MSU Billings vs. NSU

Should I go to Montana State University Billings or Norfolk State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if MSU Billings or NSU 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.

Add a college to compare up to four schools
Montana State University Billings vs. Norfolk State University comparison
Montana State University Billings Norfolk State University College 3 College 4
Norfolk State University
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

MSU Billings NSU
Location Billings, MT Norfolk, VA
Setting Midsize City Midsize City
Enrollment 4,057 5,783
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #1008
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website msubillings.edu nsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

MSU Billings NSU
Tuition (In State) $4,620 $5,752
Tuition (Out of State) $18,209 $16,920
Room & Board $8,348 $10,844
Avg Net Price $12,487 $14,652
Avg Grant Aid $5,394 $12,164
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 91%

Admission

MSU Billings NSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied - 8,884
Admitted - 7,951
Acceptance Rate 89.5%
Enrolled % 16.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.05 2.9
Typical High School Grades B B-
Admissions Standards Unavailable Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 15/20
SAT Range 840/1040
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline May 31, 2025

Academics

MSU Billings NSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (19%)
  • Education (17%)
  • Health Professions (16%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Psychology (5%)
  • Health Professions (21%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • General Studies (10%)
  • Communication (7%)

Outcomes

MSU Billings NSU
Graduation Rate 33% 33%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,800 $36,700
Making Student Loan Payments 58% 27%
Median Student Loan Debt $17,500 $31,000
Median Loan Payment $180 $320

Diversity

MSU Billings NSU
% Men 35% 33%
% Women 65% 67%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very Low
HBCU No Yes
% White 82% 5%
% Black 1% 84%
% Hispanic 5% 3%
% Native American 4% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 2% 0%
% Unknown Race 1% 3%

Students

MSU Billings NSU
% In-State 86% 65%
% Out-of-State 11% 31%

Campus

MSU Billings NSU
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

  • Norfolk State University is larger than than MSU Billings based on total student enrollment (5,783 students vs. 4,057 students)

MSU Billings vs. NSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MSU Billings or NSU?

  • Norfolk State University is 24.5% more expensive to attend than MSU Billings for in-state tuition ($5,752.00 vs. $4,620.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 7.6% higher at MSU Billings than Norfolk State University ($18,209.00 vs. $16,920.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Montana State University Billings than NSU ($12,487 vs. $14,652)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Montana State University Billings are 29.9% lower than costs at Norfolk State University ($8,348 vs. $10,844)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Montana State University Billings than Norfolk State University (98% vs. 91%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Norfolk State University students is 125.5% larger than aid received Montana State University Billings ($12,164 vs. $5,394)

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

  • Accepted freshman MSU Billings students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.05) than students at NSU (2.9)

MSU Billings vs. NSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, MSU Billings or NSU? 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 NSU and MSU Billings.

  • The graduation rate at MSU Billings is the same as at Norfolk State University (33% vs. 33%)
  • Graduates from Montana State University Billings earn on average $1,100 more per year than NSU graduates after ten years. ($37,800 vs. $36,700)
  • Montana State University Billings students graduate with a $13,500 lower median federal student loan debt than NSU graduates. ($17,500 vs. $31,000)
  • MSU Billings graduates are paying $140 less per month on federal student loans than NSU graduates. ($180 vs. $320)
  • More MSU Billings graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 27%)

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