MSU vs. UW

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

MSU UW
Location Bozeman, MT Laramie, WY
Setting Remote Town Remote Town
Enrollment 16,681 11,100
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #590 #331
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website montana.edu uwyo.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

MSU UW
Tuition (In State) $5,824 $4,800
Tuition (Out of State) $27,391 $19,950
Room & Board $11,300 $11,610
Avg Net Price $17,250 $12,819
Avg Grant Aid $5,749 $8,942
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 94%

Admission

MSU UW
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 28,794 5,797
Admitted 21,116 5,564
Acceptance Rate 73.3% 96%
Enrolled % 17.8% 29.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.5 3.53
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Average
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 20/27 21/28
SAT Range 1070/1290 1040/1240
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Aug 10, 2024

Academics

MSU UW
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Engineering (12%)
  • Business (10%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Education (7%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Health Professions (10%)
  • Engineering (9%)
  • Biology (7%)

Outcomes

MSU UW
Graduation Rate 51% 53%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $45,800 $51,400
Making Student Loan Payments 71% 75%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,000 $18,500
Median Loan Payment $248 $191

Diversity

MSU UW
% Men 52% 46%
% Women 48% 54%
Racial Diversity Very Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 86% 76%
% Black 1% 1%
% Hispanic 4% 7%
% Native American 2% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 3% 4%
% Unknown Race 1% 7%

Students

MSU UW
% In-State 35% 56%
% Out-of-State 65% 40%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Montana State University is larger than than UW based on total student enrollment (16,681 students vs. 11,100 students)

MSU vs. UW Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MSU or UW?

  • Montana State University is 21.3% more expensive to attend than UW for in-state tuition ($5,824.00 vs. $4,800.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 37.3% higher at MSU than University of Wyoming ($27,391.00 vs. $19,950.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Wyoming than MSU ($12,819 vs. $17,250)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Montana State University are 2.7% lower than costs at University of Wyoming ($11,300 vs. $11,610)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Montana State University than University of Wyoming (100% vs. 94%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Wyoming students is 55.5% larger than aid received Montana State University ($8,942 vs. $5,749)

MSU vs. UW Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Montana State University (1131) is 9 points higher than at UW (1122)
  • Incoming MSU students have at the same average ACT score (25) as students at UW (25)
  • Accepted freshman UW students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.53) than students at MSU (3.5)
  • UW has a higher acceptance rate (96%) than MSU (73.3%)

MSU vs. UW Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at UW is higher than Montana State University (53% vs. 51%)
  • Graduates from University of Wyoming earn on average $5,600 more per year than MSU graduates after ten years. ($51,400 vs. $45,800)
  • University of Wyoming students graduate with a $5,500 lower median federal student loan debt than MSU graduates. ($18,500 vs. $24,000)
  • UW graduates are paying $57 less per month on federal student loans than MSU graduates. ($191 vs. $248)
  • More UW graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MSU students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 71%)

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