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CU Boulder CU Denver UW OSU UCCS The University of Montana UO Utah DU Colorado School of Mines Boise State University of Northern Colorado| Colorado State University Fort Collins | Montana State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Colorado State | MSU | ||
| Location | Fort Collins, CO | Bozeman, MT | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Remote Town | ||
| Enrollment | 33,403 | 16,681 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #359 | #590 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | colostate.edu | montana.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Colorado State | MSU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $10,218 | $5,824 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $30,078 | $27,391 | ||
| Room & Board | $13,728 | $11,300 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $16,926 | $17,250 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $10,727 | $5,749 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 74% | 100% |
Admission |
Colorado State | MSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 33,122 | 28,794 | ||
| Admitted | 30,066 | 21,116 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 90.8% | 73.3% | ||
| Enrolled % | 18.5% | 17.8% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.68 | 3.5 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Challenging | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 23/29 | 20/27 | ||
| SAT Range | 1080/1290 | 1070/1290 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jul 1, 2025 |
Academics |
Colorado State | MSU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 18:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Colorado State | MSU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 64% | 51% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $51,800 | $45,800 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 69% | 71% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $21,004 | $24,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $217 | $248 |
Diversity |
Colorado State | MSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 45% | 52% | ||
| % Women | 55% | 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 | 2% | 3% | ||
| % International | 3% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 1% |
Students |
Colorado State | MSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 59% | 35% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 40% | 65% | ||
Campus |
Colorado State | MSU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Colorado State University Fort Collins is larger than than MSU based on total student enrollment (33,403 students vs. 16,681 students)
Colorado State vs. MSU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Colorado State or MSU?
- Colorado State University Fort Collins is 75.4% more expensive to attend than MSU for in-state tuition ($10,218.00 vs. $5,824.00)
- Out of state tuition is 9.8% higher at Colorado State than Montana State University ($30,078.00 vs. $27,391.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Colorado State University Fort Collins than MSU ($16,926 vs. $17,250)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Montana State University are 21.5% lower than costs at Colorado State University Fort Collins ($11,300 vs. $13,728)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Montana State University than Colorado State University Fort Collins (100% vs. 74%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Colorado State University Fort Collins students is 86.6% larger than aid received Montana State University ($10,727 vs. $5,749)
Colorado State vs. MSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Colorado State or MSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between MSU or Colorado State .
- The average SAT score at Colorado State University Fort Collins (1145) is 14 points higher than at MSU (1131)
- Incoming Colorado State students have at the same average ACT score (25) as students at MSU (25)
- Accepted freshman Colorado State students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at MSU (3.5)
- Colorado State has a higher acceptance rate (90.8%) than MSU (73.3%)
Colorado State vs. MSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Colorado 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 Colorado State.
- The graduation rate at Colorado State is higher than Montana State University (64% vs. 51%)
- Graduates from Colorado State University Fort Collins earn on average $6,000 more per year than MSU graduates after ten years. ($51,800 vs. $45,800)
- Colorado State University Fort Collins students graduate with a $2,996 lower median federal student loan debt than MSU graduates. ($21,004 vs. $24,000)
- Colorado State graduates are paying $31 less per month on federal student loans than MSU graduates. ($217 vs. $248)
- More MSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Colorado State students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 69%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/