Michigan State vs. Tennessee

Deciding between Michigan State University and The University of Tennessee Knoxville? 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
The University of Tennessee Knoxville

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Michigan State East Lansing, MI
  • Tennessee Knoxville, TN
  • Setting
  • Michigan State Rural Fringe
  • Tennessee Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Michigan State 52,089
  • Tennessee 38,728
  • Type
  • Michigan State Public 4 Year
  • Tennessee Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Michigan State #241
  • Tennessee #226
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Michigan State -
  • Tennessee -
  • Status
  • Michigan State Non-profit
  • Tennessee Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Michigan State
  • Tennessee

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Michigan State $16,458
  • Tennessee $13,812
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Michigan State $43,842
  • Tennessee $33,256
  • Room & Board
  • Michigan State $12,564
  • Tennessee $13,356
  • Average Net Price
  • Michigan State $23,657
  • Tennessee $21,648
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Michigan State $9,750
  • Tennessee $11,434
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Michigan State 88%
  • Tennessee 94%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Michigan State 62,138
  • Tennessee 59,764
  • Admitted
  • Michigan State 52,690
  • Tennessee 24,863
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Michigan State 84.8%
  • Tennessee 41.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Michigan State 18.3%
  • Tennessee 27.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Michigan State 1270
  • Tennessee 1290
  • Typical ACT score
  • Michigan State 28
  • Tennessee 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • Michigan State 3.72
  • Tennessee 3.66
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Michigan State A-
  • Tennessee B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Michigan State Difficult
  • Tennessee Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Michigan State
  • Tennessee Low
  • ACT Range
  • Michigan State 25/31
  • Tennessee 25/31
  • SAT Range
  • Michigan State 1180/1360
  • Tennessee 1200/1370
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Michigan State Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Tennessee Required to be considered for admission
  • Application Deadline
  • Michigan State
  • Tennessee

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Michigan State 17:1
  • Tennessee 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Michigan State
    • Business (17%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • Communication (11%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Health Professions (6%)
  • Tennessee
    • Business (20%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Engineering (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Michigan State 77%
  • Tennessee 63%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Michigan State $60,000
  • Tennessee $56,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Michigan State 68%
  • Tennessee 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Michigan State $25,484
  • Tennessee $20,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Michigan State $263
  • Tennessee $206

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Michigan State 42%
  • Tennessee 44%
  • % Women
  • Michigan State 58%
  • Tennessee 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Michigan State Medium
  • Tennessee Low
  • HBCU
  • Michigan State No
  • Tennessee No
  • % White
  • Michigan State 67%
  • Tennessee 79%
  • % Asian
  • Michigan State 5%
  • Tennessee 3%
  • % Black
  • Michigan State 7%
  • Tennessee 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Michigan State 4%
  • Tennessee 3%
  • % Native American
  • Michigan State 0%
  • Tennessee 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Michigan State 0%
  • Tennessee 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Michigan State 3%
  • Tennessee 3%
  • % International
  • Michigan State 13%
  • Tennessee 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Michigan State 1%
  • Tennessee 3%

  • Students

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

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Michigan State University in East Lansing, MI with The University of Tennessee Knoxville in Knoxville, TN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Michigan State University is larger than Tennessee based on total student enrollment (52,089 students vs. 38,728 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Michigan State University is located in East Lansing, MI (Rural Fringe setting); The University of Tennessee Knoxville is in Knoxville, TN (Midsize City setting).
  • Michigan State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. The University of Tennessee Knoxville is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Michigan State University 17:1; The University of Tennessee Knoxville 18:1.

Michigan State vs. Tennessee Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Michigan State or Tennessee? 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 The University of Tennessee Knoxville than Michigan State ($21,648 vs. $23,657).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Michigan State University are 5.9% lower than at The University of Tennessee Knoxville ($12,564 vs. $13,356).
  • Michigan State University is 19.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Tennessee (about $2,646 more per year; $16,458.00 vs. $13,812.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 31.8% higher at Michigan State than at The University of Tennessee Knoxville (about $10,586 more per year; $43,842.00 vs. $33,256.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at The University of Tennessee Knoxville than at Michigan State University (94% vs. 88%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by The University of Tennessee Knoxville students is 17.3% larger than aid received by Michigan State University students ($11,434 vs. $9,750).

Michigan State vs. Tennessee Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at The University of Tennessee Knoxville (1290) is 20 points higher than at Michigan State (1270).
  • Incoming Michigan State students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 28) as students at Tennessee (28).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Michigan State University 1180/1360; The University of Tennessee Knoxville 1200/1370.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Michigan State University 25/31; The University of Tennessee Knoxville 25/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Michigan State - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); Tennessee - Required to be considered for admission.
  • Accepted freshman Michigan State students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at Tennessee (3.66).
  • Michigan State has a higher acceptance rate (84.8%) than Tennessee (41.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.3% at Michigan State vs. 27.4% at Tennessee.

Michigan State vs. Tennessee Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • Michigan State University's six-year graduation rate (77%) is higher than The University of Tennessee Knoxville's (63%).
  • Graduates from Michigan State University earn a median of about $3,700 more per year than Tennessee graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,000 vs. $56,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, The University of Tennessee Knoxville graduates have a $5,484 lower median loan debt than Michigan State graduates ($20,000 vs. $25,484).
  • Among borrowers, Tennessee graduates have an estimated $57 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Michigan State graduates ($206 vs. $263).
  • More Tennessee 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.