Mississippi State vs. MSU

Should I go to Mississippi State University or Montana State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Mississippi State or MSU 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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Mississippi State University vs. Montana State University comparison
Mississippi State University Montana State University College 3 College 4
Mississippi State University Montana State University
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Overview

Mississippi State MSU
Location Mississippi State, MS Bozeman, MT
Setting Rural Fringe Remote Town
Enrollment 22,649 16,681
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #523 #590
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website msstate.edu montana.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Mississippi State MSU
Tuition (In State) $9,248 $5,824
Tuition (Out of State) $25,294 $27,391
Room & Board $10,964 $11,300
Avg Net Price $15,364 $17,250
Avg Grant Aid $14,252 $5,749
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 100%

Admission

Mississippi State MSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 18,830 28,794
Admitted 14,158 21,116
Acceptance Rate 75.2% 73.3%
Enrolled % 23.8% 17.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.58 3.5
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Challenging
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 21/29 20/27
SAT Range 1070/1280 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 Aug 1, 2025

Academics

Mississippi State MSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Education (17%)
  • Engineering (12%)
  • General Studies (6%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Engineering (12%)
  • Business (10%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Education (7%)

Outcomes

Mississippi State MSU
Graduation Rate 60% 51%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $47,500 $45,800
Making Student Loan Payments 63% 71%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,250 $24,000
Median Loan Payment $240 $248

Diversity

Mississippi State MSU
% Men 49% 52%
% Women 51% 48%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 72% 86%
% Black 20% 1%
% Hispanic 2% 4%
% Native American 1% 2%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 1% 3%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

Mississippi State MSU
% In-State 59% 35%
% Out-of-State 40% 65%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Mississippi State University is larger than than MSU based on total student enrollment (22,649 students vs. 16,681 students)

Mississippi State vs. MSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mississippi State or MSU?

  • Mississippi State University is 58.8% more expensive to attend than MSU for in-state tuition ($9,248.00 vs. $5,824.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 8.3% higher at MSU than Mississippi State University ($27,391.00 vs. $25,294.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Mississippi State University than MSU ($15,364 vs. $17,250)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mississippi State University are 3.1% lower than costs at Montana State University ($10,964 vs. $11,300)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Montana State University than Mississippi State University (100% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Mississippi State University students is 147.9% larger than aid received Montana State University ($14,252 vs. $5,749)

Mississippi State vs. MSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Mississippi State University (1140) is 9 points higher than at MSU (1131)
  • Incoming Mississippi State students have at the same average ACT score (25) as students at MSU (25)
  • Accepted freshman Mississippi State students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.58) than students at MSU (3.5)
  • Mississippi State has a higher acceptance rate (75.2%) than MSU (73.3%)

Mississippi State vs. MSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Mississippi 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 Mississippi State.

  • The graduation rate at Mississippi State is higher than Montana State University (60% vs. 51%)
  • Graduates from Mississippi State University earn on average $1,700 more per year than MSU graduates after ten years. ($47,500 vs. $45,800)
  • Mississippi State University students graduate with a $750 lower median federal student loan debt than MSU graduates. ($23,250 vs. $24,000)
  • Mississippi State graduates are paying $8 less per month on federal student loans than MSU graduates. ($240 vs. $248)
  • More MSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mississippi State students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 63%)

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