AQ vs. Michigan State

Should I go to Aquinas College or Michigan State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if AQ or Michigan State is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Aquinas College vs. Michigan State University comparison
Aquinas College Michigan State University College 3 College 4
Aquinas College Michigan State University
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Overview

AQ Michigan State
Location Grand Rapids, MI East Lansing, MI
Setting Midsize City Rural Fringe
Enrollment 1,265 50,023
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #819 #240
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website aquinas.edu msu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

AQ Michigan State
Tuition (In State) $36,480 $15,192
Tuition (Out of State) $36,480 $41,778
Room & Board $10,572 $10,990
Avg Net Price $18,605 $22,803
Avg Grant Aid $30,049 $8,684
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 92%

Admission

AQ Michigan State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,116 53,341
Admitted 1,921 46,914
Acceptance Rate 90.8% 88%
Enrolled % 16% 21%
Avg High School GPA 3.52 3.72
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Easy Very High
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 25/31
SAT Range 1000/1180 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

Academics

AQ Michigan State
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (15%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Biology (6%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Communication (11%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Health Professions (6%)

Outcomes

AQ Michigan State
Graduation Rate 52% 77%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $40,000 $60,000
Making Student Loan Payments 60% 68%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $25,484
Median Loan Payment $268 $263

Diversity

AQ Michigan State
% Men 43% 47%
% Women 57% 53%
Racial Diversity Very Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 82% 67%
% Black 3% 7%
% Hispanic 6% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 1% 13%
% Unknown Race 3% 1%

Students

AQ Michigan State
% In-State 84% 71%
% Out-of-State 13% 21%

Campus

AQ Michigan State
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Michigan State University is larger than than AQ based on total student enrollment (50,023 students vs. 1,265 students)

AQ vs. Michigan State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AQ or Michigan State?

  • Aquinas College is 140.1% more expensive to attend than Michigan State for in-state tuition ($36,480.00 vs. $15,192.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 14.5% higher at Michigan State than Aquinas College ($41,778.00 vs. $36,480.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Aquinas College than Michigan State ($18,605 vs. $22,803)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Aquinas College are 4% lower than costs at Michigan State University ($10,572 vs. $10,990)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Aquinas College than Michigan State University (100% vs. 92%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Aquinas College students is 246% larger than aid received Michigan State University ($30,049 vs. $8,684)

AQ vs. Michigan State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AQ or Michigan State? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Michigan State or AQ .

  • The average SAT score at Michigan State University (1159) is 69 points higher than at AQ (1090)
  • Incoming Michigan State students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at AQ (24)
  • Accepted freshman Michigan State students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at AQ (3.52)
  • AQ has a higher acceptance rate (90.8%) than Michigan State (88%)

AQ vs. Michigan State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, AQ 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 AQ.

  • The graduation rate at Michigan State is higher than Aquinas College (77% vs. 52%)
  • Graduates from Michigan State University earn on average $20,000 more per year than AQ graduates after ten years. ($60,000 vs. $40,000)
  • Michigan State University students graduate with a $516 lower median federal student loan debt than AQ graduates. ($25,484 vs. $26,000)
  • Michigan State graduates are paying $5 less per month on federal student loans than AQ graduates. ($263 vs. $268)
  • More Michigan State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AQ students, three years after graduation. (68% vs. 60%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/