Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Mason Virginia Tech Michigan VCU WSU GVSU UVA CNU Michigan Tech IU Penn State CMU| Michigan State University | James Madison University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Michigan State | JMU | ||
| Location | East Lansing, MI | Harrisonburg, VA | ||
| Setting | Rural Fringe | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 50,023 | 22,224 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #240 | #260 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | msu.edu | jmu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Michigan State | JMU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $15,192 | $7,684 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $41,778 | $24,744 | ||
| Room & Board | $10,990 | $12,040 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $22,803 | $18,274 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $8,684 | $10,081 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 92% | 33% |
Admission |
Michigan State | JMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 53,341 | 30,727 | ||
| Admitted | 46,914 | 24,062 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 88% | 78.3% | ||
| Enrolled % | 21% | 20.2% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.72 | 3.57 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 25/31 | 23/29 | ||
| SAT Range | 1160/1360 | 1140/1320 | ||
| 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 15, 2024 |
Academics |
Michigan State | JMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 17:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
Michigan State | JMU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 77% | 81% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $60,000 | $60,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 68% | 83% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,484 | $20,899 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $263 | $216 |
Diversity |
Michigan State | JMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 47% | 42% | ||
| % Women | 53% | 58% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 67% | 76% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 4% | ||
| % International | 13% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 3% |
Students |
Michigan State | JMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 71% | 73% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 21% | 26% | ||
Campus |
Michigan State | JMU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Michigan State University is larger than than JMU based on total student enrollment (50,023 students vs. 22,224 students)
Michigan State vs. JMU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Michigan State or JMU?
- Michigan State University is 97.7% more expensive to attend than JMU for in-state tuition ($15,192.00 vs. $7,684.00)
- Out of state tuition is 68.8% higher at Michigan State than James Madison University ($41,778.00 vs. $24,744.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at James Madison University than Michigan State ($18,274 vs. $22,803)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Michigan State University are 9.6% lower than costs at James Madison University ($10,990 vs. $12,040)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Michigan State University than James Madison University (92% vs. 33%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by James Madison University students is 16.1% larger than aid received Michigan State University ($10,081 vs. $8,684)
Michigan State vs. JMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Michigan State or JMU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between JMU or Michigan State .
- The average SAT score at Michigan State University (1159) is 25 points higher than at JMU (1134)
- Incoming Michigan State students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at JMU (25)
- Accepted freshman Michigan State students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at JMU (3.57)
- Michigan State has a higher acceptance rate (88%) than JMU (78.3%)
Michigan State vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Michigan State or JMU? 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 JMU and Michigan State.
- The graduation rate at JMU is higher than Michigan State University (81% vs. 77%)
- Graduates from James Madison University earn on average $300 more per year than Michigan State graduates after ten years. ($60,300 vs. $60,000)
- James Madison University students graduate with a $4,585 lower median federal student loan debt than Michigan State graduates. ($20,899 vs. $25,484)
- JMU graduates are paying $47 less per month on federal student loans than Michigan State graduates. ($216 vs. $263)
- More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Michigan State students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 68%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/