Side-by-side
California State University-Los Angeles vs Montana State University
The numbers that actually decide it — net price after aid, how hard each is to get into, and how many students finish — compared straight across. Net price beats sticker price every time.
Similar selectivity (91% vs 82%) but out-of-state cost runs $20k — meaningfully less than $33k.
| California State University-Los Angeles | Montana State University | |
|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 91% | 82% |
| Net price (in-state) what the average family actually pays after aid | $7,160 | $8,460 |
| Net price (out-of-state) | $19,760 | $33,287 |
| Sticker tuition (in-state) | $7,160 | $8,460 |
| Sticker tuition (out-of-state) | $19,760 | $33,287 |
| Graduation rate | 53% | 57% |
| Total enrollment | 19,562 | 14,451 |
Net price = sticker price minus the average grant aid for that school (IPEDS / Dept. of Education data). Real numbers vary by family income and student stats — verify each school's own Net Price Calculator before committing. Canonical: /compare/california-state-university-los-angeles-vs-montana-state-university.