MSU Billings vs. CSU Channel Islands

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

MSU Billings CSU Channel Islands
Location Billings, MT Camarillo, CA
Setting Midsize City Rural Fringe
Enrollment 4,057 6,128
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website msubillings.edu csuci.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

MSU Billings CSU Channel Islands
Tuition (In State) $4,620 $5,742
Tuition (Out of State) $18,209 $17,622
Room & Board $8,348 $16,300
Avg Net Price $12,487 $13,540
Avg Grant Aid $5,394 $9,412
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 72%

Admission

MSU Billings CSU Channel Islands
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied - 10,420
Admitted - 9,342
Acceptance Rate 89.7%
Enrolled % 6.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.05 3.22
Typical High School Grades B B
Admissions Standards Unavailable Unavailable
Applicant Competition
ACT Range
SAT Range
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Jul 30, 2025

Academics

MSU Billings CSU Channel Islands
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (19%)
  • Education (17%)
  • Health Professions (16%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Psychology (5%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Psychology (16%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (11%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Communication (9%)

Outcomes

MSU Billings CSU Channel Islands
Graduation Rate 33% 54%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,800 $46,100
Making Student Loan Payments 58% 66%
Median Student Loan Debt $17,500 $15,183
Median Loan Payment $180 $156

Diversity

MSU Billings CSU Channel Islands
% Men 35% 34%
% Women 65% 66%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very High
HBCU No No
% White 82% 32%
% Black 1% 2%
% Hispanic 5% 49%
% Native American 4% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 5%
% International 2% 0%
% Unknown Race 1% 6%

Students

MSU Billings CSU Channel Islands
% In-State 86% 99%
% Out-of-State 11% 1%

Campus

MSU Billings CSU Channel Islands
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • California State University Channel Islands is larger than than MSU Billings based on total student enrollment (6,128 students vs. 4,057 students)

MSU Billings vs. CSU Channel Islands Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MSU Billings or CSU Channel Islands?

  • California State University Channel Islands is 24.3% more expensive to attend than MSU Billings for in-state tuition ($5,742.00 vs. $4,620.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 3.3% higher at MSU Billings than California State University Channel Islands ($18,209.00 vs. $17,622.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Montana State University Billings than CSU Channel Islands ($12,487 vs. $13,540)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Montana State University Billings are 95.3% lower than costs at California State University Channel Islands ($8,348 vs. $16,300)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Montana State University Billings than California State University Channel Islands (98% vs. 72%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Channel Islands students is 74.5% larger than aid received Montana State University Billings ($9,412 vs. $5,394)

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

  • Accepted freshman CSU Channel Islands students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.22) than students at MSU Billings (3.05)

MSU Billings vs. CSU Channel Islands Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, MSU Billings or CSU Channel Islands? 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 CSU Channel Islands and MSU Billings.

  • The graduation rate at CSU Channel Islands is higher than Montana State University Billings (54% vs. 33%)
  • Graduates from California State University Channel Islands earn on average $8,300 more per year than MSU Billings graduates after ten years. ($46,100 vs. $37,800)
  • California State University Channel Islands students graduate with a $2,317 lower median federal student loan debt than MSU Billings graduates. ($15,183 vs. $17,500)
  • CSU Channel Islands graduates are paying $24 less per month on federal student loans than MSU Billings graduates. ($156 vs. $180)
  • More CSU Channel Islands graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MSU Billings students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 58%)

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