CSUDH vs. MSU Billings

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University Dominguez Hills in Carson, CA with Montana State University Billings in Billings, MT on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California State University Dominguez Hills is larger than MSU Billings based on total student enrollment (15,182 students vs. 4,129 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Dominguez Hills is located in Carson, CA (Small City setting); Montana State University Billings is in Billings, MT (Midsize City setting).
• California State University Dominguez Hills is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Montana State University Billings is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Dominguez Hills 21:1; Montana State University Billings 14:1.

CSUDH vs. MSU Billings Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CSUDH or MSU Billings? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at California State University Dominguez Hills than MSU Billings ($9,175 vs. $15,018).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Montana State University Billings are 45.9% lower than at California State University Dominguez Hills ($9,980 vs. $18,444).
• California State University Dominguez Hills is 2.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than MSU Billings (about $169 more per year; $7,449.00 vs. $7,280.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 14.2% higher at MSU Billings than at California State University Dominguez Hills (about $2,848 more per year; $22,897.00 vs. $20,049.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Dominguez Hills than at Montana State University Billings (93% vs. 90%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Dominguez Hills students is 90.8% larger than aid received by Montana State University Billings students ($13,951 vs. $7,313).

CSUDH vs. MSU Billings Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CSUDH or MSU Billings? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between MSU Billings and CSUDH.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CSUDH - Test-free; MSU Billings - Not reported.
• Typical fall application deadline: CSUDH Dec 4, 2026.
• Accepted freshman CSUDH students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.16) than students at MSU Billings (3.05).

CSUDH vs. MSU Billings Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CSUDH and MSU Billings? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Montana State University Billings's six-year graduation rate (33%) is higher than California State University Dominguez Hills's (24%).
• Graduates from California State University Dominguez Hills earn a median of about $9,000 more per year than MSU Billings graduates about ten years after starting college ($46,800 vs. $37,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Dominguez Hills graduates have a $3,538 lower median loan debt than MSU Billings graduates ($13,962 vs. $17,500).
• Among borrowers, CSUDH graduates have an estimated $36 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than MSU Billings graduates ($144 vs. $180).
• More MSU Billings graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CSUDH students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 52%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.