Boise State vs. MSU

Should I go to Boise State University or Montana State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Boise 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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Boise State University vs. Montana State University comparison
Boise State University Montana State University College 3 College 4
Boise State University Montana State University
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Overview

Boise State MSU
Location Boise, ID Bozeman, MT
Setting Midsize City Remote Town
Enrollment 26,115 16,681
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #899 #590
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website boisestate.edu montana.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Boise State MSU
Tuition (In State) $5,532 $5,824
Tuition (Out of State) $22,869 $27,391
Room & Board $13,841 $11,300
Avg Net Price $17,724 $17,250
Avg Grant Aid $9,892 $5,749
% Receiving Grant Aid 93% 100%

Admission

Boise State MSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 16,795 28,794
Admitted 14,096 21,116
Acceptance Rate 83.9% 73.3%
Enrolled % 22.2% 17.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.37 3.5
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Challenging
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 21/26 20/27
SAT Range 1030/1210 1070/1290
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2024

Academics

Boise State MSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 20:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (21%)
  • Health Professions (17%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Communication (5%)
  • Engineering (12%)
  • Business (10%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Education (7%)

Outcomes

Boise State MSU
Graduation Rate 29% 51%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,600 $45,800
Making Student Loan Payments 54% 71%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,929 $24,000
Median Loan Payment $237 $248

Diversity

Boise State MSU
% Men 42% 52%
% Women 58% 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 4% 3%
% International 5% 3%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

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

Campus

Boise State MSU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Boise State University is larger than than MSU based on total student enrollment (26,115 students vs. 16,681 students)

Boise State vs. MSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Boise State or MSU?

  • Montana State University is 5.3% more expensive to attend than Boise State for in-state tuition ($5,824.00 vs. $5,532.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 19.8% higher at MSU than Boise State University ($27,391.00 vs. $22,869.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Montana State University than Boise State ($17,250 vs. $17,724)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Montana State University are 22.5% lower than costs at Boise State University ($11,300 vs. $13,841)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Montana State University than Boise State University (100% vs. 93%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Boise State University students is 72.1% larger than aid received Montana State University ($9,892 vs. $5,749)

Boise State vs. MSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Montana State University (1131) is 85 points higher than at Boise State (1046)
  • Incoming MSU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at Boise State (23)
  • Accepted freshman MSU students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at Boise State (3.37)
  • Boise State has a higher acceptance rate (83.9%) than MSU (73.3%)

Boise State vs. MSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Boise 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 Boise State.

  • The graduation rate at MSU is higher than Boise State University (51% vs. 29%)
  • Graduates from Montana State University earn on average $4,200 more per year than Boise State graduates after ten years. ($45,800 vs. $41,600)
  • Boise State University students graduate with a $1,071 lower median federal student loan debt than MSU graduates. ($22,929 vs. $24,000)
  • Boise State graduates are paying $11 less per month on federal student loans than MSU graduates. ($237 vs. $248)
  • More MSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Boise State students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 54%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/