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Colorado State CU Boulder The University of Montana Utah Boise State UO Idaho Utah State University Washington State OSU University of Nevada-Reno San Diego State| Montana State University | University of Wyoming | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
MSU | UW | ||
| Location | Bozeman, MT | Laramie, WY | ||
| Setting | Remote Town | Remote Town | ||
| Enrollment | 16,681 | 11,100 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #590 | #331 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | montana.edu | uwyo.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
MSU | UW | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $5,824 | $4,800 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $27,391 | $19,950 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,300 | $11,610 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $17,250 | $12,819 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $5,749 | $8,942 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 94% |
Admission |
MSU | UW | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 28,794 | 5,797 | ||
| Admitted | 21,116 | 5,564 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 73.3% | 96% | ||
| Enrolled % | 17.8% | 29.2% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.5 | 3.53 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 20/27 | 21/28 | ||
| SAT Range | 1070/1290 | 1040/1240 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | ||
| Application Deadline | Aug 10, 2025 |
Academics |
MSU | UW | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 13:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
MSU | UW | ||
| Graduation Rate | 51% | 53% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $45,800 | $51,400 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 71% | 75% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,000 | $18,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $248 | $191 |
Diversity |
MSU | UW | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 52% | 46% | ||
| % Women | 48% | 54% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 86% | 76% | ||
| % Black | 1% | 1% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 7% | ||
| % Native American | 2% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 3% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 7% |
Students |
MSU | UW | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 35% | 56% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 65% | 40% | ||
Campus |
MSU | UW | ||
| 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 UW based on total student enrollment (16,681 students vs. 11,100 students)
MSU vs. UW Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, MSU or UW?
- Montana State University is 21.3% more expensive to attend than UW for in-state tuition ($5,824.00 vs. $4,800.00)
- Out of state tuition is 37.3% higher at MSU than University of Wyoming ($27,391.00 vs. $19,950.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Wyoming than MSU ($12,819 vs. $17,250)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Montana State University are 2.7% lower than costs at University of Wyoming ($11,300 vs. $11,610)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Montana State University than University of Wyoming (100% vs. 94%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of Wyoming students is 55.5% larger than aid received Montana State University ($8,942 vs. $5,749)
MSU vs. UW Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, MSU or UW? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UW or MSU .
- The average SAT score at Montana State University (1131) is 9 points higher than at UW (1122)
- Incoming MSU students have at the same average ACT score (25) as students at UW (25)
- Accepted freshman UW students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.53) than students at MSU (3.5)
- UW has a higher acceptance rate (96%) than MSU (73.3%)
MSU vs. UW Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, MSU or UW? 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 and MSU.
- The graduation rate at UW is higher than Montana State University (53% vs. 51%)
- Graduates from University of Wyoming earn on average $5,600 more per year than MSU graduates after ten years. ($51,400 vs. $45,800)
- University of Wyoming students graduate with a $5,500 lower median federal student loan debt than MSU graduates. ($18,500 vs. $24,000)
- UW graduates are paying $57 less per month on federal student loans than MSU graduates. ($191 vs. $248)
- More UW graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MSU students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 71%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/