Colorado State vs. MSU

Should I go to Colorado State University Fort Collins or Montana State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Colorado State or MSU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Colorado State University Fort Collins vs. Montana State University comparison
Colorado State University Fort Collins Montana State University College 3 College 4
Colorado State University Fort Collins Montana State University
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Overview

Colorado State MSU
Location Fort Collins, CO Bozeman, MT
Setting Midsize City Remote Town
Enrollment 33,403 16,681
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #359 #590
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website colostate.edu montana.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Colorado State MSU
Tuition (In State) $10,218 $5,824
Tuition (Out of State) $30,078 $27,391
Room & Board $13,728 $11,300
Avg Net Price $16,926 $17,250
Avg Grant Aid $10,727 $5,749
% Receiving Grant Aid 74% 100%

Admission

Colorado State MSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 33,122 28,794
Admitted 30,066 21,116
Acceptance Rate 90.8% 73.3%
Enrolled % 18.5% 17.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.68 3.5
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Challenging
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 23/29 20/27
SAT Range 1080/1290 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 Jul 1, 2024

Academics

Colorado State MSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (15%)
  • Work and Family Studies (10%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Engineering (12%)
  • Business (10%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Education (7%)

Outcomes

Colorado State MSU
Graduation Rate 64% 51%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $51,800 $45,800
Making Student Loan Payments 69% 71%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,004 $24,000
Median Loan Payment $217 $248

Diversity

Colorado State MSU
% Men 45% 52%
% Women 55% 48%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 74% 86%
% Black 2% 1%
% Hispanic 11% 4%
% Native American 1% 2%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 3% 3%
% Unknown Race 4% 1%

Students

Colorado State MSU
% In-State 59% 35%
% Out-of-State 40% 65%

Campus

Colorado State 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

  • Colorado State University Fort Collins is larger than than MSU based on total student enrollment (33,403 students vs. 16,681 students)

Colorado State vs. MSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Colorado State or MSU?

  • Colorado State University Fort Collins is 75.4% more expensive to attend than MSU for in-state tuition ($10,218.00 vs. $5,824.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 9.8% higher at Colorado State than Montana State University ($30,078.00 vs. $27,391.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Colorado State University Fort Collins than MSU ($16,926 vs. $17,250)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Montana State University are 21.5% lower than costs at Colorado State University Fort Collins ($11,300 vs. $13,728)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Montana State University than Colorado State University Fort Collins (100% vs. 74%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Colorado State University Fort Collins students is 86.6% larger than aid received Montana State University ($10,727 vs. $5,749)

Colorado State vs. MSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Colorado State or MSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between MSU or Colorado State .

  • The average SAT score at Colorado State University Fort Collins (1145) is 14 points higher than at MSU (1131)
  • Incoming Colorado State students have at the same average ACT score (25) as students at MSU (25)
  • Accepted freshman Colorado State students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at MSU (3.5)
  • Colorado State has a higher acceptance rate (90.8%) than MSU (73.3%)

Colorado State vs. MSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Colorado State 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 Colorado State.

  • The graduation rate at Colorado State is higher than Montana State University (64% vs. 51%)
  • Graduates from Colorado State University Fort Collins earn on average $6,000 more per year than MSU graduates after ten years. ($51,800 vs. $45,800)
  • Colorado State University Fort Collins students graduate with a $2,996 lower median federal student loan debt than MSU graduates. ($21,004 vs. $24,000)
  • Colorado State graduates are paying $31 less per month on federal student loans than MSU graduates. ($217 vs. $248)
  • More MSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Colorado State 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/