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Idaho Colorado State Washington State UW CU Boulder The University of Montana Utah UO Portland State University ISU CSU Utah State University| Boise State University | Montana State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Boise State | MSU | ||
| Location | Boise, ID | Bozeman, MT | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Remote Town | ||
| Enrollment | 26,115 | 16,681 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #899 | #590 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | boisestate.edu | montana.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Boise State | MSU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $5,532 | $5,824 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $22,869 | $27,391 | ||
| Room & Board | $13,841 | $11,300 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $17,724 | $17,250 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $9,892 | $5,749 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 93% | 100% |
Admission |
Boise State | MSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 16,795 | 28,794 | ||
| Admitted | 14,096 | 21,116 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 83.9% | 73.3% | ||
| Enrolled % | 22.2% | 17.8% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.37 | 3.5 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Moderate | Challenging | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 21/26 | 20/27 | ||
| SAT Range | 1030/1210 | 1070/1290 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Aug 1, 2025 |
Academics |
Boise State | MSU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 20:1 | 18:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Boise State | MSU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 29% | 51% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $41,600 | $45,800 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 54% | 71% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $22,929 | $24,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $237 | $248 |
Diversity |
Boise State | MSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 42% | 52% | ||
| % Women | 58% | 48% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 74% | 86% | ||
| % Black | 2% | 1% | ||
| % Hispanic | 11% | 4% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 2% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 3% | ||
| % International | 5% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 1% |
Students |
Boise State | MSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 59% | 35% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 40% | 65% | ||
Campus |
Boise State | MSU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Boise State University is larger than than MSU based on total student enrollment (26,115 students vs. 16,681 students)
Boise State vs. MSU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Boise State or MSU?
- Montana State University is 5.3% more expensive to attend than Boise State for in-state tuition ($5,824.00 vs. $5,532.00)
- Out of state tuition is 19.8% higher at MSU than Boise State University ($27,391.00 vs. $22,869.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Montana State University than Boise State ($17,250 vs. $17,724)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Montana State University are 22.5% lower than costs at Boise State University ($11,300 vs. $13,841)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Montana State University than Boise State University (100% vs. 93%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Boise State University students is 72.1% larger than aid received Montana State University ($9,892 vs. $5,749)
Boise State vs. MSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Boise State or MSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between MSU or Boise State .
- The average SAT score at Montana State University (1131) is 85 points higher than at Boise State (1046)
- Incoming MSU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at Boise State (23)
- Accepted freshman MSU students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at Boise State (3.37)
- Boise State has a higher acceptance rate (83.9%) than MSU (73.3%)
Boise State vs. MSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Boise State or MSU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between MSU and Boise State.
- The graduation rate at MSU is higher than Boise State University (51% vs. 29%)
- Graduates from Montana State University earn on average $4,200 more per year than Boise State graduates after ten years. ($45,800 vs. $41,600)
- Boise State University students graduate with a $1,071 lower median federal student loan debt than MSU graduates. ($22,929 vs. $24,000)
- Boise State graduates are paying $11 less per month on federal student loans than MSU graduates. ($237 vs. $248)
- More MSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Boise State students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 54%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/