Michigan State vs. Miami

Deciding between Michigan State University and Miami University Oxford? 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
Miami University Oxford

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Michigan State East Lansing, MI
  • Miami Oxford, OH
  • Setting
  • Michigan State Rural Fringe
  • Miami Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Michigan State 52,089
  • Miami 18,838
  • Type
  • Michigan State Public 4 Year
  • Miami Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Michigan State #241
  • Miami #280
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Michigan State -
  • Miami -
  • Status
  • Michigan State Non-profit
  • Miami Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Michigan State
  • Miami

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Michigan State $16,458
  • Miami $18,161
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Michigan State $43,842
  • Miami $41,221
  • Room & Board
  • Michigan State $12,564
  • Miami $16,750
  • Average Net Price
  • Michigan State $23,657
  • Miami $28,229
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Michigan State $9,750
  • Miami $13,937
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Michigan State 88%
  • Miami 93%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Michigan State 62,138
  • Miami 39,580
  • Admitted
  • Michigan State 52,690
  • Miami 29,843
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Michigan State 84.8%
  • Miami 75.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Michigan State 18.3%
  • Miami 14%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Michigan State 1270
  • Miami 1310
  • Typical ACT score
  • Michigan State 28
  • Miami 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • Michigan State 3.72
  • Miami 3.85
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Michigan State A-
  • Miami A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Michigan State Difficult
  • Miami Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Michigan State
  • Miami
  • ACT Range
  • Michigan State 25/31
  • Miami 25/30
  • SAT Range
  • Michigan State 1180/1360
  • Miami 1220/1390
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Michigan State Test optional
  • Miami Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Michigan State
  • Miami Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Michigan State 17:1
  • Miami 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Michigan State
    • Business (17%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • Communication (11%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Health Professions (6%)
  • Miami
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Biology (6%)
    • Health Professions (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Michigan State 77%
  • Miami 81%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Michigan State $60,000
  • Miami $54,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Michigan State 68%
  • Miami 57%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Michigan State $25,484
  • Miami $24,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Michigan State $263
  • Miami $255

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Michigan State 47%
  • Miami 46%
  • % Women
  • Michigan State 53%
  • Miami 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Michigan State Medium
  • Miami Low
  • HBCU
  • Michigan State No
  • Miami No
  • % White
  • Michigan State 67%
  • Miami 77%
  • % Asian
  • Michigan State 5%
  • Miami 2%
  • % Black
  • Michigan State 7%
  • Miami 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Michigan State 4%
  • Miami 4%
  • % Native American
  • Michigan State 0%
  • Miami 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Michigan State 0%
  • Miami 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Michigan State 3%
  • Miami 3%
  • % International
  • Michigan State 13%
  • Miami 10%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Michigan State 1%
  • Miami 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Michigan State 77%
  • Miami 64%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Michigan State 19%
  • Miami 35%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Michigan State University is larger than Miami based on total student enrollment (52,089 students vs. 18,838 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Michigan State University is located in East Lansing, MI (Rural Fringe setting); Miami University Oxford is in Oxford, OH (Distant Town setting).
  • Michigan State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Miami University Oxford is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Michigan State University 17:1; Miami University Oxford 16:1.

Michigan State vs. Miami Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Michigan State or Miami? 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 Miami ($23,657 vs. $28,229).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Michigan State University are 25% lower than at Miami University Oxford ($12,564 vs. $16,750).
  • Miami University Oxford is 10.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Michigan State (about $1,703 more per year; $18,161.00 vs. $16,458.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 6.4% higher at Michigan State than at Miami University Oxford (about $2,621 more per year; $43,842.00 vs. $41,221.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Miami University Oxford than at Michigan State University (93% vs. 88%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Miami University Oxford students is 42.9% larger than aid received by Michigan State University students ($13,937 vs. $9,750).

Michigan State vs. Miami Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Michigan State or Miami? 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 Miami and Michigan State.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Miami University Oxford (1310) is 40 points higher than at Michigan State (1270).
  • Incoming Michigan State students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 27 at Miami).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Michigan State University 1180/1360; Miami University Oxford 1220/1390.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Michigan State University 25/31; Miami University Oxford 25/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Michigan State - Test optional; Miami - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Miami Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Miami students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.85) than students at Michigan State (3.72).
  • Michigan State has a higher acceptance rate (84.8%) than Miami (75.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.3% at Michigan State vs. 14% at Miami.

Michigan State vs. Miami Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Michigan State and Miami? 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).

  • Miami University Oxford's six-year graduation rate (81%) is higher than Michigan State University's (77%).
  • Graduates from Michigan State University earn a median of about $5,700 more per year than Miami graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,000 vs. $54,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Miami University Oxford graduates have a $734 lower median loan debt than Michigan State graduates ($24,750 vs. $25,484).
  • Among borrowers, Miami graduates have an estimated $8 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Michigan State graduates ($255 vs. $263).
  • More Michigan State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Miami students, three years after graduation. (68% vs. 57%)

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.