MSU vs. UNCW

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

MSU UNCW
Location Bozeman, MT Wilmington, NC
Setting Remote Town Midsize City
Enrollment 16,681 17,843
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #590 #377
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website montana.edu uncw.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

MSU UNCW
Tuition (In State) $5,824 $4,443
Tuition (Out of State) $27,391 $19,063
Room & Board $11,300 $12,120
Avg Net Price $17,250 $18,709
Avg Grant Aid $5,749 $6,217
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 56%

Admission

MSU UNCW
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 28,794 16,860
Admitted 21,116 11,605
Acceptance Rate 73.3% 68.8%
Enrolled % 17.8% 20.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.5 3.56
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Difficult
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 20/27 24/29
SAT Range 1070/1290 1220/1370
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 UNCW
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Engineering (12%)
  • Business (10%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Education (7%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Biology (8%)

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 52% 34%
% Women 48% 66%
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 35% 80%
% Out-of-State 65% 19%

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 (17,843 students vs. 16,681 students)

MSU vs. UNCW Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MSU or UNCW?

  • Montana State University is 31.1% more expensive to attend than UNCW for in-state tuition ($5,824.00 vs. $4,443.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 43.7% higher at MSU than University of North Carolina at Wilmington ($27,391.00 vs. $19,063.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Montana State University than UNCW ($17,250 vs. $18,709)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Montana State University are 7.3% lower than costs at University of North Carolina at Wilmington ($11,300 vs. $12,120)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Montana State University than University of North Carolina at Wilmington (100% vs. 56%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of North Carolina at Wilmington students is 8.1% larger than aid received Montana State University ($6,217 vs. $5,749)

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 (73.3%) than UNCW (68.8%)

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/