CSU Stanislaus vs. MSU Billings

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University Stanislaus in Turlock, 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 Stanislaus is larger than MSU Billings based on total student enrollment (9,724 students vs. 4,129 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Stanislaus is located in Turlock, CA (Small Suburban setting); Montana State University Billings is in Billings, MT (Midsize City setting).
• California State University Stanislaus 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 Stanislaus 18:1; Montana State University Billings 14:1.

CSU Stanislaus vs. MSU Billings Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CSU Stanislaus 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 Stanislaus than MSU Billings ($7,433 vs. $15,018).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Montana State University Billings are 24% lower than at California State University Stanislaus ($9,980 vs. $13,126).
• California State University Stanislaus is 13.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than MSU Billings (about $966 more per year; $8,246.00 vs. $7,280.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 9.8% higher at MSU Billings than at California State University Stanislaus (about $2,051 more per year; $22,897.00 vs. $20,846.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Montana State University Billings than at California State University Stanislaus (90% vs. 86%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Stanislaus students is 70.8% larger than aid received by Montana State University Billings students ($12,492 vs. $7,313).

CSU Stanislaus vs. MSU Billings Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CSU Stanislaus 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 CSU Stanislaus.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CSU Stanislaus - Test-free; MSU Billings - Not reported.
• Typical fall application deadline: CSU Stanislaus Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman CSU Stanislaus students have a 0.42 point higher average high school GPA (3.47) than students at MSU Billings (3.05).

CSU Stanislaus vs. MSU Billings Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CSU Stanislaus 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 Stanislaus's six-year graduation rate (49%) is higher than Montana State University Billings's (33%).
• Graduates from California State University Stanislaus earn a median of about $8,100 more per year than MSU Billings graduates about ten years after starting college ($45,900 vs. $37,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Stanislaus graduates have a $2,500 lower median loan debt than MSU Billings graduates ($15,000 vs. $17,500).
• Among borrowers, CSU Stanislaus graduates have an estimated $25 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than MSU Billings graduates ($155 vs. $180).
• More CSU Stanislaus graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MSU Billings students, three years after graduation. (64% 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.