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ASU UNC Charlotte UNC Chapel Hill ECU Colorado State UW UNCG NC State CU Boulder The University of Montana Utah Boise State| Montana State University | University of North Carolina at Wilmington | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
MSU | UNCW | ||
| Location | Bozeman, MT | Wilmington, NC | ||
| Setting | Remote Town | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 16,960 | 17,987 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #658 | #390 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | montana.edu | uncw.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
MSU | UNCW | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $6,056 | $4,443 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $29,047 | $20,111 | ||
| Room & Board | $13,446 | $12,605 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $18,511 | $18,606 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $9,967 | $6,516 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 85% | 54% |
Admission |
MSU | UNCW | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applied | 21,975 | 17,370 | ||
| Admitted | 19,081 | 12,856 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 86.8% | 74% | ||
| Enrolled % | 19% | 21% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.5 | 3.56 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 20/27 | 24/28 | ||
| SAT Range | 1060/1270 | 1220/1360 | ||
| 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, 2026 |
Academics |
MSU | UNCW | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 17:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
MSU | UNCW | ||
| Graduation Rate | 51% | 67% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $45,800 | $44,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 71% | 64% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,000 | $20,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $248 | $211 |
Diversity |
MSU | UNCW | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 5% | 5% | ||
| % Women | 7% | 14% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 86% | 78% | ||
| % Black | 1% | 5% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 7% | ||
| % Native American | 2% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 3% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 3% |
Students |
MSU | UNCW | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 36% | 77% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 64% | 22% | ||
Campus |
MSU | UNCW | ||
| 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
- University of North Carolina at Wilmington is larger than than MSU based on total student enrollment (17,987 students vs. 16,960 students)
MSU vs. UNCW Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, MSU or UNCW?
- Montana State University is 36.3% more expensive to attend than UNCW for in-state tuition ($6,056.00 vs. $4,443.00)
- Out of state tuition is 44.4% higher at MSU than University of North Carolina at Wilmington ($29,047.00 vs. $20,111.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Montana State University than UNCW ($18,511 vs. $18,606)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of North Carolina at Wilmington are 6.7% lower than costs at Montana State University ($12,605 vs. $13,446)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Montana State University than University of North Carolina at Wilmington (85% vs. 54%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Montana State University students is 53% larger than aid received University of North Carolina at Wilmington ($9,967 vs. $6,516)
MSU vs. UNCW Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, MSU or UNCW? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UNCW or MSU .
- The average SAT score at University of North Carolina at Wilmington (1162) is 31 points higher than at MSU (1131)
- Incoming MSU students have at the same average ACT score (25) as students at UNCW (25)
- Accepted freshman UNCW students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.56) than students at MSU (3.5)
- MSU has a higher acceptance rate (86.8%) than UNCW (74%)
MSU vs. UNCW Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, MSU or UNCW? 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 UNCW and MSU.
- The graduation rate at UNCW is higher than Montana State University (67% vs. 51%)
- Graduates from Montana State University earn on average $1,100 more per year than UNCW graduates after ten years. ($45,800 vs. $44,700)
- University of North Carolina at Wilmington students graduate with a $3,500 lower median federal student loan debt than MSU graduates. ($20,500 vs. $24,000)
- UNCW graduates are paying $37 less per month on federal student loans than MSU graduates. ($211 vs. $248)
- More MSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UNCW students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 64%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/