MSU Billings vs. UW-Eau Claire

Should I go to Montana State University Billings or University of Wisconsin Eau Claire? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if MSU Billings or UW-Eau Claire 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. University of Wisconsin Eau Claire comparison
Montana State University Billings University of Wisconsin Eau Claire College 3 College 4
University of Wisconsin Eau Claire
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Overview

 MSU Billings UW-Eau Claire
Location Billings, MT Eau Claire, WI
Setting Midsize City Small City
Enrollment 4,057 10,104
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #565
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website msubillings.edu uwec.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 MSU Billings UW-Eau Claire
Tuition (In State) $4,620 $7,361
Tuition (Out of State) $18,209 $16,074
Room & Board $8,348 $9,014
Avg Net Price $12,487 $15,000
Avg Grant Aid $5,394 $4,251
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 76%

Admission

 MSU Billings UW-Eau Claire
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied - 10,403
Admitted - 7,971
Acceptance Rate 76.6%
Enrolled % 26.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.05 3.59
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Unavailable Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/26
SAT Range
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2025

Academics

 MSU Billings UW-Eau Claire
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 19:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (19%)
  • Education (17%)
  • Health Professions (16%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Psychology (5%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Health Professions (13%)
  • Education (7%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

Outcomes

 MSU Billings UW-Eau Claire
Graduation Rate 33% 65%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,800 $47,900
Making Student Loan Payments 58% 76%
Median Student Loan Debt $17,500 $23,250
Median Loan Payment $180 $240

Diversity

 MSU Billings UW-Eau Claire
% Men 35% 40%
% Women 65% 60%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 82% 89%
% Black 1% 1%
% Hispanic 5% 2%
% Native American 4% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 2% 2%
% Unknown Race 1% 0%

Students

 MSU Billings UW-Eau Claire
% In-State 86% 64%
% Out-of-State 11% 35%

Campus

 MSU Billings UW-Eau Claire
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

  • University of Wisconsin Eau Claire is larger than than MSU Billings based on total student enrollment (10,104 students vs. 4,057 students)

MSU Billings vs. UW-Eau Claire Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MSU Billings or UW-Eau Claire?

  • University of Wisconsin Eau Claire is 59.3% more expensive to attend than MSU Billings for in-state tuition ($7,361.00 vs. $4,620.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 13.3% higher at MSU Billings than University of Wisconsin Eau Claire ($18,209.00 vs. $16,074.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Montana State University Billings than UW-Eau Claire ($12,487 vs. $15,000)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Montana State University Billings are 8% lower than costs at University of Wisconsin Eau Claire ($8,348 vs. $9,014)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Montana State University Billings than University of Wisconsin Eau Claire (98% vs. 76%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Montana State University Billings students is 26.9% larger than aid received University of Wisconsin Eau Claire ($5,394 vs. $4,251)

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

  • Accepted freshman UW-Eau Claire students have a 0.54 point higher average high school GPA (3.59) than students at MSU Billings (3.05)

MSU Billings vs. UW-Eau Claire Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, MSU Billings or UW-Eau Claire? 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 UW-Eau Claire and MSU Billings.

  • The graduation rate at UW-Eau Claire is higher than Montana State University Billings (65% vs. 33%)
  • Graduates from University of Wisconsin Eau Claire earn on average $10,100 more per year than MSU Billings graduates after ten years. ($47,900 vs. $37,800)
  • Montana State University Billings students graduate with a $5,750 lower median federal student loan debt than UW-Eau Claire graduates. ($17,500 vs. $23,250)
  • MSU Billings graduates are paying $60 less per month on federal student loans than UW-Eau Claire graduates. ($180 vs. $240)
  • More UW-Eau Claire graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MSU Billings students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 58%)

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