Michigan State vs. UH

Deciding between Michigan State University and University of Houston? 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
University of Houston

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Michigan State East Lansing, MI
  • UH Houston, TX
  • Setting
  • Michigan State Rural Fringe
  • UH Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Michigan State 52,089
  • UH 47,980
  • Type
  • Michigan State Public 4 Year
  • UH Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Michigan State #241
  • UH #449
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Michigan State -
  • UH -
  • Status
  • Michigan State Non-profit
  • UH Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Michigan State
  • UH

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Michigan State $16,458
  • UH $9,717
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Michigan State $43,842
  • UH $22,547
  • Room & Board
  • Michigan State $12,564
  • UH $11,286
  • Average Net Price
  • Michigan State $23,657
  • UH $14,309
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Michigan State $9,750
  • UH $12,159
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Michigan State 88%
  • UH 74%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Michigan State 62,138
  • UH 31,716
  • Admitted
  • Michigan State 52,690
  • UH 23,446
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Michigan State 84.8%
  • UH 73.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Michigan State 18.3%
  • UH 26.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Michigan State 1270
  • UH 1250
  • Typical ACT score
  • Michigan State 28
  • UH 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • Michigan State 3.72
  • UH 3.46
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Michigan State A-
  • UH B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Michigan State Difficult
  • UH Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Michigan State
  • UH Low
  • ACT Range
  • Michigan State 25/31
  • UH 23/29
  • SAT Range
  • Michigan State 1180/1360
  • UH 1160/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Michigan State Test optional
  • UH Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Michigan State
  • UH May 31, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Michigan State 17:1
  • UH 22:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Michigan State
    • Business (17%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • Communication (11%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Health Professions (6%)
  • UH
    • Business (30%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Biology (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Michigan State 77%
  • UH 46%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Michigan State $60,000
  • UH $59,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Michigan State 68%
  • UH 61%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Michigan State $25,484
  • UH $19,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Michigan State $263
  • UH $204

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Michigan State 47%
  • UH 48%
  • % Women
  • Michigan State 53%
  • UH 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Michigan State Medium
  • UH Very High
  • HBCU
  • Michigan State No
  • UH No
  • % White
  • Michigan State 67%
  • UH 26%
  • % Asian
  • Michigan State 5%
  • UH 22%
  • % Black
  • Michigan State 7%
  • UH 10%
  • % Hispanic
  • Michigan State 4%
  • UH 32%
  • % Native American
  • Michigan State 0%
  • UH 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Michigan State 0%
  • UH 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Michigan State 3%
  • UH 3%
  • % International
  • Michigan State 13%
  • UH 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Michigan State 1%
  • UH 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Michigan State 77%
  • UH 93%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Michigan State 19%
  • UH 3%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Michigan State University is larger than UH based on total student enrollment (52,089 students vs. 47,980 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Michigan State University is located in East Lansing, MI (Rural Fringe setting); University of Houston is in Houston, TX (Large City setting).
  • Michigan State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Houston is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Michigan State University 17:1; University of Houston 22:1.

Michigan State vs. UH Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Michigan State or UH? 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 University of Houston than Michigan State ($14,309 vs. $23,657).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Houston are 10.2% lower than at Michigan State University ($11,286 vs. $12,564).
  • Michigan State University is 69.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than UH (about $6,741 more per year; $16,458.00 vs. $9,717.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 94.4% higher at Michigan State than at University of Houston (about $21,295 more per year; $43,842.00 vs. $22,547.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Michigan State University than at University of Houston (88% vs. 74%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Houston students is 24.7% larger than aid received by Michigan State University students ($12,159 vs. $9,750).

Michigan State vs. UH Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Michigan State University (1270) is 20 points higher than at UH (1250).
  • Incoming Michigan State students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 26 at UH).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Michigan State University 1180/1360; University of Houston 1160/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Michigan State University 25/31; University of Houston 23/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Michigan State - Test optional; UH - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UH May 31, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Michigan State students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at UH (3.46).
  • Michigan State has a higher acceptance rate (84.8%) than UH (73.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.3% at Michigan State vs. 26.5% at UH.

Michigan State vs. UH Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Michigan State and UH? 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 University of Houston's (46%).
  • Graduates from Michigan State University earn a median of about $1,000 more per year than UH graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,000 vs. $59,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Houston graduates have a $5,734 lower median loan debt than Michigan State graduates ($19,750 vs. $25,484).
  • Among borrowers, UH graduates have an estimated $59 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Michigan State graduates ($204 vs. $263).
  • More Michigan State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UH students, three years after graduation. (68% vs. 61%)

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.