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JMU Mason Colorado State UW Virginia Tech Mary Washington College Old Dominion CNU CU Boulder The University of Montana Utah William & Mary| Montana State University | Virginia Commonwealth University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
MSU | VCU | ||
| Location | Bozeman, MT | Richmond, VA | ||
| Setting | Remote Town | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 16,960 | 28,238 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #658 | #469 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | montana.edu | vcu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
MSU | VCU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $6,056 | $12,850 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $29,047 | $34,744 | ||
| Room & Board | $13,446 | $16,119 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $18,511 | $22,852 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $9,967 | $12,433 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 85% | 99% |
Admission |
MSU | VCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 21,975 | 19,052 | ||
| Admitted | 19,081 | 17,729 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 86.8% | 93.1% | ||
| Enrolled % | 19% | 25.5% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.5 | 3.75 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Challenging | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 20/27 | 22/30 | ||
| SAT Range | 1060/1270 | 1030/1270 | ||
| 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 | Jan 18, 2026 |
Academics |
MSU | VCU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 17:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
MSU | VCU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 51% | 53% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $45,800 | $47,500 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 71% | 56% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,000 | $23,250 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $248 | $240 |
Diversity |
MSU | VCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 5% | 8% | ||
| % Women | 7% | 17% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 86% | 50% | ||
| % Black | 1% | 18% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 8% | ||
| % Native American | 2% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 6% | ||
| % International | 3% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 1% |
Students |
MSU | VCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 36% | 92% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 64% | 6% | ||
Campus |
MSU | VCU | ||
| 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
- Virginia Commonwealth University is larger than than MSU based on total student enrollment (28,238 students vs. 16,960 students)
MSU vs. VCU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, MSU or VCU?
- Virginia Commonwealth University is 112.2% more expensive to attend than MSU for in-state tuition ($12,850.00 vs. $6,056.00)
- Out of state tuition is 19.6% higher at VCU than Montana State University ($34,744.00 vs. $29,047.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Montana State University than VCU ($18,511 vs. $22,852)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Montana State University are 19.9% lower than costs at Virginia Commonwealth University ($13,446 vs. $16,119)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Virginia Commonwealth University than Montana State University (99% vs. 85%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia Commonwealth University students is 24.7% larger than aid received Montana State University ($12,433 vs. $9,967)
MSU vs. VCU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, MSU or VCU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between VCU or MSU .
- The average SAT score at Montana State University (1131) is 34 points higher than at VCU (1097)
- Incoming MSU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at VCU (24)
- Accepted freshman VCU students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at MSU (3.5)
- VCU has a higher acceptance rate (93.1%) than MSU (86.8%)
MSU vs. VCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, MSU or VCU? 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 VCU and MSU.
- The graduation rate at VCU is higher than Montana State University (53% vs. 51%)
- Graduates from Virginia Commonwealth University earn on average $1,700 more per year than MSU graduates after ten years. ($47,500 vs. $45,800)
- Virginia Commonwealth University students graduate with a $750 lower median federal student loan debt than MSU graduates. ($23,250 vs. $24,000)
- VCU graduates are paying $8 less per month on federal student loans than MSU graduates. ($240 vs. $248)
- More MSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former VCU students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 56%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/