MSU vs. UM Western

Should I go to Montana State University or The University of Montana Western? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if MSU or UM Western 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 vs. The University of Montana Western comparison
Montana State University The University of Montana Western College 3 College 4
Montana State University
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Overview

MSU UM Western
Location Bozeman, MT Dillon, MT
Setting Remote Town Remote Town
Enrollment 16,960 1,458
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #658 #995
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website montana.edu umwestern.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

MSU UM Western
Tuition (In State) $6,056 $4,844
Tuition (Out of State) $29,047 $17,374
Room & Board $13,446 $9,104
Avg Net Price $18,511 $15,726
Avg Grant Aid $9,967 $8,091
% Receiving Grant Aid 85% 62%

Admission

MSU UM Western
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 21,975 793
Admitted 19,081 789
Acceptance Rate 86.8% 99.5%Open
Enrolled % 19% 38%Open
Avg High School GPA 3.5 3.2
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Average Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 20/27 16/21
SAT Range 1060/1270 890/1120
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline

Academics

MSU UM Western
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Engineering (12%)
  • Business (10%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Education (7%)
  • Education (47%)
  • Business (25%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (17%)
  • Agriculture (6%)
  • General Studies (4%)

Outcomes

MSU UM Western
Graduation Rate 51% 31%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $45,800 $34,100
Making Student Loan Payments 71% 61%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,000 $20,929
Median Loan Payment $248 $216

Diversity

MSU UM Western
% Men 5% 1%
% Women 7% 1%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 86% 88%
% Black 1% 1%
% Hispanic 4% 3%
% Native American 2% 3%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 3% 0%
% Unknown Race 1% 2%

Students

MSU UM Western
% In-State 36% 57%
% Out-of-State 64% 43%

Campus

MSU UM Western
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Montana State University is larger than than UM Western based on total student enrollment (16,960 students vs. 1,458 students)

MSU vs. UM Western Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MSU or UM Western?

  • Montana State University is 25% more expensive to attend than UM Western for in-state tuition ($6,056.00 vs. $4,844.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 67.2% higher at MSU than The University of Montana Western ($29,047.00 vs. $17,374.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at The University of Montana Western than MSU ($15,726 vs. $18,511)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of Montana Western are 47.7% lower than costs at Montana State University ($9,104 vs. $13,446)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Montana State University than The University of Montana Western (85% vs. 62%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Montana State University students is 23.2% larger than aid received The University of Montana Western ($9,967 vs. $8,091)

MSU vs. UM Western Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman MSU students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at UM Western (3.2)
  • UM Western has a higher acceptance rate (99.5%) than MSU (86.8%)

MSU vs. UM Western Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, MSU or UM Western? 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 UM Western and MSU.

  • The graduation rate at MSU is higher than The University of Montana Western (51% vs. 31%)
  • Graduates from Montana State University earn on average $11,700 more per year than UM Western graduates after ten years. ($45,800 vs. $34,100)
  • The University of Montana Western students graduate with a $3,071 lower median federal student loan debt than MSU graduates. ($20,929 vs. $24,000)
  • UM Western graduates are paying $32 less per month on federal student loans than MSU graduates. ($216 vs. $248)
  • More MSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UM Western students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 61%)

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