U of A vs. MSU

Should I go to University of Arizona or Montana State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if U of A or MSU 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.

Add a college to compare up to four schools

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

ASU Colorado State UW San Diego State CU Boulder The University of Montana Utah NAU Boise State University of Nevada-Reno ISU UO
University of Arizona vs. Montana State University comparison
University of Arizona Montana State University College 3 College 4
University of Arizona Montana State University
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

U of A MSU
Location Tucson, AZ Bozeman, MT
Setting Large City Remote Town
Enrollment 49,403 16,681
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #294 #590
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website arizona.edu montana.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

U of A MSU
Tuition (In State) $11,525 $5,824
Tuition (Out of State) $37,827 $27,391
Room & Board $13,650 $11,300
Avg Net Price $17,075 $17,250
Avg Grant Aid $15,279 $5,749
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 100%

Admission

U of A MSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 52,091 28,794
Admitted 45,194 21,116
Acceptance Rate 86.8% 73.3%
Enrolled % 20% 17.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.48 3.5
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Challenging
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 21/29 20/27
SAT Range 1140/1370 1070/1290
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

Academics

U of A MSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (16%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (5%)
  • Engineering (12%)
  • Business (10%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Education (7%)

Outcomes

U of A MSU
Graduation Rate 61% 51%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $54,000 $45,800
Making Student Loan Payments 66% 71%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,000 $24,000
Median Loan Payment $196 $248

Diversity

U of A MSU
% Men 45% 52%
% Women 55% 48%
Racial Diversity High Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 52% 86%
% Black 4% 1%
% Hispanic 25% 4%
% Native American 1% 2%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 6% 3%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

U of A MSU
% In-State 47% 35%
% Out-of-State 48% 65%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • University of Arizona is larger than than MSU based on total student enrollment (49,403 students vs. 16,681 students)

U of A vs. MSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, U of A or MSU?

  • University of Arizona is 97.9% more expensive to attend than MSU for in-state tuition ($11,525.00 vs. $5,824.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 38.1% higher at U of A than Montana State University ($37,827.00 vs. $27,391.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Arizona than MSU ($17,075 vs. $17,250)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Montana State University are 20.8% lower than costs at University of Arizona ($11,300 vs. $13,650)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Montana State University than University of Arizona (100% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Arizona students is 165.8% larger than aid received Montana State University ($15,279 vs. $5,749)

U of A vs. MSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman MSU students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at U of A (3.48)
  • U of A has a higher acceptance rate (86.8%) than MSU (73.3%)

U of A vs. MSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, U of A or MSU? 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 MSU and U of A.

  • The graduation rate at U of A is higher than Montana State University (61% vs. 51%)
  • Graduates from University of Arizona earn on average $8,200 more per year than MSU graduates after ten years. ($54,000 vs. $45,800)
  • University of Arizona students graduate with a $5,000 lower median federal student loan debt than MSU graduates. ($19,000 vs. $24,000)
  • U of A graduates are paying $52 less per month on federal student loans than MSU graduates. ($196 vs. $248)
  • More MSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former U of A students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 66%)

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