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Virginia Tech Michigan UD WSU Rutgers UConn Pitt UMass GVSU Michigan Tech UB IU| Michigan State University | Penn State Main Campus | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Michigan State | Penn State | ||
| Location | East Lansing, MI | University Park, PA | ||
| Setting | Rural Fringe | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 50,023 | 50,028 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #240 | #167 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | msu.edu | psu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Michigan State | Penn State | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $15,192 | $18,368 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $41,778 | $35,946 | ||
| Room & Board | $10,990 | $12,744 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $22,803 | $26,747 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $8,684 | $10,066 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 92% | 44% |
Admission |
Michigan State | Penn State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 53,341 | 85,784 | ||
| Admitted | 46,914 | 47,360 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 88% | 55.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 21% | 19.5% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.72 | - | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | - | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 25/31 | 26/31 | ||
| SAT Range | 1160/1360 | 1210/1390 | ||
| 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 |
Michigan State | Penn State | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 15:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Michigan State | Penn State | ||
| Graduation Rate | 77% | 87% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $60,000 | $55,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 68% | 69% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,484 | $26,818 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $263 | $277 |
Diversity |
Michigan State | Penn State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 47% | 53% | ||
| % Women | 53% | 47% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 67% | 69% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 13% | 11% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 2% |
Students |
Michigan State | Penn State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 71% | 51% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 21% | 40% | ||
Campus |
Michigan State | Penn State | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | Yes | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Penn State Main Campus is larger than than Michigan State based on total student enrollment (50,028 students vs. 50,023 students)
Michigan State vs. Penn State Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Michigan State or Penn State?
- Penn State Main Campus is 20.9% more expensive to attend than Michigan State for in-state tuition ($18,368.00 vs. $15,192.00)
- Out of state tuition is 16.2% higher at Michigan State than Penn State Main Campus ($41,778.00 vs. $35,946.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Michigan State University than Penn State ($22,803 vs. $26,747)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Michigan State University are 16% lower than costs at Penn State Main Campus ($10,990 vs. $12,744)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Michigan State University than Penn State Main Campus (92% vs. 44%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Main Campus students is 15.9% larger than aid received Michigan State University ($10,066 vs. $8,684)
Michigan State vs. Penn State Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Michigan State or Penn State? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Penn State or Michigan State .
- The average SAT score at Penn State Main Campus (1202) is 43 points higher than at Michigan State (1159)
- Incoming Penn State students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at Michigan State (26)
- Michigan State has a higher acceptance rate (88%) than Penn State (55.2%)
Michigan State vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Michigan State or Penn 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 Penn State and Michigan State.
- The graduation rate at Penn State is higher than Michigan State University (87% vs. 77%)
- Graduates from Michigan State University earn on average $4,700 more per year than Penn State graduates after ten years. ($60,000 vs. $55,300)
- Michigan State University students graduate with a $1,334 lower median federal student loan debt than Penn State graduates. ($25,484 vs. $26,818)
- Michigan State graduates are paying $14 less per month on federal student loans than Penn State graduates. ($263 vs. $277)
- More Penn State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Michigan State students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 68%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/