Michigan State vs. Wisconsin

Deciding between Michigan State University and University of Wisconsin Madison? 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 Wisconsin Madison

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Michigan State East Lansing, MI
  • Wisconsin Madison, WI
  • Setting
  • Michigan State Rural Fringe
  • Wisconsin Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Michigan State 52,089
  • Wisconsin 51,044
  • Type
  • Michigan State Public 4 Year
  • Wisconsin Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Michigan State #241
  • Wisconsin #109
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Michigan State -
  • Wisconsin -
  • Status
  • Michigan State Non-profit
  • Wisconsin Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Michigan State
  • Wisconsin

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Michigan State $16,458
  • Wisconsin $11,603
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Michigan State $43,842
  • Wisconsin $42,103
  • Room & Board
  • Michigan State $12,564
  • Wisconsin $14,124
  • Average Net Price
  • Michigan State $23,657
  • Wisconsin $14,235
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Michigan State $9,750
  • Wisconsin $17,741
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Michigan State 88%
  • Wisconsin 35%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Michigan State 62,138
  • Wisconsin 65,894
  • Admitted
  • Michigan State 52,690
  • Wisconsin 29,782
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Michigan State 84.8%
  • Wisconsin 45.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Michigan State 18.3%
  • Wisconsin 28.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Michigan State 1270
  • Wisconsin 1450
  • Typical ACT score
  • Michigan State 28
  • Wisconsin 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Michigan State 3.72
  • Wisconsin 3.88
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Michigan State A-
  • Wisconsin A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Michigan State Difficult
  • Wisconsin Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Michigan State
  • Wisconsin Low
  • ACT Range
  • Michigan State 25/31
  • Wisconsin 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • Michigan State 1180/1360
  • Wisconsin 1380/1520
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Michigan State Test optional
  • Wisconsin Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Michigan State
  • Wisconsin Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Michigan State 17:1
  • Wisconsin 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Michigan State
    • Business (17%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • Communication (11%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Health Professions (6%)
  • Wisconsin
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Business (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)
    • Communication (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Michigan State 77%
  • Wisconsin 82%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Michigan State $60,000
  • Wisconsin $64,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Michigan State 68%
  • Wisconsin 84%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Michigan State $25,484
  • Wisconsin $22,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Michigan State $263
  • Wisconsin $230

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Michigan State 47%
  • Wisconsin 47%
  • % Women
  • Michigan State 53%
  • Wisconsin 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Michigan State Medium
  • Wisconsin Low
  • HBCU
  • Michigan State No
  • Wisconsin No
  • % White
  • Michigan State 67%
  • Wisconsin 76%
  • % Asian
  • Michigan State 5%
  • Wisconsin 6%
  • % Black
  • Michigan State 7%
  • Wisconsin 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • Michigan State 4%
  • Wisconsin 5%
  • % Native American
  • Michigan State 0%
  • Wisconsin 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Michigan State 0%
  • Wisconsin 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Michigan State 3%
  • Wisconsin 3%
  • % International
  • Michigan State 13%
  • Wisconsin 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Michigan State 1%
  • Wisconsin 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Michigan State 77%
  • Wisconsin 45%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Michigan State 19%
  • Wisconsin 46%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Michigan State University is larger than Wisconsin based on total student enrollment (52,089 students vs. 51,044 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Michigan State vs. Wisconsin Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Michigan State or Wisconsin? 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 Wisconsin Madison than Michigan State ($14,235 vs. $23,657).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Michigan State University are 11% lower than at University of Wisconsin Madison ($12,564 vs. $14,124).
  • Michigan State University is 41.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Wisconsin (about $4,855 more per year; $16,458.00 vs. $11,603.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 4.1% higher at Michigan State than at University of Wisconsin Madison (about $1,739 more per year; $43,842.00 vs. $42,103.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Michigan State University than at University of Wisconsin Madison (88% vs. 35%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Wisconsin Madison students is 82% larger than aid received by Michigan State University students ($17,741 vs. $9,750).

Michigan State vs. Wisconsin Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Wisconsin Madison (1450) is 180 points higher than at Michigan State (1270).
  • Incoming Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin Madison 1380/1520.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Michigan State University 25/31; University of Wisconsin Madison 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Michigan State - Test optional; Wisconsin - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Wisconsin Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Wisconsin students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at Michigan State (3.72).
  • Michigan State has a higher acceptance rate (84.8%) than Wisconsin (45.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.3% at Michigan State vs. 28.6% at Wisconsin.

Michigan State vs. Wisconsin Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Michigan State and Wisconsin? 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 Wisconsin Madison's six-year graduation rate (82%) is higher than Michigan State University's (77%).
  • Graduates from University of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of about $4,800 more per year than Michigan State graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,800 vs. $60,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Wisconsin Madison graduates have a $3,234 lower median loan debt than Michigan State graduates ($22,250 vs. $25,484).
  • Among borrowers, Wisconsin graduates have an estimated $33 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Michigan State graduates ($230 vs. $263).
  • More Wisconsin graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Michigan State students, three years after graduation. (84% 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.