USF Main Campus vs. MSU

Should I go to University of South Florida Main Campus or Montana State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if USF Main Campus 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.

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University of South Florida Main Campus vs. Montana State University comparison
University of South Florida Main Campus Montana State University College 3 College 4
University of South Florida Main Campus Montana State University
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Overview

USF Main Campus MSU
Location Tampa, FL Bozeman, MT
Setting Large City Remote Town
Enrollment 49,600 16,681
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #423 #590
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website usf.edu montana.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

USF Main Campus MSU
Tuition (In State) $4,559 $5,824
Tuition (Out of State) $15,473 $27,391
Room & Board $12,622 $11,300
Avg Net Price $11,004 $17,250
Avg Grant Aid $11,066 $5,749
% Receiving Grant Aid 87% 100%

Admission

USF Main Campus MSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 65,568 28,794
Admitted 28,801 21,116
Acceptance Rate 43.9% 73.3%
Enrolled % 23.6% 17.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.64 3.5
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Challenging
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 24/29 20/27
SAT Range 1140/1330 1070/1290
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline May 1, 2024

Academics

USF Main Campus MSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 22:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Engineering (12%)
  • Business (10%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Education (7%)

Outcomes

USF Main Campus MSU
Graduation Rate 52% 51%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $46,500 $45,800
Making Student Loan Payments 57% 71%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,147 $24,000
Median Loan Payment $197 $248

Diversity

USF Main Campus MSU
% Men 42% 52%
% Women 58% 48%
Racial Diversity High Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 51% 86%
% Black 11% 1%
% Hispanic 21% 4%
% Native American 0% 2%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 5% 3%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

USF Main Campus MSU
% In-State 74% 35%
% Out-of-State 16% 65%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • University of South Florida Main Campus is larger than than MSU based on total student enrollment (49,600 students vs. 16,681 students)

USF Main Campus vs. MSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, USF Main Campus or MSU?

  • Montana State University is 27.7% more expensive to attend than USF Main Campus for in-state tuition ($5,824.00 vs. $4,559.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 77% higher at MSU than University of South Florida Main Campus ($27,391.00 vs. $15,473.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of South Florida Main Campus than MSU ($11,004 vs. $17,250)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Montana State University are 11.7% lower than costs at University of South Florida Main Campus ($11,300 vs. $12,622)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Montana State University than University of South Florida Main Campus (100% vs. 87%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of South Florida Main Campus students is 92.5% larger than aid received Montana State University ($11,066 vs. $5,749)

USF Main Campus vs. MSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of South Florida Main Campus (1177) is 46 points higher than at MSU (1131)
  • Incoming USF Main Campus students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at MSU (25)
  • Accepted freshman USF Main Campus students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.64) than students at MSU (3.5)
  • MSU has a higher acceptance rate (73.3%) than USF Main Campus (43.9%)

USF Main Campus vs. MSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, USF Main Campus 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 USF Main Campus.

  • The graduation rate at USF Main Campus is higher than Montana State University (52% vs. 51%)
  • Graduates from University of South Florida Main Campus earn on average $700 more per year than MSU graduates after ten years. ($46,500 vs. $45,800)
  • University of South Florida Main Campus students graduate with a $4,853 lower median federal student loan debt than MSU graduates. ($19,147 vs. $24,000)
  • USF Main Campus graduates are paying $51 less per month on federal student loans than MSU graduates. ($197 vs. $248)
  • More MSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former USF Main Campus students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 57%)

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