MSU vs. URI

Deciding between Montana State University and University of Rhode Island? 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
University of Rhode Island

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • MSU Bozeman, MT
  • URI Kingston, RI
  • Setting
  • MSU Remote Town
  • URI Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • MSU 17,135
  • URI 17,210
  • Type
  • MSU Public 4 Year
  • URI Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • MSU #620
  • URI #425
  • Religious Affiliation
  • MSU -
  • URI -
  • Status
  • MSU Non-profit
  • URI Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • MSU
  • URI

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • MSU $8,460
  • URI $16,942
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • MSU $33,287
  • URI $37,146
  • Room & Board
  • MSU $14,000
  • URI $15,607
  • Average Net Price
  • MSU $20,142
  • URI $24,118
  • Average Grant Aid
  • MSU $11,763
  • URI $12,578
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • MSU 83%
  • URI 96%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • MSU 21,652
  • URI 26,987
  • Admitted
  • MSU 17,786
  • URI 19,475
  • Acceptance Rate
  • MSU 82.1%
  • URI 72.2%
  • Enrolled
  • MSU 20.3%
  • URI 15.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • MSU 1180
  • URI 1150
  • Typical ACT score
  • MSU 24
  • URI
  • Average High School GPA
  • MSU 3.5
  • URI 3.58
  • Typical High School Grades
  • MSU A-
  • URI A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • MSU Average
  • URI Average
  • Applicant Competition
  • MSU
  • URI Low
  • ACT Range
  • MSU 21/27
  • URI
  • SAT Range
  • MSU 1065/1285
  • URI 1020/1280
  • Submit Test Scores
  • MSU Test optional
  • URI Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • MSU
  • URI Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • MSU 18:1
  • URI 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • MSU
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Business (10%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Education (7%)
  • URI
    • Business (14%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Health Professions (10%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Engineering (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • MSU 51%
  • URI 63%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • MSU $45,800
  • URI $56,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • MSU 71%
  • URI 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • MSU $24,000
  • URI $23,438
  • Median Loan Payment
  • MSU $248
  • URI $242

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • MSU 52%
  • URI 41%
  • % Women
  • MSU 48%
  • URI 59%
  • Racial Diversity
  • MSU Very Low
  • URI Low
  • HBCU
  • MSU No
  • URI No
  • % White
  • MSU 86%
  • URI 71%
  • % Asian
  • MSU 1%
  • URI 3%
  • % Black
  • MSU 1%
  • URI 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • MSU 4%
  • URI 9%
  • % Native American
  • MSU 2%
  • URI 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • MSU 0%
  • URI 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • MSU 3%
  • URI 3%
  • % International
  • MSU 3%
  • URI 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • MSU 1%
  • URI 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • MSU 39%
  • URI 42%
  • % Out-of-State
  • MSU 61%
  • URI 57%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Montana State University in Bozeman, MT with University of Rhode Island in Kingston, RI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Rhode Island is larger than MSU based on total student enrollment (17,210 students vs. 17,135 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Montana State University is located in Bozeman, MT (Remote Town setting); University of Rhode Island is in Kingston, RI (Large Suburban setting).
  • Montana State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Rhode Island is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Montana State University 18:1; University of Rhode Island 17:1.

MSU vs. URI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MSU or URI? 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 URI ($20,142 vs. $24,118).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Montana State University are 10.3% lower than at University of Rhode Island ($14,000 vs. $15,607).
  • University of Rhode Island is 100.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than MSU (about $8,482 more per year; $16,942.00 vs. $8,460.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 11.6% higher at URI than at Montana State University (about $3,859 more per year; $37,146.00 vs. $33,287.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Rhode Island than at Montana State University (96% vs. 83%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Rhode Island students is 6.9% larger than aid received by Montana State University students ($12,578 vs. $11,763).

MSU vs. URI Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Montana State University (1180) is 30 points higher than at URI (1150).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Montana State University 1065/1285; University of Rhode Island 1020/1280.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Montana State University 21/27.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: MSU - Test optional; URI - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: URI Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman URI students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.58) than students at MSU (3.5).
  • MSU has a higher acceptance rate (82.1%) than URI (72.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.3% at MSU vs. 15.4% at URI.

MSU vs. URI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MSU and URI? 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).

  • University of Rhode Island's six-year graduation rate (63%) is higher than Montana State University's (51%).
  • Graduates from University of Rhode Island earn a median of about $10,400 more per year than MSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,200 vs. $45,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Rhode Island graduates have a $562 lower median loan debt than MSU graduates ($23,438 vs. $24,000).
  • Among borrowers, URI 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 URI students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 69%)

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.