Michigan State vs. Penn State

Deciding between Michigan State University and Penn State Main Campus? 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
Penn State Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Michigan State East Lansing, MI
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • Michigan State Rural Fringe
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Michigan State 52,089
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • Michigan State Public 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Michigan State #241
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Michigan State -
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • Michigan State Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Michigan State
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Michigan State $16,458
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Michigan State $43,842
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • Michigan State $12,564
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • Michigan State $23,657
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Michigan State $9,750
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Michigan State 88%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Michigan State 62,138
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • Michigan State 52,690
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Michigan State 84.8%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Michigan State 18.3%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Michigan State 1270
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • Michigan State 28
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • Michigan State 3.72
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Michigan State A-
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Michigan State Difficult
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Michigan State
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • Michigan State 25/31
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • Michigan State 1180/1360
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Michigan State Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Michigan State
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Michigan State 17:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Michigan State
    • Business (17%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • Communication (11%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Health Professions (6%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Michigan State 77%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Michigan State $60,000
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Michigan State 68%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Michigan State $25,484
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Michigan State $263
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Michigan State 47%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • Michigan State 53%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Michigan State Medium
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • Michigan State No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • Michigan State 67%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • Michigan State 5%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • Michigan State 7%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Michigan State 4%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • Michigan State 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Michigan State 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Michigan State 3%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • Michigan State 13%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Michigan State 1%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Michigan State 77%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Michigan State 19%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Michigan State University in East Lansing, MI with Penn State Main Campus in University Park, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Michigan State University is larger than Penn State based on total student enrollment (52,089 students vs. 50,737 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Michigan State University is located in East Lansing, MI (Rural Fringe setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • Michigan State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Michigan State University 17:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

Michigan State vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Michigan State or Penn State? 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 Penn State ($23,657 vs. $27,889).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Michigan State University are 13.2% lower than at Penn State Main Campus ($12,564 vs. $14,474).
  • Penn State Main Campus is 25.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Michigan State (about $4,186 more per year; $20,644.00 vs. $16,458.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 4.9% higher at Michigan State than at Penn State Main Campus (about $2,052 more per year; $43,842.00 vs. $41,790.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Michigan State University than at Penn State Main Campus (88% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Main Campus students is 16.3% larger than aid received by Michigan State University students ($11,336 vs. $9,750).

Michigan State vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Main Campus (1330) is 60 points higher than at Michigan State (1270).
  • Incoming Penn State students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 28 at Michigan State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Michigan State University 1180/1360; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Michigan State University 25/31; Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Michigan State - Test optional; Penn State - Test optional.
  • Michigan State has a higher acceptance rate (84.8%) than Penn State (60.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.3% at Michigan State vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

Michigan State vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • Penn State Main Campus's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than Michigan State University's (77%).
  • Graduates from Michigan State University earn a median of about $4,700 more per year than Penn State graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,000 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Michigan State University graduates have a $1,334 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($25,484 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, Michigan State graduates have an estimated $14 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.