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Montana State University brings about 16,218 students to Bozeman, a fast-growing mountain town wedged between downtown and the peaks of southwest Montana. The campus sits a few blocks south of Main Street, so historic downtown, with its boutiques, galleries, and festivals, is an easy walk. Bobcat sports anchor the social calendar, and Brick Breeden Fieldhouse and Bobcat Stadium fill up when the teams play. The real draw is the outdoors: the Gallagator and Sourdough trails run through town, Gallatin Regional Park spreads over 100 acres of paths and ponds, and the Bridger and Gallatin ranges put hiking, skiing, and climbing minutes away. The Museum of the Rockies sits on campus, and most students walk or bike between class, downtown, and trails.
Montana State requires new students with fewer than 30 college credits or fewer than two semesters of residence hall experience to live in university housing, so first-time freshmen are in the dorms with a meal plan. The requirement keeps most new students on campus for their first year.
The housing office grants a limited number of exemptions, typically for students who are older, married, living with family nearby, or commuting from home. After the first year, most students move into Bozeman's houses and apartments, with the central and south sides of town closest to campus. The rental process is standard, but Bozeman's market is tight and competitive because the town is growing fast and student demand is high, so expect credit and income screening, security deposits, and 12-month leases.
Read carefully for utility responsibilities and snow-removal clauses, since Montana winters are real. Confirm the city's occupancy limits before a large group signs, and don't count on finding something last minute.
Housing policies change frequently. Always verify current requirements directly with Montana State University before signing a lease.
Bozeman has one of the tightest student rental markets in this region, so the timeline runs early and moves fast. Students should start searching in October and November for the following academic year, well before most schools even think about it. The best houses near campus and downtown get claimed over the winter, and by spring the strong options are mostly gone. If you're in a group, line up your roommates in the fall and sign as soon as listings open.
Classes start in late August, but the real competition runs through the fall and winter before, when the best houses near campus and downtown get claimed. The central and south sides of town nearest campus see the heaviest demand. Waiting until summer usually means slim pickings, higher competition, and a longer commute. Most students at Montana State who want a good place treat the fall and winter window as their real shot.
Late searchers should widen their radius to the edges of town and lean on the university's off-campus housing marketplace. Spring sublets and mid-year openings exist but are limited here, so don't count on them. Newer apartments toward the edges of town offer more space when in-town houses are gone, though they trade the walk for a longer ride in. Setting alerts and checking the off-campus marketplace helps you catch the few late openings that surface.
Downtown sits just north of campus, putting Main Street's shops and festivals within walking distance of class.
Cooper Park is a historic neighborhood between downtown and campus, with older homes, a walkable namesake park, and quick access to both.
The south side is the most coveted area near MSU, close to the Museum of the Rockies and the best in-town trails.
Common questions from students searching for housing.
A room in a shared house near campus, utilities included, often runs about $500-$1,200/month per person depending on the place and group size. Bozeman's market is tight, so closer-in and newer spots sit at the higher end. If utilities aren't bundled, budget another $50-$150/month, with winter heating pushing the top of that range.