Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Michigan WSU Wisconsin GVSU Purdue ISU Michigan Tech IU Penn State CMU ISU Georgia Tech| University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign | Michigan State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Illinois | Michigan State | ||
| Location | Champaign, IL | East Lansing, MI | ||
| Setting | Small City | Rural Fringe | ||
| Enrollment | 56,916 | 50,023 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #106 | #240 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | illinois.edu | msu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Illinois | Michigan State | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $12,474 | $15,192 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $30,446 | $41,778 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,720 | $10,990 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $14,544 | $22,803 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $16,552 | $8,684 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 54% | 92% |
Admission |
Illinois | Michigan State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 63,257 | 53,341 | ||
| Admitted | 28,354 | 46,914 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 44.8% | 88% | ||
| Enrolled % | 28.1% | 21% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.79 | 3.72 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Exceptional | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 29/34 | 25/31 | ||
| SAT Range | 1320/1510 | 1160/1360 | ||
| 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 | Jan 5, 2024 |
Academics |
Illinois | Michigan State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 21:1 | 17:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
Illinois | Michigan State | ||
| Graduation Rate | 82% | 77% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $66,500 | $60,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 78% | 68% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $20,500 | $25,484 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $211 | $263 |
Diversity |
Illinois | Michigan State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 54% | 47% | ||
| % Women | 46% | 53% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 48% | 67% | ||
| % Black | 6% | 7% | ||
| % Hispanic | 10% | 4% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 16% | 13% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 1% |
Students |
Illinois | Michigan State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 71% | 71% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 11% | 21% | ||
Campus |
Illinois | Michigan State | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | Yes | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign is larger than than Michigan State based on total student enrollment (56,916 students vs. 50,023 students)
Illinois vs. Michigan State Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Illinois or Michigan State?
- Michigan State University is 21.8% more expensive to attend than Illinois for in-state tuition ($15,192.00 vs. $12,474.00)
- Out of state tuition is 37.2% higher at Michigan State than University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign ($41,778.00 vs. $30,446.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign than Michigan State ($14,544 vs. $22,803)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Michigan State University are 15.7% lower than costs at University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign ($10,990 vs. $12,720)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Michigan State University than University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (92% vs. 54%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign students is 90.6% larger than aid received Michigan State University ($16,552 vs. $8,684)
Illinois vs. Michigan State Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Illinois or Michigan State? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Michigan State or Illinois .
- The average SAT score at University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (1305) is 146 points higher than at Michigan State (1159)
- Incoming Illinois students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at Michigan State (26)
- Accepted freshman Illinois students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at Michigan State (3.72)
- Michigan State has a higher acceptance rate (88%) than Illinois (44.8%)
Illinois vs. Michigan State Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Illinois or Michigan State? 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 Michigan State and Illinois.
- The graduation rate at Illinois is higher than Michigan State University (82% vs. 77%)
- Graduates from University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign earn on average $6,500 more per year than Michigan State graduates after ten years. ($66,500 vs. $60,000)
- University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign students graduate with a $4,984 lower median federal student loan debt than Michigan State graduates. ($20,500 vs. $25,484)
- Illinois graduates are paying $52 less per month on federal student loans than Michigan State graduates. ($211 vs. $263)
- More Illinois graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Michigan State students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 68%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/