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Michigan State UM-Dearborn Oakland Colorado State UW Detroit Mercy- UDM- U of D- University of Detroit Eastern Michigan University CMU Michigan CU Boulder GVSU The University of Montana| Wayne State University | Montana State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
WSU | MSU | ||
| Location | Detroit, MI | Bozeman, MT | ||
| Setting | Large City | Remote Town | ||
| Enrollment | 23,553 | 16,960 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #580 | #658 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | wayne.edu | montana.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
WSU | MSU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $12,493 | $6,056 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $28,615 | $29,047 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,762 | $13,446 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $16,021 | $18,511 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $10,862 | $9,967 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 95% | 85% |
Admission |
WSU | MSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 15,190 | 21,975 | ||
| Admitted | 12,461 | 19,081 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 82% | 86.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 24% | 19% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.42 | 3.5 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 21/28 | 20/27 | ||
| SAT Range | 1040/1260 | 1060/1270 | ||
| 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 | Aug 1, 2025 |
Academics |
WSU | MSU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 13:1 | 18:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
WSU | MSU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 26% | 51% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $51,000 | $45,800 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 38% | 71% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $22,258 | $24,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $230 | $248 |
Diversity |
WSU | MSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 12% | 5% | ||
| % Women | 19% | 7% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 57% | 86% | ||
| % Black | 19% | 1% | ||
| % Hispanic | 5% | 4% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 2% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 2% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 5% | 1% |
Students |
WSU | MSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 95% | 36% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 2% | 64% | ||
Campus |
WSU | 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
- Wayne State University is larger than than MSU based on total student enrollment (23,553 students vs. 16,960 students)
WSU vs. MSU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, WSU or MSU?
- Wayne State University is 106.3% more expensive to attend than MSU for in-state tuition ($12,493.00 vs. $6,056.00)
- Out of state tuition is 1.5% higher at MSU than Wayne State University ($29,047.00 vs. $28,615.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Wayne State University than MSU ($16,021 vs. $18,511)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Wayne State University are 14.3% lower than costs at Montana State University ($11,762 vs. $13,446)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Wayne State University than Montana State University (95% vs. 85%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Wayne State University students is 9% larger than aid received Montana State University ($10,862 vs. $9,967)
WSU vs. MSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, WSU or MSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between MSU or WSU .
- The average SAT score at Montana State University (1131) is 61 points higher than at WSU (1070)
- Incoming MSU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at WSU (23)
- Accepted freshman MSU students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at WSU (3.42)
- MSU has a higher acceptance rate (86.8%) than WSU (82%)
WSU vs. MSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, WSU 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 WSU.
- The graduation rate at MSU is higher than Wayne State University (51% vs. 26%)
- Graduates from Wayne State University earn on average $5,200 more per year than MSU graduates after ten years. ($51,000 vs. $45,800)
- Wayne State University students graduate with a $1,742 lower median federal student loan debt than MSU graduates. ($22,258 vs. $24,000)
- WSU graduates are paying $18 less per month on federal student loans than MSU graduates. ($230 vs. $248)
- More MSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WSU students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 38%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/