Bozeman, MT · Clery Act 2023 · Public

Montana State University

According to the U.S. Department of Education's Clery Act filings, this profile covers campus safety, crime statistics, fire-safety data, and peer comparison for this 16,960-student campus.

4.01
Incidents / 1k students
#2,462
Rank of 3,050
#14
MT rank
16,960
Enrolled students

Data updated June 2026

The verdict

Montana State University reports 4.01 on-campus Clery incidents per 1,000 enrolled students, ranking #2,462 of 3,050 ranked U.S. campuses - with more reported incidents than 82% of ranked campuses its size.

4.01
incidents / 1,000 students
#2,462
of 3,050 ranked nationally
82%
report fewer incidents than this campus
39
on-campus incidents, 2023

Safety score = reported on-campus Clery incidents per 1,000 enrolled students (lower is safer).

Reporting-period change

What changed in 2023

+15 reported incidents

Montana State University increased from 24 to 39 reported on-campus incidents between the 2022 and 2023 reporting years in the U.S. Department of Education OPE Campus Safety Survey.

This is a change in reported incidents, not a measure of individual safety. Enrollment, reporting practice, and category coverage can affect the count.

See national reporting-year changes

Montana State University is a Public institution located in Bozeman, MT, enrolling approximately 16,960 students. Clery Act data spanning 2021–2023 records 89 total on-campus incidents across all reported crime categories. Within MT, it ranks #14 by safety score. Verify with the U.S. Department of Education Clery Act database →

With 16,960 enrolled students, this campus sits in the mid-sized institution bracket, which shapes how raw incident counts should be interpreted.

The most frequently reported category at Montana State University is "Rape" with 40 cumulative incidents across the reporting window. Compared to 5 peer institutions of similar enrollment size in MT averaging 2.48 incidents per 1,000 students, Montana State University reports 62% more incidents per student.

Fire safety data covers 1 reporting year for on-campus residential facilities, logging 3 total fires. Arrests and disciplinary actions span 45 category-year records, covering liquor law violations, drug law violations, and weapons possession on-campus. Federal enforcement history shows 1 recorded Clery Act violation with associated fines, a material signal about institutional compliance.

Safety Score

4.01 /1K students

incidents per 1,000 enrolled

National Rank

#2462

See peer comparison

State Rank (MT)

#14

within state peers

Incidents (2023)

39

across 11 crime categories

Where Montana State University sits among ranked U.S. campuses

On-campus Clery incidents per 1,000 students, every ranked campus with 2,000+ students

4 safer than 18% of 1,807 ranked campuses

0–1: 874 ranked campuses (48%). Below this entry. 1–2: 281 ranked campuses (16%). Below this entry. 2–3: 186 ranked campuses (10%). Below this entry. 3–4: 135 ranked campuses (7%). Below this entry. 4–5: 84 ranked campuses (5%). This entry sits in this band. 5–6: 71 ranked campuses (4%). Above this entry. 6–7: 36 ranked campuses (2%). Above this entry. 7–8: 37 ranked campuses (2%). Above this entry. 8–9: 103 ranked campuses (6%). Above this entry. This campus 0 9 every ranked campus, bucketed by value

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more ranked campuses. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Department of Education, Campus Safety & Security Survey (Clery Act) · 2023

Safety percentile vs. peers

Montana State University percentile rank 19.3%
National median

Higher percentile = safer than more peers. Rank #2462 out of 3,050 ranked institutions (enrollment >= 500) in the OPE Campus Safety Survey.

Reporting density vs peer median

Montana State University reports 62% more incidents per student than the median of 5 peer institutions.

Academic & Financial Profile

Tuition & Costs

In-State Tuition
$8,460
Out-of-State Tuition
$33,287
Avg Net Price
$22,499
Median Debt
$22,500
Pell Grant Recipients
16%
How does this cost rank in MT? →

Admissions

Acceptance Rate
82%
SAT Average
1183
SAT Math Range
525–640
ACT Average
24
ACT Range
21–27

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate
57%
Retention Rate
79%
Median Earnings (6yr)
$44,757
Median Earnings (10yr)
$53,263
Loan Repayment (3yr)
85%

Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard. Methodology.

Enrollment scale

How campus size shapes the safety figures

With 16,960 enrolled students, Montana State University is in the largest 5% of the 5,673 institutions in this dataset with a reported enrollment. The safety score above already normalizes reported on-campus incidents per 1,000 students, so compare it with similarly sized campuses instead of treating a higher raw count as evidence that a campus is less safe. Use the annual crime table to see what was reported, then use the peer comparison to judge the rate against schools of a similar scale. A lower reported rate is not a guarantee of individual safety or a measure of reporting quality.

Crime Statistics by Year

11 categories 3 reporting years on-campus only

Montana State University: on-campus incidents by year

Rising 50% (26 → 39 incidents)

202530354045 202120222023 26 39 ▲ +50.0%
Crime Type 202320222021
Aggravated Assault 814
Arson 312
Burglary 024
Fondling 863
Incest 100
Motor Vehicle Theft 310
Murder / Non-Negligent Manslaughter 000
Negligent Manslaughter 000
Rape 161212
Robbery 000
Statutory Rape 011

Source: US Dept US Dept of Education OPE Campus Safety Survey. Figures show on-campus incidents

Fire Safety

Year Fires Inj. Deaths Cat I Cat II
2023 3 0 0 0 0

Arrests & Disciplinary Actions

45 category-year records
Disposition26%47%27%ArrestsDisciplinary referralsNo action
45 reported records
Category Year Arrests Discipline
Drugs 2023 0 0
Drugs 2023 0 0
Drugs 2023 0 0
Drugs 2023 0 0
Drugs 2023 11 98
Liquor 2023 0 0
Liquor 2023 0 0
Liquor 2023 0 0
Liquor 2023 0 0
Liquor 2023 109 500
Weapons 2023 0 0
Weapons 2023 0 0
Weapons 2023 0 0
Weapons 2023 0 0
Weapons 2023 0 0
Drugs 2022 0 0
Drugs 2022 0 0
Drugs 2022 0 0
Drugs 2022 0 0
Drugs 2022 15 91

Montana State University vs peer institutions

Side-by-side safety scores for 3 peers of similar enrollment

Scores are incidents per 1,000 enrolled students (lower is fewer).

Selected

MT

Montana State University

4.01 incidents / 1,000 students
National rank
#2,462
Enrollment
16,960
Data year
2023

CA

De Anza College

0.29 incidents / 1,000 students
National rank
#1,148
Enrollment
16,990
Data year
2023

Similar Institutions

De Anza College
Cupertino, CA · 16,990 enrolled
Safety Score 0.29
Bowling Green State University-Main Campus
Bowling Green, OH · 17,027 enrolled
Safety Score 1.64
University at Albany
Albany, NY · 16,880 enrolled
Safety Score 3.91
Rochester Institute of Technology
Rochester, NY · 16,863 enrolled
Safety Score 3.38
West Chester University of Pennsylvania
West Chester, PA · 17,076 enrolled
Safety Score 3.16

Closest by National Rank

Institutions ranked nearest Montana State University nationally (rank #2462), regardless of size or state.

Osceola Technical College
Kissimmee, FL
National Rank #2461
Pratt Institute-Main
Brooklyn, NY
National Rank #2463
University of Pittsburgh-Bradford
Bradford, PA
National Rank #2460
Austin Community College District
Cedar Park, TX
National Rank #2464
University of Nevada-Las Vegas
Las Vegas, NV
National Rank #2459

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Montana State University safe?
Montana State University has a safety score of 4.01 (total on-campus incidents per 1,000 enrolled students) and ranks #2,462 nationally out of 3,050+ ranked institutions. Compare this with peer institutions for context.
What crimes are reported at Montana State University?
Aggravated Assault, Arson, Burglary, Fondling, Incest, and other categories, for calendar year 2023.
How does Montana State University compare to similar schools?
See the Similar Institutions section below for peers of similar enrollment in MT.
Does Montana State University have fire safety data?
Yes. Montana State University reports fire safety data for on-campus residential facilities, including total fires, injuries, deaths, and fire damage categories. 3 fires were reported in the most recent year.

Understanding Montana State University's Safety Profile

Montana State University in Bozeman, MT enrolls 16,960 students and has a safety score of 4.01 incidents per 1,000 enrolled students , ranking #2462 nationally.

Reported incidents cover 2021 to 2023. On-campus incidents increased from 24 in 2022 to 39 in 2023.

Fire safety data covers on-campus residential facilities. 3 fires were reported in the most recent year.

DOE Enforcement Actions

2014 Clery Act Violation $967,500

DOE and DOJ found systemic failures in handling sexual assault cases, inadequate Title IX compliance, and underreporting of crimes.

Fine paid. University entered compliance agreement with DOJ.

View all Clery Act enforcement actions →

What this means for you

Montana State University's 4.01 reported on-campus incidents per 1,000 students is a starting point for comparison, not a verdict on any student's safety.

Figures reflect the 2023 Clery Act reporting year as filed with the U.S. Department of Education.

Data sourced from the U.S. Department of Education, OPE Campus Safety & Security Survey (Clery Act). See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCampus Editorial

Every figure on PlainCampus is rendered directly from federal Clery Act source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal Clery Act source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

PlainCampus is for informational purposes only and does not constitute safety, security, legal, or enrollment advice; the data describes reported on-campus activity, it is not a complete picture of safety at any campus and cannot predict any individual student's experience. See our appropriate use guidance.