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Colorado State UW CU Boulder The University of Montana Utah Boise State UO Idaho Utah State University Washington State OSU University of Nevada-Reno| Northwest Nazarene University | Montana State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
NNU | MSU | ||
| Location | Nampa, ID | Bozeman, MT | ||
| Setting | Small City | Remote Town | ||
| Enrollment | 1,778 | 16,681 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #761 | #590 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Church of the Nazarene | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | nnu.edu | montana.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
NNU | MSU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $35,548 | $5,824 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $35,548 | $27,391 | ||
| Room & Board | $10,500 | $11,300 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $25,674 | $17,250 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $21,411 | $5,749 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 100% |
Admission |
NNU | MSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 3,394 | 28,794 | ||
| Admitted | 2,993 | 21,116 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 88.2%Open | 73.3% | ||
| Enrolled % | 8%Open | 17.8% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.59 | 3.5 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Challenging | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 19/27 | 20/27 | ||
| SAT Range | 1000/1240 | 1070/1290 | ||
| 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 15, 2025 |
Academics |
NNU | MSU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 13:1 | 18:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
NNU | MSU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 52% | 51% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $43,000 | $45,800 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 66% | 71% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $26,000 | $24,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $268 | $248 |
Diversity |
NNU | MSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 37% | 52% | ||
| % Women | 63% | 48% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 75% | 86% | ||
| % Black | 2% | 1% | ||
| % Hispanic | 10% | 4% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 2% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 3% | ||
| % International | 3% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 6% | 1% |
Students |
NNU | MSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 55% | 35% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 42% | 65% | ||
Campus |
NNU | MSU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Montana State University is larger than than NNU based on total student enrollment (16,681 students vs. 1,778 students)
NNU vs. MSU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, NNU or MSU?
- Northwest Nazarene University is 510.4% more expensive to attend than MSU for in-state tuition ($35,548.00 vs. $5,824.00)
- Out of state tuition is 29.8% higher at NNU than Montana State University ($35,548.00 vs. $27,391.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Montana State University than NNU ($17,250 vs. $25,674)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northwest Nazarene University are 7.6% lower than costs at Montana State University ($10,500 vs. $11,300)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Montana State University than Northwest Nazarene University (100% vs. 99%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Northwest Nazarene University students is 272.4% larger than aid received Montana State University ($21,411 vs. $5,749)
NNU vs. MSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, NNU or MSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between MSU or NNU .
- The average SAT score at Montana State University (1131) is 75 points higher than at NNU (1056)
- Incoming MSU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at NNU (24)
- Accepted freshman NNU students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.59) than students at MSU (3.5)
- NNU has a higher acceptance rate (88.2%) than MSU (73.3%)
NNU vs. MSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, NNU or MSU? 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 MSU and NNU.
- The graduation rate at NNU is higher than Montana State University (52% vs. 51%)
- Graduates from Montana State University earn on average $2,800 more per year than NNU graduates after ten years. ($45,800 vs. $43,000)
- Montana State University students graduate with a $2,000 lower median federal student loan debt than NNU graduates. ($24,000 vs. $26,000)
- MSU graduates are paying $20 less per month on federal student loans than NNU graduates. ($248 vs. $268)
- More MSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NNU students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 66%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/