MSU vs. Gonzaga

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

 MSU Gonzaga
Location Bozeman, MT Spokane, WA
Setting Remote Town Midsize City
Enrollment 16,960 7,306
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #658 #169
Religious Affiliation - Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website montana.edu gonzaga.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 MSU Gonzaga
Tuition (In State) $6,056 $52,540
Tuition (Out of State) $29,047 $52,540
Room & Board $13,446 $15,080
Avg Net Price $18,511 $40,295
Avg Grant Aid $9,967 $29,150
% Receiving Grant Aid 85% 100%

Admission

 MSU Gonzaga
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 21,975 9,530
Admitted 19,081 7,239
Acceptance Rate 86.8% 76%
Enrolled % 19% 17.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.5 3.67
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Very High
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 20/27 26/31
SAT Range 1060/1270 1220/1410
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, 2025

Academics

 MSU Gonzaga
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Engineering (12%)
  • Business (10%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Education (7%)
  • Business (29%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Engineering (9%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Psychology (7%)

Outcomes

 MSU Gonzaga
Graduation Rate 51% 83%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $45,800 $61,600
Making Student Loan Payments 71% 86%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,000 $26,394
Median Loan Payment $248 $272

Diversity

 MSU Gonzaga
% Men 5% 11%
% Women 7% 19%
Racial Diversity Very Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 86% 72%
% Black 1% 1%
% Hispanic 4% 10%
% Native American 2% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 6%
% International 3% 2%
% Unknown Race 1% 3%

Students

 MSU Gonzaga
% In-State 36% 48%
% Out-of-State 64% 48%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Montana State University is larger than than Gonzaga based on total student enrollment (16,960 students vs. 7,306 students)

MSU vs. Gonzaga Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MSU or Gonzaga?

  • Gonzaga University is 767.6% more expensive to attend than MSU for in-state tuition ($52,540.00 vs. $6,056.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 80.9% higher at Gonzaga than Montana State University ($52,540.00 vs. $29,047.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Montana State University than Gonzaga ($18,511 vs. $40,295)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Montana State University are 12.2% lower than costs at Gonzaga University ($13,446 vs. $15,080)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Gonzaga University than Montana State University (100% vs. 85%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Gonzaga University students is 192.5% larger than aid received Montana State University ($29,150 vs. $9,967)

MSU vs. Gonzaga Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Gonzaga University (1205) is 74 points higher than at MSU (1131)
  • Incoming Gonzaga students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at MSU (25)
  • Accepted freshman Gonzaga students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.67) than students at MSU (3.5)
  • MSU has a higher acceptance rate (86.8%) than Gonzaga (76%)

MSU vs. Gonzaga Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Gonzaga is higher than Montana State University (83% vs. 51%)
  • Graduates from Gonzaga University earn on average $15,800 more per year than MSU graduates after ten years. ($61,600 vs. $45,800)
  • Montana State University students graduate with a $2,394 lower median federal student loan debt than Gonzaga graduates. ($24,000 vs. $26,394)
  • MSU graduates are paying $24 less per month on federal student loans than Gonzaga graduates. ($248 vs. $272)
  • More Gonzaga graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MSU students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 71%)

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