MSU Billings vs. SKC

Comparable Facts

Compare Montana State University Billings in Billings, MT with Salish Kootenai College in Pablo, MT on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Montana State University Billings is larger than SKC based on total student enrollment (4,129 students vs. 671 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Montana State University Billings is located in Billings, MT (Midsize City setting); Salish Kootenai College is in Pablo, MT (Distant Rural setting).
• Montana State University Billings is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Salish Kootenai College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Montana State University Billings 14:1; Salish Kootenai College 6:1.

MSU Billings vs. SKC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MSU Billings or SKC? 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 Salish Kootenai College than MSU Billings ($6,771 vs. $15,018).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Salish Kootenai College are 29.7% lower than at Montana State University Billings ($7,020 vs. $9,980).
• Montana State University Billings is 13.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than SKC (about $881 more per year; $7,280.00 vs. $6,399.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 97.7% higher at MSU Billings than at Salish Kootenai College (about $11,314 more per year; $22,897.00 vs. $11,583.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Montana State University Billings than at Salish Kootenai College (90% vs. 68%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Montana State University Billings students is 10.5% larger than aid received by Salish Kootenai College students ($7,313 vs. $6,621).

MSU Billings vs. SKC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MSU Billings or SKC? 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 SKC and MSU Billings.

• Salish Kootenai College reports an open admissions policy.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: MSU Billings - Not reported; SKC - Open admission.

MSU Billings vs. SKC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MSU Billings and SKC? 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).

• Salish Kootenai College's six-year graduation rate (48%) is higher than Montana State University Billings's (33%).
• Graduates from Montana State University Billings earn a median of about $8,800 more per year than SKC graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,800 vs. $29,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Salish Kootenai College graduates have a $5,028 lower median loan debt than MSU Billings graduates ($12,472 vs. $17,500).
• Among borrowers, SKC graduates have an estimated $52 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than MSU Billings graduates ($128 vs. $180).
• More MSU Billings graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SKC students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 36%)

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.