MSU vs. ASU

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

MSU ASU
Location Bozeman, MT Boone, NC
Setting Remote Town Distant Town
Enrollment 16,681 20,436
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #590 #594
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website montana.edu appstate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

MSU ASU
Tuition (In State) $5,824 $4,242
Tuition (Out of State) $27,391 $20,246
Room & Board $11,300 $11,582
Avg Net Price $17,250 $13,084
Avg Grant Aid $5,749 $7,443
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 47%

Admission

MSU ASU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 28,794 22,255
Admitted 21,116 18,489
Acceptance Rate 73.3% 83.1%
Enrolled % 17.8% 21.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.5 3.96
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Challenging Average
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 20/27 21/27
SAT Range 1070/1290 1100/1270
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 Feb 1, 2024

Academics

MSU ASU
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Engineering (12%)
  • Business (10%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Education (7%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Education (17%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)

Outcomes

MSU ASU
Graduation Rate 51% 65%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $45,800 $41,600
Making Student Loan Payments 71% 74%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,000 $20,500
Median Loan Payment $248 $211

Diversity

MSU ASU
% Men 52% 42%
% Women 48% 58%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 86% 85%
% Black 1% 3%
% Hispanic 4% 4%
% Native American 2% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 3% 1%
% Unknown Race 1% 2%

Students

MSU ASU
% In-State 35% 87%
% Out-of-State 65% 13%

Campus

MSU ASU
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

  • Appalachian State University is larger than than MSU based on total student enrollment (20,436 students vs. 16,681 students)

MSU vs. ASU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MSU or ASU?

  • Montana State University is 37.3% more expensive to attend than ASU for in-state tuition ($5,824.00 vs. $4,242.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 35.3% higher at MSU than Appalachian State University ($27,391.00 vs. $20,246.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Appalachian State University than MSU ($13,084 vs. $17,250)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Montana State University are 2.5% lower than costs at Appalachian State University ($11,300 vs. $11,582)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Montana State University than Appalachian State University (100% vs. 47%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Appalachian State University students is 29.5% larger than aid received Montana State University ($7,443 vs. $5,749)

MSU vs. ASU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Appalachian State University (1157) is 26 points higher than at MSU (1131)
  • Incoming ASU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at MSU (25)
  • Accepted freshman ASU students have a 0.46 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at MSU (3.5)
  • ASU has a higher acceptance rate (83.1%) than MSU (73.3%)

MSU vs. ASU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, MSU or ASU? 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 ASU and MSU.

  • The graduation rate at ASU is higher than Montana State University (65% vs. 51%)
  • Graduates from Montana State University earn on average $4,200 more per year than ASU graduates after ten years. ($45,800 vs. $41,600)
  • Appalachian State University students graduate with a $3,500 lower median federal student loan debt than MSU graduates. ($20,500 vs. $24,000)
  • ASU graduates are paying $37 less per month on federal student loans than MSU graduates. ($211 vs. $248)
  • More ASU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MSU students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 71%)

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