Michigan State vs. Penn State Erie-Behrend College

Should I go to Michigan State University or Penn State Erie Behrend College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Michigan State or Penn State Erie-Behrend College is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Michigan State University vs. Penn State Erie Behrend College comparison
Michigan State University Penn State Erie Behrend College College 3 College 4
Michigan State University Penn State Erie Behrend College
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Overview

 Michigan State Penn State Erie-Behrend College
Location East Lansing, MI Erie, PA
Setting Rural Fringe Rural Fringe
Enrollment 50,023 3,295
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #240 #503
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website msu.edu psu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Michigan State Penn State Erie-Behrend College
Tuition (In State) $15,192 $15,388
Tuition (Out of State) $41,778 $25,854
Room & Board $10,990 $12,984
Avg Net Price $22,803 $21,968
Avg Grant Aid $8,684 $9,685
% Receiving Grant Aid 92% 71%

Admission

 Michigan State Penn State Erie-Behrend College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 53,341 4,363
Admitted 46,914 4,164
Acceptance Rate 88% 95.4%
Enrolled % 21% 19.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.72 3.49
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Very High Difficult
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 25/31 22/30
SAT Range 1160/1360 1095/1330
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 Erie-Behrend College
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (17%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Communication (11%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Health Professions (6%)
  • Business (38%)
  • Engineering (14%)
  • Engineering Technology (9%)
  • Health Professions (6%)
  • Psychology (6%)

Outcomes

 Michigan State Penn State Erie-Behrend College
Graduation Rate 77% 66%
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 Erie-Behrend College
% Men 47% 64%
% Women 53% 36%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 67% 79%
% Black 7% 4%
% Hispanic 4% 2%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 13% 9%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

 Michigan State Penn State Erie-Behrend College
% In-State 71% 74%
% Out-of-State 21% 19%

Campus

 Michigan State Penn State Erie-Behrend College
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Michigan State University is larger than than Penn State Erie-Behrend College based on total student enrollment (50,023 students vs. 3,295 students)

Michigan State vs. Penn State Erie-Behrend College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Michigan State or Penn State Erie-Behrend College?

  • Penn State Erie Behrend College is 1.3% more expensive to attend than Michigan State for in-state tuition ($15,388.00 vs. $15,192.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 61.6% higher at Michigan State than Penn State Erie Behrend College ($41,778.00 vs. $25,854.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Penn State Erie Behrend College than Michigan State ($21,968 vs. $22,803)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Michigan State University are 18.1% lower than costs at Penn State Erie Behrend College ($10,990 vs. $12,984)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Michigan State University than Penn State Erie Behrend College (92% vs. 71%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Erie Behrend College students is 11.5% larger than aid received Michigan State University ($9,685 vs. $8,684)

Michigan State vs. Penn State Erie-Behrend College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Michigan State or Penn State Erie-Behrend College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Penn State Erie-Behrend College or Michigan State .

  • The average SAT score at Michigan State University (1159) is 105 points higher than at Penn State Erie-Behrend College (1054)
  • Incoming Michigan State students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at Penn State Erie-Behrend College (23)
  • Accepted freshman Michigan State students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at Penn State Erie-Behrend College (3.49)
  • Penn State Erie-Behrend College has a higher acceptance rate (95.4%) than Michigan State (88%)

Michigan State vs. Penn State Erie-Behrend College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Michigan State or Penn State Erie-Behrend College? 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 Erie-Behrend College and Michigan State.

  • The graduation rate at Michigan State is higher than Penn State Erie Behrend College (77% vs. 66%)
  • Graduates from Michigan State University earn on average $4,700 more per year than Penn State Erie-Behrend College 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 Erie-Behrend College graduates. ($25,484 vs. $26,818)
  • Michigan State graduates are paying $14 less per month on federal student loans than Penn State Erie-Behrend College graduates. ($263 vs. $277)
  • More Penn State Erie-Behrend College 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/