Michigan State vs. Pitt

Deciding between Michigan State University and University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh 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
University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Michigan State East Lansing, MI
  • Pitt Pittsburgh, PA
  • Setting
  • Michigan State Rural Fringe
  • Pitt Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Michigan State 52,089
  • Pitt 35,724
  • Type
  • Michigan State Public 4 Year
  • Pitt Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Michigan State #241
  • Pitt #138
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Michigan State -
  • Pitt -
  • Status
  • Michigan State Non-profit
  • Pitt Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Michigan State
  • Pitt

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Michigan State $16,458
  • Pitt $21,926
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Michigan State $43,842
  • Pitt $41,430
  • Room & Board
  • Michigan State $12,564
  • Pitt $13,620
  • Average Net Price
  • Michigan State $23,657
  • Pitt $25,223
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Michigan State $9,750
  • Pitt $16,494
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Michigan State 88%
  • Pitt 53%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Michigan State 62,138
  • Pitt 60,898
  • Admitted
  • Michigan State 52,690
  • Pitt 35,372
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Michigan State 84.8%
  • Pitt 58.1%
  • Enrolled
  • Michigan State 18.3%
  • Pitt 13%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Michigan State 1270
  • Pitt 1370
  • Typical ACT score
  • Michigan State 28
  • Pitt 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Michigan State 3.72
  • Pitt 3.79
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Michigan State A-
  • Pitt A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Michigan State Difficult
  • Pitt Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Michigan State
  • Pitt Low
  • ACT Range
  • Michigan State 25/31
  • Pitt 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • Michigan State 1180/1360
  • Pitt 1280/1460
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Michigan State Test optional
  • Pitt Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Michigan State
  • Pitt

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Michigan State 17:1
  • Pitt 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Michigan State
    • Business (17%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • Communication (11%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Health Professions (6%)
  • Pitt
    • Business (15%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Engineering (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Michigan State 77%
  • Pitt 79%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Michigan State $60,000
  • Pitt $58,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Michigan State 68%
  • Pitt 75%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Michigan State $25,484
  • Pitt $26,909
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Michigan State $263
  • Pitt $278

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Michigan State 47%
  • Pitt 42%
  • % Women
  • Michigan State 53%
  • Pitt 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Michigan State Medium
  • Pitt Low
  • HBCU
  • Michigan State No
  • Pitt No
  • % White
  • Michigan State 67%
  • Pitt 74%
  • % Asian
  • Michigan State 5%
  • Pitt 9%
  • % Black
  • Michigan State 7%
  • Pitt 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Michigan State 4%
  • Pitt 3%
  • % Native American
  • Michigan State 0%
  • Pitt 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Michigan State 0%
  • Pitt 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Michigan State 3%
  • Pitt 3%
  • % International
  • Michigan State 13%
  • Pitt 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Michigan State 1%
  • Pitt 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Michigan State 77%
  • Pitt 64%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Michigan State 19%
  • Pitt 33%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Michigan State University is larger than Pitt based on total student enrollment (52,089 students vs. 35,724 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Michigan State University is located in East Lansing, MI (Rural Fringe setting); University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is in Pittsburgh, PA (Large City setting).
  • Michigan State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Michigan State University 17:1; University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus 13:1.

Michigan State vs. Pitt Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Michigan State or Pitt? 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 Pitt ($23,657 vs. $25,223).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Michigan State University are 7.8% lower than at University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus ($12,564 vs. $13,620).
  • University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is 33.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Michigan State (about $5,468 more per year; $21,926.00 vs. $16,458.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 5.8% higher at Michigan State than at University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus (about $2,412 more per year; $43,842.00 vs. $41,430.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Michigan State University than at University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus (88% vs. 53%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus students is 69.2% larger than aid received by Michigan State University students ($16,494 vs. $9,750).

Michigan State vs. Pitt Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus (1370) is 100 points higher than at Michigan State (1270).
  • Incoming Pitt students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 28 at Michigan State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Michigan State University 1180/1360; University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus 1280/1460.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Michigan State University 25/31; University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Michigan State - Test optional; Pitt - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman Pitt students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at Michigan State (3.72).
  • Michigan State has a higher acceptance rate (84.8%) than Pitt (58.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.3% at Michigan State vs. 13% at Pitt.

Michigan State vs. Pitt Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus's six-year graduation rate (79%) is higher than Michigan State University's (77%).
  • Graduates from Michigan State University earn a median of about $2,000 more per year than Pitt graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,000 vs. $58,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Michigan State University graduates have a $1,425 lower median loan debt than Pitt graduates ($25,484 vs. $26,909).
  • Among borrowers, Michigan State graduates have an estimated $15 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Pitt graduates ($263 vs. $278).
  • More Pitt graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Michigan State students, three years after graduation. (75% 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.