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UT Dallas UNT Texas Tech UT Arlington UT Austin UTSA Colorado State Texas A&M UW Texas State LSU Rice| Montana State University | University of Houston | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
MSU | UH | ||
| Location | Bozeman, MT | Houston, TX | ||
| Setting | Remote Town | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 16,960 | 46,676 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #658 | #468 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | montana.edu | uh.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
MSU | UH | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $6,056 | $8,685 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $29,047 | $21,165 | ||
| Room & Board | $13,446 | $10,830 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $18,511 | $13,738 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $9,967 | $11,551 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 85% | 74% |
Admission |
MSU | UH | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applied | 21,975 | 30,327 | ||
| Admitted | 19,081 | 21,087 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 86.8% | 69.5% | ||
| Enrolled % | 19% | 26.8% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.5 | 3.46 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Challenging | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 20/27 | 23/28 | ||
| SAT Range | 1060/1270 | 1150/1330 | ||
| 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 | May 31, 2026 |
Academics |
MSU | UH | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 21:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
MSU | UH | ||
| Graduation Rate | 51% | 46% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $45,800 | $59,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 71% | 61% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,000 | $19,750 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $248 | $204 |
Diversity |
MSU | UH | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 5% | 9% | ||
| % Women | 7% | 10% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 86% | 26% | ||
| % Black | 1% | 10% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 32% | ||
| % Native American | 2% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 3% | 5% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 1% |
Students |
MSU | UH | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 36% | 93% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 64% | 3% | ||
Campus |
MSU | UH | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of Houston is larger than than MSU based on total student enrollment (46,676 students vs. 16,960 students)
MSU vs. UH Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, MSU or UH?
- University of Houston is 43.4% more expensive to attend than MSU for in-state tuition ($8,685.00 vs. $6,056.00)
- Out of state tuition is 37.2% higher at MSU than University of Houston ($29,047.00 vs. $21,165.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Houston than MSU ($13,738 vs. $18,511)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Houston are 24.2% lower than costs at Montana State University ($10,830 vs. $13,446)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Montana State University than University of Houston (85% vs. 74%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of Houston students is 15.9% larger than aid received Montana State University ($11,551 vs. $9,967)
MSU vs. UH Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, MSU or UH? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UH or MSU .
- The average SAT score at University of Houston (1154) is 23 points higher than at MSU (1131)
- Incoming UH students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at MSU (25)
- Accepted freshman MSU students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at UH (3.46)
- MSU has a higher acceptance rate (86.8%) than UH (69.5%)
MSU vs. UH Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, MSU or UH? 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 UH and MSU.
- The graduation rate at MSU is higher than University of Houston (51% vs. 46%)
- Graduates from University of Houston earn on average $13,200 more per year than MSU graduates after ten years. ($59,000 vs. $45,800)
- University of Houston students graduate with a $4,250 lower median federal student loan debt than MSU graduates. ($19,750 vs. $24,000)
- UH graduates are paying $44 less per month on federal student loans than MSU graduates. ($204 vs. $248)
- More MSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UH students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 61%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/