Cal State East Bay vs. MSU Billings

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University East Bay in Hayward, 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 East Bay is larger than MSU Billings based on total student enrollment (12,326 students vs. 4,129 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University East Bay is located in Hayward, CA (Midsize City setting); Montana State University Billings is in Billings, MT (Midsize City setting).
• California State University East Bay 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 East Bay 22:1; Montana State University Billings 14:1.

Cal State East Bay vs. MSU Billings Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal State East Bay 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 East Bay than MSU Billings ($9,850 vs. $15,018).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Montana State University Billings are 44% lower than at California State University East Bay ($9,980 vs. $17,831).
• California State University East Bay is 4.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than MSU Billings (about $303 more per year; $7,583.00 vs. $7,280.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 13.4% higher at MSU Billings than at California State University East Bay (about $2,714 more per year; $22,897.00 vs. $20,183.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Montana State University Billings than at California State University East Bay (90% vs. 79%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California State University East Bay students is 69.1% larger than aid received by Montana State University Billings students ($12,369 vs. $7,313).

Cal State East Bay vs. MSU Billings Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cal State East Bay 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 Cal State East Bay.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cal State East Bay - Test-free; MSU Billings - Not reported.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cal State East Bay Oct 1, 2026.
• Accepted freshman Cal State East Bay students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.2) than students at MSU Billings (3.05).

Cal State East Bay vs. MSU Billings Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cal State East Bay 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).

• California State University East Bay's six-year graduation rate (43%) is higher than Montana State University Billings's (33%).
• Graduates from California State University East Bay earn a median of about $17,500 more per year than MSU Billings graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $37,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University East Bay graduates have a $1,168 lower median loan debt than MSU Billings graduates ($16,332 vs. $17,500).
• Among borrowers, Cal State East Bay graduates have an estimated $12 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than MSU Billings graduates ($168 vs. $180).
• More Cal State East Bay graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MSU Billings students, three years after graduation. (61% vs. 58%)

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.