Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Colorado State CU Denver DU Colorado School of Mines Utah UCCS UW Penn State ASU IU Texas A&M The University of Montana| University of Colorado Boulder | Montana State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
CU Boulder | MSU | ||
| Location | Boulder, CO | Bozeman, MT | ||
| Setting | Small City | Remote Town | ||
| Enrollment | 39,585 | 16,681 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #191 | #590 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | colorado.edu | montana.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
CU Boulder | MSU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $11,520 | $5,824 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $38,770 | $27,391 | ||
| Room & Board | $16,146 | $11,300 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $21,836 | $17,250 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $10,477 | $5,749 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 57% | 100% |
Admission |
CU Boulder | MSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 53,781 | 28,794 | ||
| Admitted | 43,416 | 21,116 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 80.7% | 73.3% | ||
| Enrolled % | 16.4% | 17.8% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.68 | 3.5 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Challenging | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 26/32 | 20/27 | ||
| SAT Range | 1160/1390 | 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 | Jan 15, 2025 |
Academics |
CU Boulder | MSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 18:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
CU Boulder | MSU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 68% | 51% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $56,900 | $45,800 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 73% | 71% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $19,500 | $24,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $201 | $248 |
Diversity |
CU Boulder | MSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 55% | 52% | ||
| % Women | 45% | 48% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 71% | 86% | ||
| % Black | 2% | 1% | ||
| % Hispanic | 11% | 4% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 2% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 3% | ||
| % International | 6% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 1% |
Students |
CU Boulder | MSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 53% | 35% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 45% | 65% | ||
Campus |
CU Boulder | 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
- University of Colorado Boulder is larger than than MSU based on total student enrollment (39,585 students vs. 16,681 students)
CU Boulder vs. MSU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, CU Boulder or MSU?
- University of Colorado Boulder is 97.8% more expensive to attend than MSU for in-state tuition ($11,520.00 vs. $5,824.00)
- Out of state tuition is 41.5% higher at CU Boulder than Montana State University ($38,770.00 vs. $27,391.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Montana State University than CU Boulder ($17,250 vs. $21,836)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Montana State University are 42.9% lower than costs at University of Colorado Boulder ($11,300 vs. $16,146)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Montana State University than University of Colorado Boulder (100% vs. 57%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of Colorado Boulder students is 82.2% larger than aid received Montana State University ($10,477 vs. $5,749)
CU Boulder vs. MSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, CU Boulder or MSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between MSU or CU Boulder .
- The average SAT score at University of Colorado Boulder (1212) is 81 points higher than at MSU (1131)
- Incoming CU Boulder students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at MSU (25)
- Accepted freshman CU Boulder students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at MSU (3.5)
- CU Boulder has a higher acceptance rate (80.7%) than MSU (73.3%)
CU Boulder vs. MSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, CU Boulder 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 CU Boulder.
- The graduation rate at CU Boulder is higher than Montana State University (68% vs. 51%)
- Graduates from University of Colorado Boulder earn on average $11,100 more per year than MSU graduates after ten years. ($56,900 vs. $45,800)
- University of Colorado Boulder students graduate with a $4,500 lower median federal student loan debt than MSU graduates. ($19,500 vs. $24,000)
- CU Boulder graduates are paying $47 less per month on federal student loans than MSU graduates. ($201 vs. $248)
- More CU Boulder graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MSU students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 71%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/