FSW vs. MSU Billings

Comparable Facts

Compare Florida SouthWestern State College in Fort Myers, FL with Montana State University Billings in Billings, MT on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Florida SouthWestern State College is larger than MSU Billings based on total student enrollment (14,301 students vs. 4,129 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Florida SouthWestern State College is located in Fort Myers, FL (Large Suburban setting); Montana State University Billings is in Billings, MT (Midsize City setting).
• Florida SouthWestern State College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Montana State University Billings is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Florida SouthWestern State College 27:1; Montana State University Billings 14:1.

FSW vs. MSU Billings Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, FSW 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 Florida SouthWestern State College than MSU Billings ($8,356 vs. $15,018).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Montana State University Billings are 10.8% lower than at Florida SouthWestern State College ($9,980 vs. $11,185).
• Montana State University Billings is 114.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than FSW (about $3,879 more per year; $7,280.00 vs. $3,401.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 76.4% higher at MSU Billings than at Florida SouthWestern State College (about $9,918 more per year; $22,897.00 vs. $12,979.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Montana State University Billings than at Florida SouthWestern State College (90% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Montana State University Billings students is 23.2% larger than aid received by Florida SouthWestern State College students ($7,313 vs. $5,938).

FSW vs. MSU Billings Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, FSW 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 FSW.

• Florida SouthWestern State College reports an open admissions policy.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: FSW - Open admission; MSU Billings - Not reported.
• Accepted freshman FSW students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.06) than students at MSU Billings (3.05).

FSW vs. MSU Billings Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for FSW 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).

• Graduates from Montana State University Billings earn a median of about $400 more per year than FSW graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,800 vs. $37,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Florida SouthWestern State College graduates have a $8,500 lower median loan debt than MSU Billings graduates ($9,000 vs. $17,500).
• Among borrowers, FSW graduates have an estimated $87 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than MSU Billings graduates ($93 vs. $180).
• More MSU Billings graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former FSW students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 43%)

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.