MSU vs. OSU

Deciding between Montana State University and Oregon 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.

Montana State University
Oregon State University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • MSU Bozeman, MT
  • OSU Corvallis, OR
  • Setting
  • MSU Remote Town
  • OSU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • MSU 17,135
  • OSU 37,163
  • Type
  • MSU Public 4 Year
  • OSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • MSU #620
  • OSU #336
  • Religious Affiliation
  • MSU -
  • OSU -
  • Status
  • MSU Non-profit
  • OSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • MSU
  • OSU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • MSU $8,460
  • OSU $14,400
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • MSU $33,287
  • OSU $38,190
  • Room & Board
  • MSU $14,000
  • OSU $16,386
  • Average Net Price
  • MSU $20,142
  • OSU $22,467
  • Average Grant Aid
  • MSU $11,763
  • OSU $11,230
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • MSU 83%
  • OSU 90%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • MSU 21,652
  • OSU 30,293
  • Admitted
  • MSU 17,786
  • OSU 23,418
  • Acceptance Rate
  • MSU 82.1%
  • OSU 77.3%
  • Enrolled
  • MSU 20.3%
  • OSU 20.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • MSU 1180
  • OSU 1270
  • Typical ACT score
  • MSU 24
  • OSU 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • MSU 3.5
  • OSU 3.61
  • Typical High School Grades
  • MSU A-
  • OSU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • MSU Average
  • OSU Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • MSU
  • OSU
  • ACT Range
  • MSU 21/27
  • OSU 24/31
  • SAT Range
  • MSU 1065/1285
  • OSU 1140/1400
  • Submit Test Scores
  • MSU Test optional
  • OSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • MSU
  • OSU Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • MSU 18:1
  • OSU 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • MSU
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Business (10%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Education (7%)
  • OSU
    • Business (15%)
    • Engineering (15%)
    • Work and Family Studies (11%)
    • Biology (6%)
    • Natural Resources Conservation (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • MSU 51%
  • OSU 61%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • MSU $45,800
  • OSU $53,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • MSU 71%
  • OSU 66%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • MSU $24,000
  • OSU $23,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • MSU $248
  • OSU $242

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • MSU 52%
  • OSU 50%
  • % Women
  • MSU 48%
  • OSU 50%
  • Racial Diversity
  • MSU Very Low
  • OSU Medium
  • HBCU
  • MSU No
  • OSU No
  • % White
  • MSU 86%
  • OSU 67%
  • % Asian
  • MSU 1%
  • OSU 7%
  • % Black
  • MSU 1%
  • OSU 1%
  • % Hispanic
  • MSU 4%
  • OSU 9%
  • % Native American
  • MSU 2%
  • OSU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • MSU 0%
  • OSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • MSU 3%
  • OSU 7%
  • % International
  • MSU 3%
  • OSU 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • MSU 1%
  • OSU 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • MSU 39%
  • OSU 55%
  • % Out-of-State
  • MSU 61%
  • OSU 42%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • MSU Yes
  • OSU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • MSU No
  • OSU No
  • Meal Plan
  • MSU Yes
  • OSU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • MSU No
  • OSU No
  • Daycare Facility
  • MSU Yes
  • OSU Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Montana State University in Bozeman, MT with Oregon State University in Corvallis, OR on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Oregon State University is larger than MSU based on total student enrollment (37,163 students vs. 17,135 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Montana State University is located in Bozeman, MT (Remote Town setting); Oregon State University is in Corvallis, OR (Small City setting).
  • Montana State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Oregon State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Montana State University 18:1; Oregon State University 18:1.

MSU vs. OSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MSU or OSU? 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 than OSU ($20,142 vs. $22,467).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Montana State University are 14.6% lower than at Oregon State University ($14,000 vs. $16,386).
  • Oregon State University is 70.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than MSU (about $5,940 more per year; $14,400.00 vs. $8,460.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 14.7% higher at OSU than at Montana State University (about $4,903 more per year; $38,190.00 vs. $33,287.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Oregon State University than at Montana State University (90% vs. 83%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Montana State University students is 4.7% larger than aid received by Oregon State University students ($11,763 vs. $11,230).

MSU vs. OSU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Oregon State University (1270) is 90 points higher than at MSU (1180).
  • Incoming OSU students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 24 at MSU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Montana State University 1065/1285; Oregon State University 1140/1400.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Montana State University 21/27; Oregon State University 24/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: MSU - Test optional; OSU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: OSU Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman OSU students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.61) than students at MSU (3.5).
  • MSU has a higher acceptance rate (82.1%) than OSU (77.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.3% at MSU vs. 20.4% at OSU.

MSU vs. OSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MSU and OSU? 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).

  • Oregon State University's six-year graduation rate (61%) is higher than Montana State University's (51%).
  • Graduates from Oregon State University earn a median of about $8,100 more per year than MSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($53,900 vs. $45,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Oregon State University graduates have a $500 lower median loan debt than MSU graduates ($23,500 vs. $24,000).
  • Among borrowers, OSU graduates have an estimated $6 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than MSU graduates ($242 vs. $248).
  • More MSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former OSU students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 66%)

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.