MSU vs. Valley City State University

Should I go to Minot State University or Valley City State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if MSU or Valley City State University is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Minot State University vs. Valley City State University comparison
Minot State University Valley City State University College 3 College 4
Minot State University
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Overview

MSU Valley City State University
Location Minot, ND Valley City, ND
Setting Remote Town Remote Town
Enrollment 2,741 1,754
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #662 #621
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website minotstateu.edu vcsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

MSU Valley City State University
Tuition (In State) $7,168 $6,619
Tuition (Out of State) $7,168 $11,583
Room & Board $8,058 $7,280
Avg Net Price $12,349 $13,841
Avg Grant Aid $5,569 $6,346
% Receiving Grant Aid 91% 98%

Admission

MSU Valley City State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 745 492
Admitted 538 341
Acceptance Rate 72.2% 69.3%
Enrolled % 67.8% 56.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.42 3.31
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 18/24 17/23
SAT Range 930/1180 1030/1110
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 Jun 30, 2026

Academics

MSU Valley City State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (36%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Health Professions (13%)
  • Human Services (6%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (5%)
  • Education (54%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Natural Resources Conservation (5%)
  • Human Services (4%)
  • Health Professions (4%)

Outcomes

MSU Valley City State University
Graduation Rate 34% 42%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $45,200 $42,200
Making Student Loan Payments 74% 71%
Median Student Loan Debt $18,725 $21,330
Median Loan Payment $193 $220

Diversity

MSU Valley City State University
% Men 3% 2%
% Women 7% 5%
Racial Diversity Medium Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 67% 81%
% Black 5% 4%
% Hispanic 6% 6%
% Native American 2% 1%
% Pacific Islander 1% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 13% 3%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

MSU Valley City State University
% In-State 62% 65%
% Out-of-State 29% 31%

Campus

MSU Valley City State University
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Minot State University is larger than than Valley City State University based on total student enrollment (2,741 students vs. 1,754 students)

MSU vs. Valley City State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MSU or Valley City State University?

  • Minot State University is 8.3% more expensive to attend than Valley City State University for in-state tuition ($7,168.00 vs. $6,619.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 61.6% higher at Valley City State University than Minot State University ($11,583.00 vs. $7,168.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Minot State University than Valley City State University ($12,349 vs. $13,841)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Valley City State University are 10.7% lower than costs at Minot State University ($7,280 vs. $8,058)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Valley City State University than Minot State University (98% vs. 91%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Valley City State University students is 14% larger than aid received Minot State University ($6,346 vs. $5,569)

MSU vs. Valley City State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MSU or Valley City State University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Valley City State University or MSU .

  • The average SAT score at Minot State University (999) is 38 points higher than at Valley City State University (961)
  • Incoming MSU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at Valley City State University (21)
  • Accepted freshman MSU students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at Valley City State University (3.31)
  • MSU has a higher acceptance rate (72.2%) than Valley City State University (69.3%)

MSU vs. Valley City State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, MSU or Valley City State University? 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 Valley City State University and MSU.

  • The graduation rate at Valley City State University is higher than Minot State University (42% vs. 34%)
  • Graduates from Minot State University earn on average $3,000 more per year than Valley City State University graduates after ten years. ($45,200 vs. $42,200)
  • Minot State University students graduate with a $2,605 lower median federal student loan debt than Valley City State University graduates. ($18,725 vs. $21,330)
  • MSU graduates are paying $27 less per month on federal student loans than Valley City State University graduates. ($193 vs. $220)
  • More MSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Valley City State University students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 71%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/