Quad

Head-to-head

Montana State
U. North Dakota

Key differences

The biggest gaps between these schools, largest first.

  1. 1

    U. North Dakota's yield is 14 pts higher than Montana State's

    Yield rate
  2. 2

    U. North Dakota costs about $8.4K less per year on average than Montana State ($22,914 vs. $31,273, all students)

    Average cost, all students
  3. 3

    U. North Dakota grads earn $10.3K more ten years out than Montana State's ($63,552 vs. $53,263)

    Median earnings, 10 yrs
  4. 4

    U. North Dakota is more diverse (index 0.38 vs. 0.30)

    Diversity index
  5. 5

    Montana State is a bit larger (14,451 vs. 9,981)

    Undergrads
  6. 6

    Montana State has 4 pts more first-gen students than U. North Dakota (23% vs. 19%)

    First-generation students

The shape of each school

Each axis is a national rank among 4-year colleges; further out = more of it.

SelectivityTest scoresSizePell shareFirst-genDiversity

Hollow dots at the center mean that measure isn't reported.

Who's hardest to get into

U. North Dakota admits 77%, Montana State 82%; U. North Dakota's yield is higher, at 35%.

Acceptance rate
Montana State82%
U. North Dakota77%
Quad's selectivity
  • Montana StateAccessible
  • U. North DakotaAccessible
SAT middle 50%Axis 1000–1600
Montana State
1065–1285
U. North DakotaTest-blind
How they read a recordfirst-years at 3.75+
  • Montana StateGPA and school record required
  • U. North DakotaGPA, school record, and prep program required

Who's on each campus

Montana State is a bit larger than U. North Dakota (14,451 vs. 9,981 undergrads); U. North Dakota has the larger Pell share.

Undergrads
Montana State14.5K
U. North Dakota10K
Pell Grant share
Montana State16%
U. North Dakota17%

Majors and faculty

Business/Commerce leads at Montana State, and Aeronautics/Aviation/Aerospace Science and Technology at U. North Dakota.

Students per faculty member
Montana State18 to 1
U. North Dakota17 to 1
Most popular majorshare of graduates
  • Montana StateBusiness/Commerce, General16%
  • U. North DakotaAeronautics/Aviation/Aerospace Science and Technology, General15%

What each costs

U. North Dakota costs about $8.4K less a year than Montana State on average; Montana State's grants cover the larger share of its price.

Average cost, all students
Montana State$31.3K
U. North Dakota$22.9K
Aid generosity
Montana State24%
U. North Dakota20%

What each pays off

U. North Dakota's former students earn more, a median $63.6K ten years after enrolling; both graduate more than 50% within six years.

Median earnings, 10 years
Montana State$53.3K
U. North Dakota$63.6K
Graduation rate
Montana State56%
U. North Dakota57%

How each has changed

Applications grew at both; U. North Dakota got more selective while Montana State held steady.

Applications, 10-year change
  • Montana StateGrowing+57%
  • U. North DakotaGrowing+78%
All the numbersEvery figure for these colleges in one table, with differences highlighted.
Sources for this comparisonEvery dataset and year behind the numbers in this comparison; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources:IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;College Scorecard, Fall 2024;College Scorecard, most recent release;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey, 2023–24;College Scorecard, Entered fall 2023;IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D), Fall 2024;IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field), 2024–25 graduates;College Scorecard, 2023–24;IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients), Entered fall 2018About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)

Figures are the newest each college has published; years can differ between colleges. Each value's ⓘ shows its source and year. Why