U of A vs MSU-Bozeman

Nestled in the vibrant city of Tucson, Arizona, the University of Arizona (UA) stands as a beacon of academic excellence, while Montana State University (MSU) thrives in the picturesque town of Bozeman, Montana. Both universities offer a wealth of opportunities for students to pursue their academic aspirations, but they also possess distinct characteristics that set them apart. With UA boasting a higher acceptance rate and a more diverse student body, and MSU excelling in graduation rates and offering a wider range of undergraduate programs, the choice between these two esteemed institutions hinges on individual preferences and academic goals. Explore our comprehensive comparison table to delve into the specifics and discover which university aligns best with your unique aspirations.
Montana State University logo

Montana State University

University of Arizona logo

University of Arizona

Overview

Location Bozeman, Montana Tucson, Arizona
Campus setting Town: Remote City: Large
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 76.0% 84.0%
Common app member No Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 73.0% 87.3%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $38

Graduate: $60
Undergraduate: $50

Graduate: $85
SAT range 1070 - 1300 1120 - 1370
ACT range 20 - 27 21 - 29
Students submitting SAT score 26.0% 13.0%
Students submitting ACT score 42.0% 19.0%
Total number of applicants 26,741 48,065
Total number of admissions given out 19,522 41,946
Admitted students who chose to enroll 3,874 8,436
Yield rate 19.8% 20.1%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Not required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $23,286

Out of state: $44,022
In state: $30,136

Out of state: $54,658
Average net price $17,821 $17,242
Tuition
In state: $5,654

Out of state: $26,086
In state: $11,299

Out of state: $35,821
Room & board $10,400
Room/dormitory: $8,400

Meal plan: $5,050
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Guaranteed tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

92.0%
Average amount $6,287
92.0%
Average amount $13,790
Students receiving federal student loan 35.0%
Average amount $5,191
24.0%
Average amount $4,845
Students taking out private loans 5.0%
Average amount $17,984
3.0%
Average amount $20,814

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 14,648
Men 53.5% Women 46.5%
37,434
Men 44.3% Women 55.7%
Graduate students 2,140
Men 42.0% Women 58.0%
10,840
Men 44.5% Women 55.5%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Very Low
Moderate
Out-of-state students 66.1% 48.8%
International students 2.3% 6.5%
Campus local/setting Town: Remote City: Large
Dormitory capacity 4,603 7,036
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from Montana Washington Colorado California Oregon Arizona California Washington Illinois Colorado

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Engineering
  • Education
  • Business
  • Health Professions
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Engineering
  • Education
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Students to faculty ratio 18:1 17:1
Institutional accreditation Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 54.5% 64.3%
Dropout rate 42.1% 14.3%
Transferred out N/A 19.6%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $69,934
  • Year 2: $72,325
  • Year 3: $85,881
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $70,974
  • Year 2: $65,387
  • Year 3: $73,528
Construction Engineering Technologies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $63,082
  • Year 2: $63,997
  • Year 3: $73,041
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $56,740
  • Year 2: $61,090
  • Year 3: $73,003
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $55,299
  • Year 2: $57,860
  • Year 3: $64,492
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $62,767
  • Year 2: $59,411
  • Year 3: $59,227
Civil Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $56,660
  • Year 2: $56,234
  • Year 3: $58,924
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $60,052
  • Year 2: $53,671
  • Year 3: $57,998
Environmental Design (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $20,010
  • Year 2: $38,289
  • Year 3: $55,431
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $53,200
  • Year 2: $41,565
  • Year 3: $53,365
Physics (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $88,673
  • Year 2: $123,527
  • Year 3: $127,192
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $110,426
  • Year 2: $117,473
  • Year 3: $122,962
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $110,630
  • Year 2: $103,746
  • Year 3: $104,908
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $100,116
  • Year 2: $83,388
  • Year 3: $98,461
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $91,677
  • Year 2: $92,743
  • Year 3: $98,271
Chemistry (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $84,653
  • Year 3: $96,308
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $89,806
  • Year 2: $75,518
  • Year 3: $89,884
Mining and Mineral Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $76,657
  • Year 2: $73,035
  • Year 3: $87,557
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $72,627
  • Year 2: $79,199
  • Year 3: $86,387
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $77,284
  • Year 2: $74,953
  • Year 3: $83,742

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