BSC-Bismarck vs MSU-Northern

Bismarck State College and Montana State University-Northern, both esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Bismarck State College, nestled in the heart of North Dakota, boasts an acceptance rate of 100%, welcoming students from diverse backgrounds. Montana State University-Northern, situated in the picturesque town of Havre, Montana, maintains a slightly more selective admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 88%. While Bismarck State College primarily focuses on associate degrees and certificates, Montana State University-Northern offers a wider range of academic programs, including bachelor's and master's degrees. Explore our comprehensive comparison table to delve into further details, such as popular majors, student body demographics, graduation rates, and more, to help you make an informed decision about your academic journey.
Bismarck State College logo

Bismarck State College

Montana State University-Northern logo

Montana State University-Northern

Overview

Location Bismarck, North Dakota Havre, Montana
Campus setting City: Small Town: Remote
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 70.0%
Common app member No No
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate Open Admission 100.0%
Application fees $35
Undergraduate: $30

Graduate: $30
SAT range N/A N/A
ACT range N/A N/A
Students submitting SAT score
Students submitting ACT score
Total number of applicants 604
Total number of admissions given out 604
Admitted students who chose to enroll 189
Yield rate 31.3%
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
High school GPA N/A N/A
Recommendation letters N/A N/A
High school transcript N/A N/A
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) N/A N/A

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $16,883

Out of state: $18,887
In state: $18,255

Out of state: $30,965
Average net price $10,249 $10,954
Tuition
In state: $4,007

Out of state: $6,011
In state: $4,496

Out of state: $17,096
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $3,649

Meal plan: $3,808
Room/dormitory: $2,470

Meal plan: $4,050
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

61.0%
Average amount $3,903
92.0%
Average amount $6,857
Students receiving federal student loan 43.0%
Average amount $4,890
45.0%
Average amount $4,649
Students taking out private loans 8.0%
Average amount $8,086
1.0%
Average amount $11,383

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 3,549
Men 52.5% Women 47.5%
1,008
Men 57.8% Women 42.2%
Graduate students N/A 42
Men 23.8% Women 76.2%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Very Low
Very Low
Out-of-state students 5.2% N/A
International students 0.4% N/A
Campus local/setting City: Small Town: Remote
Dormitory capacity 425 300
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from North Dakota Minnesota South Dakota Montana Iowa N/A

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Engineering Technologies
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Construction Trades
  • Liberal Arts
  • Automotive Technology
  • Education
  • Health Professions
  • Agriculture
  • Liberal Arts
Students to faculty ratio 14:1 14:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities

Outcome

Graduation rate 52.6% 31.3%
Dropout rate 26.1% 67.3%
Transferred out 13.7% N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $94,930
  • Year 2: $104,749
  • Year 3: $113,181
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $64,379
  • Year 2: $83,669
  • Year 3: $94,725
Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $81,394
  • Year 2: $76,773
  • Year 3: $87,805
Electromechanical Instrumentation and Maintenance Technologies/Technicians (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $76,908
  • Year 2: $74,576
  • Year 3: $79,845
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $54,207
  • Year 2: $55,964
  • Year 3: $57,868
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
  • Year 1: $54,093
  • Year 2: $48,600
  • Year 3: $57,431
Agricultural Business and Management (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $45,724
  • Year 2: $48,823
  • Year 3: $43,880
Business/Commerce, General (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $38,353
  • Year 2: $33,687
  • Year 3: $37,018
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $30,254
  • Year 2: $28,500
  • Year 3: $36,803
Business Operations Support and Assistant Services (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $31,670
  • Year 3: N/A
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $65,917
  • Year 2: $66,461
  • Year 3: $64,057
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $56,578
  • Year 2: $55,286
  • Year 3: $61,754
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $57,860
  • Year 3: $61,499
Student Counseling and Personnel Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $51,607
  • Year 3: $52,750
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $28,870
  • Year 2: $39,369
  • Year 3: $36,394
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $32,097
  • Year 2: $32,925
  • Year 3: $33,261
Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $38,289
  • Year 3: N/A
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $33,282
  • Year 2: $36,134
  • Year 3: N/A
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $35,060
  • Year 3: N/A

Compare Similar Colleges

The list of suggested college comparisons provided below is generated automatically by our system, utilizing statistics gathered from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and various online sources. If you don't find the colleges you wish to compare, please visit our comparison page. There, you can search for the specific colleges and initiate your comparison.