MSU vs. UofSC

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

MSU UofSC
Location Bozeman, MT Columbia, SC
Setting Remote Town Midsize City
Enrollment 16,681 35,653
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #590 #208
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website montana.edu sc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

MSU UofSC
Tuition (In State) $5,824 $12,288
Tuition (Out of State) $27,391 $33,528
Room & Board $11,300 $11,780
Avg Net Price $17,250 $22,427
Avg Grant Aid $5,749 $6,880
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 98%

Admission

MSU UofSC
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 28,794 42,188
Admitted 21,116 27,022
Acceptance Rate 73.3% 64.1%
Enrolled % 17.8% 24.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.5 3.69
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Very High
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 20/27 27/32
SAT Range 1070/1290 1180/1380
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 Dec 1, 2023

Academics

MSU UofSC
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Engineering (12%)
  • Business (10%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Education (7%)
  • Business (35%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Psychology (6%)

Outcomes

MSU UofSC
Graduation Rate 51% 70%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $45,800 $51,700
Making Student Loan Payments 71% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,000 $23,250
Median Loan Payment $248 $240

Diversity

MSU UofSC
% Men 52% 42%
% Women 48% 58%
Racial Diversity Very Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 86% 77%
% Black 1% 10%
% Hispanic 4% 4%
% Native American 2% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 3% 1%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

MSU UofSC
% In-State 35% 52%
% Out-of-State 65% 47%

Campus

MSU UofSC
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 South Carolina Columbia is larger than than MSU based on total student enrollment (35,653 students vs. 16,681 students)

MSU vs. UofSC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MSU or UofSC?

  • University of South Carolina Columbia is 111% more expensive to attend than MSU for in-state tuition ($12,288.00 vs. $5,824.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 22.4% higher at UofSC than Montana State University ($33,528.00 vs. $27,391.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Montana State University than UofSC ($17,250 vs. $22,427)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Montana State University are 4.2% lower than costs at University of South Carolina Columbia ($11,300 vs. $11,780)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Montana State University than University of South Carolina Columbia (100% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of South Carolina Columbia students is 19.7% larger than aid received Montana State University ($6,880 vs. $5,749)

MSU vs. UofSC Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of South Carolina Columbia (1220) is 89 points higher than at MSU (1131)
  • Incoming UofSC students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at MSU (25)
  • Accepted freshman UofSC students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.69) than students at MSU (3.5)
  • MSU has a higher acceptance rate (73.3%) than UofSC (64.1%)

MSU vs. UofSC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at UofSC is higher than Montana State University (70% vs. 51%)
  • Graduates from University of South Carolina Columbia earn on average $5,900 more per year than MSU graduates after ten years. ($51,700 vs. $45,800)
  • University of South Carolina Columbia students graduate with a $750 lower median federal student loan debt than MSU graduates. ($23,250 vs. $24,000)
  • UofSC graduates are paying $8 less per month on federal student loans than MSU graduates. ($240 vs. $248)
  • More MSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UofSC students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 69%)

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