MSU Billings vs. RU

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

 MSU Billings RU
Location Billings, MT Radford, VA
Setting Midsize City Distant Town
Enrollment 4,057 7,718
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #566
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website msubillings.edu radford.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 MSU Billings RU
Tuition (In State) $4,620 $8,156
Tuition (Out of State) $18,209 $20,246
Room & Board $8,348 $10,567
Avg Net Price $12,487 $17,105
Avg Grant Aid $5,394 $9,733
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 96%

Admission

 MSU Billings RU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied - 11,442
Admitted - 10,680
Acceptance Rate 93.3%
Enrolled % 11.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.05 3.31
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Unavailable Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/23
SAT Range 960/1160
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline

Academics

 MSU Billings RU
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (19%)
  • Education (17%)
  • Health Professions (16%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Psychology (5%)
  • Business (18%)
  • General Studies (10%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Communication (8%)

Outcomes

 MSU Billings RU
Graduation Rate 33% 56%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,800 $47,400
Making Student Loan Payments 58% 70%
Median Student Loan Debt $17,500 $23,000
Median Loan Payment $180 $237

Diversity

 MSU Billings RU
% Men 35% 33%
% Women 65% 67%
Racial Diversity Very Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 82% 71%
% Black 1% 13%
% Hispanic 5% 7%
% Native American 4% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 5%
% International 2% 1%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

 MSU Billings RU
% In-State 86% 89%
% Out-of-State 11% 11%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Radford University is larger than than MSU Billings based on total student enrollment (7,718 students vs. 4,057 students)

MSU Billings vs. RU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MSU Billings or RU?

  • Radford University is 76.5% more expensive to attend than MSU Billings for in-state tuition ($8,156.00 vs. $4,620.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 11.2% higher at RU than Montana State University Billings ($20,246.00 vs. $18,209.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Montana State University Billings than RU ($12,487 vs. $17,105)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Montana State University Billings are 26.6% lower than costs at Radford University ($8,348 vs. $10,567)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Montana State University Billings than Radford University (98% vs. 96%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Radford University students is 80.4% larger than aid received Montana State University Billings ($9,733 vs. $5,394)

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

  • Accepted freshman RU students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.31) than students at MSU Billings (3.05)

MSU Billings vs. RU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, MSU Billings or RU? 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 RU and MSU Billings.

  • The graduation rate at RU is higher than Montana State University Billings (56% vs. 33%)
  • Graduates from Radford University earn on average $9,600 more per year than MSU Billings graduates after ten years. ($47,400 vs. $37,800)
  • Montana State University Billings students graduate with a $5,500 lower median federal student loan debt than RU graduates. ($17,500 vs. $23,000)
  • MSU Billings graduates are paying $57 less per month on federal student loans than RU graduates. ($180 vs. $237)
  • More RU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MSU Billings students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 58%)

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