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Colorado State UW CU Boulder Utah Boise State UO Idaho Utah State University Washington State OSU University of Nevada-Reno San Diego State| Montana State University | The University of Montana | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
MSU | The University of Montana | ||
| Location | Bozeman, MT | Missoula, MT | ||
| Setting | Remote Town | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 16,681 | 9,955 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #590 | #724 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | montana.edu | umt.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
MSU | The University of Montana | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $5,824 | $5,515 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $27,391 | $27,168 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,300 | $11,608 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $17,250 | $16,361 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $5,749 | $5,645 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 100% |
Admission |
MSU | The University of Montana | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 28,794 | 8,943 | ||
| Admitted | 21,116 | 8,530 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 73.3% | 95.4% | ||
| Enrolled % | 17.8% | 19% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.5 | 3.36 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 20/27 | 18/26 | ||
| SAT Range | 1070/1290 | 1070/1280 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Aug 18, 2025 |
Academics |
MSU | The University of Montana | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 17:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
MSU | The University of Montana | ||
| Graduation Rate | 51% | 47% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $45,800 | $41,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 71% | 59% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,000 | $23,183 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $248 | $239 |
Diversity |
MSU | The University of Montana | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 52% | 40% | ||
| % Women | 48% | 60% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 86% | 79% | ||
| % Black | 1% | 1% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 4% | ||
| % Native American | 2% | 3% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 4% | ||
| % International | 3% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 5% |
Students |
MSU | The University of Montana | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 35% | 55% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 65% | 44% | ||
Campus |
MSU | The University of Montana | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Montana State University is larger than than The University of Montana based on total student enrollment (16,681 students vs. 9,955 students)
MSU vs. The University of Montana Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, MSU or The University of Montana?
- Montana State University is 5.6% more expensive to attend than The University of Montana for in-state tuition ($5,824.00 vs. $5,515.00)
- Out of state tuition is 0.8% higher at MSU than The University of Montana ($27,391.00 vs. $27,168.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at The University of Montana than MSU ($16,361 vs. $17,250)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Montana State University are 2.7% lower than costs at The University of Montana ($11,300 vs. $11,608)
- The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Montana State University as The University of Montana (100% vs. 100%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Montana State University students is 1.8% larger than aid received The University of Montana ($5,749 vs. $5,645)
MSU vs. The University of Montana Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, MSU or The University of Montana? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between The University of Montana or MSU .
- The average SAT score at Montana State University (1131) is 41 points higher than at The University of Montana (1090)
- Incoming MSU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at The University of Montana (24)
- Accepted freshman MSU students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at The University of Montana (3.36)
- The University of Montana has a higher acceptance rate (95.4%) than MSU (73.3%)
MSU vs. The University of Montana Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, MSU or The University of Montana? 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 The University of Montana and MSU.
- The graduation rate at MSU is higher than The University of Montana (51% vs. 47%)
- Graduates from Montana State University earn on average $4,800 more per year than The University of Montana graduates after ten years. ($45,800 vs. $41,000)
- The University of Montana students graduate with a $817 lower median federal student loan debt than MSU graduates. ($23,183 vs. $24,000)
- The University of Montana graduates are paying $9 less per month on federal student loans than MSU graduates. ($239 vs. $248)
- More MSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former The University of Montana students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 59%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/