Michigan State vs. Kenyon

Deciding between Michigan State University and Kenyon College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Michigan State University
Kenyon College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Michigan State East Lansing, MI
  • Kenyon Gambier, OH
  • Setting
  • Michigan State Rural Fringe
  • Kenyon Distant Rural
  • Total enrollment
  • Michigan State 52,089
  • Kenyon 2,249
  • Type
  • Michigan State Public 4 Year
  • Kenyon Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Michigan State #241
  • Kenyon #62
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Michigan State -
  • Kenyon -
  • Status
  • Michigan State Non-profit
  • Kenyon Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Michigan State
  • Kenyon

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Michigan State $16,458
  • Kenyon $71,520
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Michigan State $43,842
  • Kenyon $71,520
  • Room & Board
  • Michigan State $12,564
  • Kenyon $15,640
  • Average Net Price
  • Michigan State $23,657
  • Kenyon $46,859
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Michigan State $9,750
  • Kenyon $40,731
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Michigan State 88%
  • Kenyon 82%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Michigan State 62,138
  • Kenyon 7,726
  • Admitted
  • Michigan State 52,690
  • Kenyon 2,397
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Michigan State 84.8%
  • Kenyon 31%
  • Enrolled
  • Michigan State 18.3%
  • Kenyon 18.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Michigan State 1270
  • Kenyon 1430
  • Typical ACT score
  • Michigan State 28
  • Kenyon 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Michigan State 3.72
  • Kenyon 3.84
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Michigan State A-
  • Kenyon A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Michigan State Difficult
  • Kenyon Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Michigan State
  • Kenyon High
  • ACT Range
  • Michigan State 25/31
  • Kenyon 31/33
  • SAT Range
  • Michigan State 1180/1360
  • Kenyon 1358/1503
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Michigan State Test optional
  • Kenyon Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Michigan State
  • Kenyon Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Michigan State 17:1
  • Kenyon 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Michigan State
    • Business (17%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • Communication (11%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Health Professions (6%)
  • Kenyon
    • Social Sciences (22%)
    • English and Literature (17%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Michigan State 77%
  • Kenyon 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Michigan State $60,000
  • Kenyon $52,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Michigan State 68%
  • Kenyon 87%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Michigan State $25,484
  • Kenyon $19,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Michigan State $263
  • Kenyon $196

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Michigan State 47%
  • Kenyon 44%
  • % Women
  • Michigan State 53%
  • Kenyon 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Michigan State Medium
  • Kenyon Low
  • HBCU
  • Michigan State No
  • Kenyon No
  • % White
  • Michigan State 67%
  • Kenyon 73%
  • % Asian
  • Michigan State 5%
  • Kenyon 4%
  • % Black
  • Michigan State 7%
  • Kenyon 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Michigan State 4%
  • Kenyon 7%
  • % Native American
  • Michigan State 0%
  • Kenyon 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Michigan State 0%
  • Kenyon 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Michigan State 3%
  • Kenyon 4%
  • % International
  • Michigan State 13%
  • Kenyon 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Michigan State 1%
  • Kenyon 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Michigan State 77%
  • Kenyon 12%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Michigan State 19%
  • Kenyon 78%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Michigan State Yes
  • Kenyon Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Michigan State No
  • Kenyon Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • Michigan State Yes
  • Kenyon Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Michigan State Yes
  • Kenyon No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Michigan State Yes
  • Kenyon No

Comparable Facts

Compare Michigan State University in East Lansing, MI with Kenyon College in Gambier, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Michigan State University is larger than Kenyon based on total student enrollment (52,089 students vs. 2,249 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Michigan State University is located in East Lansing, MI (Rural Fringe setting); Kenyon College is in Gambier, OH (Distant Rural setting).
  • Michigan State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Kenyon College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Michigan State University 17:1; Kenyon College 9:1.

Michigan State vs. Kenyon Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Michigan State or Kenyon? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Michigan State University than Kenyon ($23,657 vs. $46,859).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Michigan State University are 19.7% lower than at Kenyon College ($12,564 vs. $15,640).
  • Kenyon College is 334.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Michigan State (about $55,062 more per year; $71,520.00 vs. $16,458.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 63.1% higher at Kenyon than at Michigan State University (about $27,678 more per year; $71,520.00 vs. $43,842.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Michigan State University than at Kenyon College (88% vs. 82%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Kenyon College students is 317.8% larger than aid received by Michigan State University students ($40,731 vs. $9,750).

Michigan State vs. Kenyon Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Michigan State or Kenyon? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Kenyon and Michigan State.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Kenyon College (1430) is 160 points higher than at Michigan State (1270).
  • Incoming Kenyon students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 28 at Michigan State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Michigan State University 1180/1360; Kenyon College 1358/1503.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Michigan State University 25/31; Kenyon College 31/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Michigan State - Test optional; Kenyon - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Kenyon Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Kenyon students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.84) than students at Michigan State (3.72).
  • Michigan State has a higher acceptance rate (84.8%) than Kenyon (31%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.3% at Michigan State vs. 18.3% at Kenyon.

Michigan State vs. Kenyon Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Michigan State and Kenyon? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Kenyon College's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than Michigan State University's (77%).
  • Graduates from Michigan State University earn a median of about $7,100 more per year than Kenyon graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,000 vs. $52,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Kenyon College graduates have a $6,484 lower median loan debt than Michigan State graduates ($19,000 vs. $25,484).
  • Among borrowers, Kenyon graduates have an estimated $67 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Michigan State graduates ($196 vs. $263).
  • More Kenyon graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Michigan State students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 68%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.