Why choose Montana State for your graduate degree?

  • You will conduct world-class research and become the best physicist you can be. Our students conduct research in
    • Astrophysics, condensed material (especially quantum materials), physics education, optics and photonics, gravity, solar physics, and space physics.
stars
Astrophysics
biophysics
Biophysics
condensed matter
Condensed Matter
physics edu
Physics Education
optics wires
Optical and Quantum Systems
Neutron Star
Gravity
sun
Solar Physics
space physics
Space Physics

 

To be sent more information on any of these areas, please submit this Physics Inquiry Form

 

  • Quality mentoring.
    • Faculty spend considerable time mentoring their graduate students. Groups are just the right size; small enough so that faculty are available and large enough with rich, exciting discussions about physics.
    • Each student has a graduate committee with five experts helping them complete their research. You can build your comittee with people in different disciplines, research centers, and industry experts.
  • Outdoor recreation and exciting life outside of work
    • Bozeman is 90 minutes from Yellowstone National Park, and our town is surrounded by mountains, lakes, and forrests. Graduate students hike, ski, and mountain bike- at all levels! Even if you don't have any experience, there will be a group of other students willing to teach you and help you get started.
    • Out town's entertainment calendar is filled with affordable music, eating options, and a theater. Ranging from Shakespeare in the Park, to music festivals, a symphony, a film society, and a regular set of concerts at performance venues in the city. Bozeman is ranked as the best college town in America. https://www.rentcafe.com/blog/rental-market/market-snapshots/best-college-towns-2025/
  • Affordable
    • A web-search on apartment rents might suggest otherwise, but many graduate students live in university apartments which are incredibly affordable. A shared, 2-bedroom apartment is aproximately $500/month/person! https://www.montana.edu/housing/apartments/index.html 
    • Our PhD students receive a monthly stipend of about $2165.00 per month for a teaching assistantship and $2444.19 per month for a research assistantship. Tuition is fully paid for.
    • We also cover much of your healthcare costs. Because your insurance needs will vary (single, married, or dependents), we provide a monthly extra amount (about $200/month) for you to purchase insurance on the ACA marketplace. These plans are typically better than many other universities' insurance plans, and the extra amount more than covers a typical ACA premium. Similar marketplace plans are available for international students. Details for both can be found at https://www.montana.edu/gradschool/wellness/healthcare_options.html
  • Success and careers
    • You can embark on a wide range of careers after you finish your degree. Including teaching at a college or university, product development in industry, research at a national lab, or starting up your own company.
    • For each career path, we connect you with experts in the field while you are still a student, so you can launch into a career as soon as you finish your degree.
  • What have our alumni done?

 

Here are some useful links: 

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