South Hedges

Capacity: 200

Room types: single, double

West Side Houses

Room types: house

Yellowstone Hall

Capacity: 400

Room types: single, double

Campus Details

Academic System

Semester

Control

Public

Email Domain

@montana.edu

Official Website

Visit Website →

Plan your semester at Montana State University

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