MSU Billings vs. Black Hills State University

Deciding between Montana State University Billings and Black Hills State University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Black Hills State University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • MSU Billings Billings, MT
  • Black Hills State University Spearfish, SD
  • Setting
  • MSU Billings Midsize City
  • Black Hills State University Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • MSU Billings 4,129
  • Black Hills State University 3,346
  • Type
  • MSU Billings Public 4 Year
  • Black Hills State University Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • MSU Billings
  • Black Hills State University #1001
  • Religious Affiliation
  • MSU Billings -
  • Black Hills State University -
  • Status
  • MSU Billings Non-profit
  • Black Hills State University Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • MSU Billings
  • Black Hills State University

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • MSU Billings $7,280
  • Black Hills State University $8,764
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • MSU Billings $22,897
  • Black Hills State University $11,866
  • Room & Board
  • MSU Billings $9,980
  • Black Hills State University $12,160
  • Average Net Price
  • MSU Billings $15,018
  • Black Hills State University $15,576
  • Average Grant Aid
  • MSU Billings $7,313
  • Black Hills State University $6,070
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • MSU Billings 90%
  • Black Hills State University 76%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • MSU Billings -
  • Black Hills State University 1,690
  • Admitted
  • MSU Billings -
  • Black Hills State University 1,628
  • Acceptance Rate
  • MSU Billings
  • Black Hills State University 96.3%
  • Enrolled
  • MSU Billings
  • Black Hills State University 30.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • MSU Billings
  • Black Hills State University 1050
  • Typical ACT score
  • MSU Billings
  • Black Hills State University 21
  • Average High School GPA
  • MSU Billings 3.05
  • Black Hills State University 3.22
  • Typical High School Grades
  • MSU Billings B
  • Black Hills State University B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • MSU Billings Unavailable
  • Black Hills State University Very Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • MSU Billings
  • Black Hills State University
  • ACT Range
  • MSU Billings
  • Black Hills State University 18/24
  • SAT Range
  • MSU Billings
  • Black Hills State University 965/1135
  • Submit Test Scores
  • MSU Billings Not reported
  • Black Hills State University Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • MSU Billings
  • Black Hills State University

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • MSU Billings 14:1
  • Black Hills State University 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • MSU Billings
    • Business (19%)
    • Education (17%)
    • Health Professions (16%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • Psychology (5%)
  • Black Hills State University
    • Education (21%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Psychology (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • MSU Billings 33%
  • Black Hills State University 28%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • MSU Billings $37,800
  • Black Hills State University $38,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • MSU Billings 58%
  • Black Hills State University 62%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • MSU Billings $17,500
  • Black Hills State University $25,478
  • Median Loan Payment
  • MSU Billings $180
  • Black Hills State University $263

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • MSU Billings 37%
  • Black Hills State University 37%
  • % Women
  • MSU Billings 63%
  • Black Hills State University 63%
  • Racial Diversity
  • MSU Billings Low
  • Black Hills State University Very Low
  • HBCU
  • MSU Billings No
  • Black Hills State University No
  • % White
  • MSU Billings 82%
  • Black Hills State University 83%
  • % Asian
  • MSU Billings 1%
  • Black Hills State University 0%
  • % Black
  • MSU Billings 1%
  • Black Hills State University 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • MSU Billings 5%
  • Black Hills State University 5%
  • % Native American
  • MSU Billings 4%
  • Black Hills State University 4%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • MSU Billings 0%
  • Black Hills State University 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • MSU Billings 3%
  • Black Hills State University 4%
  • % International
  • MSU Billings 2%
  • Black Hills State University 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • MSU Billings 1%
  • Black Hills State University 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • MSU Billings 89%
  • Black Hills State University 55%
  • % Out-of-State
  • MSU Billings 9%
  • Black Hills State University 44%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • MSU Billings Yes
  • Black Hills State University Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • MSU Billings No
  • Black Hills State University No
  • Meal Plan
  • MSU Billings Yes
  • Black Hills State University Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • MSU Billings Yes
  • Black Hills State University Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • MSU Billings Yes
  • Black Hills State University Yes
  • Learn More
  • MSU Billings Details
  • Black Hills State University Details

Comparable Facts

Compare Montana State University Billings in Billings, MT with Black Hills State University in Spearfish, SD on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Montana State University Billings is larger than Black Hills State University based on total student enrollment (4,129 students vs. 3,346 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Montana State University Billings is located in Billings, MT (Midsize City setting); Black Hills State University is in Spearfish, SD (Remote Town setting).
  • Montana State University Billings is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Black Hills State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Montana State University Billings 14:1; Black Hills State University 17:1.

MSU Billings vs. Black Hills State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MSU Billings or Black Hills State University? 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 Montana State University Billings than Black Hills State University ($15,018 vs. $15,576).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Montana State University Billings are 17.9% lower than at Black Hills State University ($9,980 vs. $12,160).
  • Black Hills State University is 20.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than MSU Billings (about $1,484 more per year; $8,764.00 vs. $7,280.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 93% higher at MSU Billings than at Black Hills State University (about $11,031 more per year; $22,897.00 vs. $11,866.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Montana State University Billings than at Black Hills State University (90% vs. 76%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Montana State University Billings students is 20.5% larger than aid received by Black Hills State University students ($7,313 vs. $6,070).

MSU Billings vs. Black Hills State University Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MSU Billings or Black Hills State University? 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 Black Hills State University and MSU Billings.

  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsBlack Hills State University 965/1135.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsBlack Hills State University 18/24.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: MSU Billings - Not reported; Black Hills State University - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman Black Hills State University students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.22) than students at MSU Billings (3.05).

MSU Billings vs. Black Hills State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MSU Billings and Black Hills State University? 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).

  • Montana State University Billings's six-year graduation rate (33%) is higher than Black Hills State University's (28%).
  • Graduates from Black Hills State University earn a median of about $1,000 more per year than MSU Billings graduates about ten years after starting college ($38,800 vs. $37,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Montana State University Billings graduates have a $7,978 lower median loan debt than Black Hills State University graduates ($17,500 vs. $25,478).
  • Among borrowers, MSU Billings graduates have an estimated $83 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Black Hills State University graduates ($180 vs. $263).
  • More Black Hills State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MSU Billings students, three years after graduation. (62% 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.