Montana State University, Billings

What Montana State University, Billings does

Montana State University Billings (MSUB) is a public regional university operating within the Montana University System under the governance of the Montana Board of Regents, with a primary campus at 1500 University Drive in Billings, Montana, and a second campus — City College at MSU Billings — on Central Avenue. The institution traces to a 1927 founding (Eastern Montana State Normal School) and took its current name in 1995 upon affiliation with Montana State University–Bozeman; its current Chancellor is Dr. Stefani Hicswa, appointed in 2021 as the first female chancellor. Educational delivery spans five colleges — Health Professions and Science, Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, Business, Education, and City College — serving approximately 4,145 students in Fall 2025 (split roughly evenly between University Campus and City College) and awarding 689 degrees and certificates in 2024-25.

The business model is a hybrid state appropriations / tuition model: FY26 unrestricted operating budget is $43,990,912, funded 69.0% by Montana state allocations ($30.3M), 29.4% by tuition and fees ($12.9M), and 1.6% by general fund revenue. Pricing is segmented by residency and WUE eligibility, with University Campus annual in-state tuition/fees of $7,689 rising to $23,311 out-of-state, and City College in-state tuition/fees of $5,180; 91.8% of students are Montana residents and 64.2% are Yellowstone County residents. Customer segments include first-time traditional undergraduates, transfer/returning students, graduate students (249 enrolled), City College two-year students, military/veteran students (supported via a dedicated Military and Veterans Success Center and Purple Heart University designation earned in 2018), international students from 21 countries, online/distance learners, and TRIO-eligible first-generation, low-income, and disabled students.

The technology footprint is built on standard higher-ed SaaS platforms rather than proprietary infrastructure: Canvas LMS (Instructure) for course delivery, Navigate by EAB as the student success platform with mobile app, Accommodate for disability services, Academic Works for scholarships (disbursing over $1.8M annually across 500+ awards), StarRez for housing, Ellucian Banner/MyMSUB for student information, Microsoft 365 for productivity, and assistive technologies (JAWS, ZoomText, Dragon NaturallySpeaking, Read&Write Gold, remote captioning) for the ~250 students served per semester by Disability Support Services. The institution holds NWCCU regional accreditation plus programmatic accreditations including AACSB (Business), CAEP (Education), CCNE (Nursing), CACREP (Counseling), CAATE (Athletic Training), ABAI (Behavior Analysis), NASAD, NASM, and City College-specific accreditations (CAAHEP, CoAEMSP, IFSAC, JRCERT, NLN CNEA). MSUB competes 15 NCAA Division II athletics teams (the most in Montana) in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, employs 531 people (408 full-time, 106 part-time, 17 graduate students as of November 2024), and ranks as the 4th largest employer in Yellowstone County with payroll exceeding $18M annually.

Name

Montana State University, Billings

Legal name

Montana State University Billings

Website

https://msubillings.edu

Company type

Public

Founded year

1927

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Junior Colleges (61121)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Rural/Regional Community Colleges (EDAHADAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community/Tribal Two-Year Colleges (Associate Degree–Granting) (EDAHANAA), University/College Continuing Education (Extension) Programs (EDAAAEAA), Online Nonprofit Universities (EDAHALAK)

Keywords

• Higher education
• Undergraduate degrees
• Graduate programs
• Community college
• Workforce training

Headquarters

HQ city

Billings

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Revenue from undergraduate and graduate tuition, fees, and related educational charges. FY26 budgeted revenue of $12,932,714 representing 29.4% of total revenue.
2. State Allocations: State funding from Montana allocated through the Montana University System. FY26 budgeted allocation of $30,335,105 representing 69.0% of total revenue.
3. General Fund: Other general fund revenue sources. FY26 budgeted revenue of $723,093 representing 1.6% of total revenue.
4. Scholarships: Annual scholarship awards totaling over $1.8 million across 500+ awards ranging from $200 book scholarships to full tuition

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Montana State University Billings is a public regional comprehensive university that delivers higher education across two campuses in Billings, Montana: a four-year University Campus offering associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees through five colleges (Health Professions & Science, Liberal Arts & Social Sciences, Business, Education, and City College), and a two-year City College providing associate degrees, certificates, and workforce training. Services include academic advising, free tutoring, disability accommodations, TRIO support, veteran/military student services, online learning, and scholarships exceeding $1.8 million annually.

Product overview

Montana State University Billings is a comprehensive regional university offering a unified educational platform consisting of the four-year University Campus and the two-year City College. The institution delivers degree programs through five colleges (Health Professions & Science, Liberal Arts & Social Sciences, Business, Education, and City College) to approximately 4,145 students. The product portfolio includes student-facing technology platforms such as the Navigate student success platform for advising and scheduling, Accommodate for disability services management, and the Academic Works scholarship system. Core educational services are delivered through Canvas LMS, supplemented by free tutoring (Academic Support Center), TRIO support programs, and specialized veteran services including GI Bill processing. The university awards over $1.8 million in scholarships annually and holds multiple specialized accreditations including AACSB for business and CAEP for education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Montana State University Billings — University Campus (Four-Year) A four-year public university offering associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees through five colleges (Health Professions & Science, Liberal Arts & Social Sciences, Business, Education, plus shared College of City College) for traditional, transfer, graduate, veteran, international, and online students. Serves 2,065 University Campus students as of Fall 2025.
• City College at MSU Billings A two-year community college offering associate degrees, certificates, workforce training, university-transfer education, and developmental education at 3803 Central Avenue in Billings. CAAHEP-, CoAEMSP-, IFSAC-, JRCERT-, and NLN CNEA-accredited programs; serves 2,080 City College students as of Fall 2025.
• College of Health Professions and Science (CHPS) One of MSUB's five colleges offering health professions and science programs (including CCNE-accredited nursing and CAATE-accredited athletic training) to 535 enrolled students (444 undergraduate, 91 graduate).
• College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences (CLASS) College offering liberal arts and social sciences degree programs (including NASAD- and NASM-accredited art and music programs), serving 692 enrolled students (656 undergraduate, 36 graduate).
• College of Business AACSB-accredited business college offering undergraduate business degrees to 452 enrolled students.
• College of Education CAEP-accredited education college offering teacher preparation, special education, and counseling degrees (CACREP-accredited) to 245 students (123 undergraduate, 132 graduate); includes ABAI-accredited M.S. in Special Education Advanced Studies: Applied Behavior Analysis.
• Military and Veterans Success Center (MVSC) Comprehensive support services for veterans, active-duty military, and military-affiliated students including GI Bill processing and certification (School Certifying Official), military tuition assistance, veteran lounge, tutoring support, VA work study, and ACP Mentoring Program partnerships.
• Disability Support Services (DSS) ADA-compliant accessibility services for students with disabilities including accommodations, sign language interpreters, remote captioning, assistive technology (Read&Write Gold, JAWS, ZoomText, Dragon), alternative textbooks, and test accommodations. Serves approximately 250 students per semester at University Campus and City College.
• Academic Support Center (ASC) Free tutoring services for STEM subjects (math, chemistry), writing, foreign languages, and other courses; includes supplemental instruction and peer navigator programs. Operates at University Campus (Student Union Building) and City College (Tech Building).
• TRIO Student Support Services Federal TRIO-funded program providing holistic support for first-generation college students, low-income individuals, and students with documented disabilities through mentoring, tutoring, and educational opportunities to improve graduation rates. Operated at University Campus and City College.
• MSUB Online (Online Learning) Online and distance education programs delivered through Canvas LMS with an additional $20/credit fee (up to $240 maximum), providing flexible asynchronous learning for remote and non-traditional students regardless of geographic location.
• Financial Aid and Scholarships Comprehensive financial aid services including federal grants, loans, work study, and scholarship processing via FAFSA and Academic Works; administers more than $1.8 million in scholarships annually across 500+ awards ranging from $200 book scholarships to full tuition.
• Yellowjacket Athletics (NCAA Division II) 15 intercollegiate NCAA Division II athletic teams (the most in Montana) competing in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC), serving as both a student-life offering and recruitment channel.

Quantifiable outcome

• 689 degrees awarded in 2024-25
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration19 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and support.

• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)coreOthersMSU Billings Military and Veterans Success Center processes GI Bill benefits, provides VA work study opportunities, and supports veteran students through the VA's educational benefits programs. The university serves as a certifying institution for veteran educational assistance.
• American Corporate Partners (ACP)supportStrategic or Co-development PartnerACP Mentoring Program provides mentorship opportunities for veterans transitioning to civilian careers. MSUB connects veteran students with corporate mentors for professional development and career guidance.
• Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)coreOthersRegional accrediting body for higher education institutions in the Northwest. NWCCU accreditation validates the university's academic quality and eligibility for federal student aid.
• Montana University System Board of RegentscoreOthersGoverning board for all Montana University System institutions. Sets tuition rates, policy, and oversees all MUS campuses including MSU Billings.
• Montana State University (Bozeman)coreOthersMSU Billings is affiliated with Montana State University - Bozeman as part of the Montana University System restructuring. The affiliation provides shared resources, transfer pathways, and system-wide coordination.
• Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCAA Division II athletic conference for MSUB's 15 intercollegiate athletic teams. Provides conference scheduling, championship competition, and athletic conference governance.
• Yellowstone Public Radio (YPR)supportStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic radio station licensed to MSU Billings, providing community broadcast services and university-public media partnership.
• Montana Office of the Commissioner of Higher EducationcoreOthersState coordinating body for Montana higher education located at 2500 Broadway, Helena, MT 59620-3101. Oversees policy, data, and coordination across all Montana University System institutions.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Montana State University-Northern: Sibling Montana University System campus in Havre offering a mix of two-year, four-year, and graduate programs with a similar regional/rural service profile and comparable enrollment scale. Most directly comparable peer within the same governance structure.
• University of Montana Western: Another MUS four-year regional campus in Dillon, Montana serving rural populations with comparable program breadth, enrollment size, and reliance on state appropriations - highly analogous operating model.
• Rocky Mountain College: Private comprehensive college physically located in Billings, MT, competing for the same local student pool, athletics recruits (NAIA), and faculty talent; differs primarily in governance and funding model.
• Miles Community College: Montana two-year community college in Miles City led by former Chancellor Hicswa; directly analogous to MSUB's City College division in mission (workforce training, transfer pathways, associate degrees) and small/rural operating context.
• Carroll College: Private Catholic liberal arts college in Helena, MT, with a comparable small comprehensive profile serving Montana residents; competes for in-state undergraduate students and faculty.

Broad incumbents

• Montana State University-Bozeman: Flagship land-grant research university within the same Montana State system and MSUB's named affiliate. Larger enrollment, R1 research profile, and broader program portfolio; competes with MSUB for in-state students and faculty.
• University of Montana: The other Montana University System flagship (in Missoula), offering a fuller research university profile and broader graduate programs; competes with MSUB for Montana-resident students and state appropriations share.
• Boise State University: Larger public regional university in Boise, ID that has successfully scaled online, professional, and health programs; illustrates a growth trajectory for what a larger Mountain West regional university can become and a competitor in the WUE and online learner market.

Regional players

• Eastern Washington University: Public regional comprehensive university in Cheney, WA with comparable enrollment scale (~11k) and similar mix of liberal arts, professional, and online programs; serves as a regional WUE-comparable peer for benchmarking.
• Weber State University: Public regional comprehensive university in Ogden, UT with a strong workforce/technical education mission similar to City College, plus NCAA Division I athletics - useful peer for benchmarking diversified regional public university economics.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/msubillings
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/msubillings
• Facebookfacebook.com/39291869220
• Instagraminstagram.com/msubillings
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/montana-state-university-billings

Compliance19 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Montana State University, Billings