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UMBC Maryland Colorado State Salisbury UW CU Boulder The University of Montana Utah WCU Boise State Frostburg State University WVU| Towson University | Montana State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
TU | MSU | ||
| Location | Towson, MD | Bozeman, MT | ||
| Setting | Small City | Remote Town | ||
| Enrollment | 19,527 | 16,960 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #375 | #658 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | towson.edu | montana.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
TU | MSU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $7,382 | $6,056 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $24,402 | $29,047 | ||
| Room & Board | $15,644 | $13,446 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $15,064 | $18,511 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,565 | $9,967 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 62% | 85% |
Admission |
TU | MSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 18,948 | 21,975 | ||
| Admitted | 15,689 | 19,081 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 82.8% | 86.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 19.2% | 19% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.69 | 3.5 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 19/28 | 20/27 | ||
| SAT Range | 1050/1270 | 1060/1270 | ||
| 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 | Apr 1, 2026 |
Academics |
TU | MSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 14:1 | 18:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
TU | MSU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 64% | 51% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $53,500 | $45,800 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 69% | 71% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $17,750 | $24,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $183 | $248 |
Diversity |
TU | MSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 4% | 5% | ||
| % Women | 12% | 7% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 61% | 86% | ||
| % Black | 18% | 1% | ||
| % Hispanic | 6% | 4% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 2% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 3% | ||
| % International | 2% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 3% | 1% |
Students |
TU | MSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 90% | 36% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 9% | 64% | ||
Campus |
TU | MSU | ||
| 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
- Towson University is larger than than MSU based on total student enrollment (19,527 students vs. 16,960 students)
TU vs. MSU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, TU or MSU?
- Towson University is 21.9% more expensive to attend than MSU for in-state tuition ($7,382.00 vs. $6,056.00)
- Out of state tuition is 19% higher at MSU than Towson University ($29,047.00 vs. $24,402.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Towson University than MSU ($15,064 vs. $18,511)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Montana State University are 16.3% lower than costs at Towson University ($13,446 vs. $15,644)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Montana State University than Towson University (85% vs. 62%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Towson University students is 16% larger than aid received Montana State University ($11,565 vs. $9,967)
TU vs. MSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, TU or MSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between MSU or TU .
- The average SAT score at Montana State University (1131) is 50 points higher than at TU (1081)
- Incoming MSU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at TU (23)
- Accepted freshman TU students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.69) than students at MSU (3.5)
- MSU has a higher acceptance rate (86.8%) than TU (82.8%)
TU vs. MSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, TU 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 TU.
- The graduation rate at TU is higher than Montana State University (64% vs. 51%)
- Graduates from Towson University earn on average $7,700 more per year than MSU graduates after ten years. ($53,500 vs. $45,800)
- Towson University students graduate with a $6,250 lower median federal student loan debt than MSU graduates. ($17,750 vs. $24,000)
- TU graduates are paying $65 less per month on federal student loans than MSU graduates. ($183 vs. $248)
- More MSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former TU 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/