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Michigan JMU WSU Mason GVSU Michigan Tech IU Penn State CMU ISU Virginia Tech Mary Washington College| Michigan State University | Virginia Commonwealth University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Michigan State | VCU | ||
| Location | East Lansing, MI | Richmond, VA | ||
| Setting | Rural Fringe | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 51,316 | 28,238 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #227 | #469 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | msu.edu | vcu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Michigan State | VCU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $15,648 | $12,850 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $43,032 | $34,744 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,754 | $16,119 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $24,630 | $22,852 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $8,147 | $12,433 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 96% | 99% |
Admission |
Michigan State | VCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applied | 58,879 | 19,052 | ||
| Admitted | 49,414 | 17,729 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 83.9% | 93.1% | ||
| Enrolled % | 19.3% | 25.5% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.72 | 3.75 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Challenging | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 26/31 | 22/30 | ||
| SAT Range | 1150/1350 | 1030/1270 | ||
| 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 | Jan 18, 2026 |
Academics |
Michigan State | VCU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 17:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Michigan State | VCU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 77% | 53% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $60,000 | $47,500 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 68% | 56% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,484 | $23,250 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $263 | $240 |
Diversity |
Michigan State | VCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 9% | 8% | ||
| % Women | 12% | 17% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 67% | 50% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 18% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 8% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 6% | ||
| % International | 13% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 1% |
Students |
Michigan State | VCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 76% | 92% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 18% | 6% | ||
Campus |
Michigan State | VCU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Michigan State University is larger than than VCU based on total student enrollment (51,316 students vs. 28,238 students)
Michigan State vs. VCU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Michigan State or VCU?
- Michigan State University is 21.8% more expensive to attend than VCU for in-state tuition ($15,648.00 vs. $12,850.00)
- Out of state tuition is 23.9% higher at Michigan State than Virginia Commonwealth University ($43,032.00 vs. $34,744.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Virginia Commonwealth University than Michigan State ($22,852 vs. $24,630)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Michigan State University are 37.1% lower than costs at Virginia Commonwealth University ($11,754 vs. $16,119)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Virginia Commonwealth University than Michigan State University (99% vs. 96%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia Commonwealth University students is 52.6% larger than aid received Michigan State University ($12,433 vs. $8,147)
Michigan State vs. VCU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Michigan State or VCU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between VCU or Michigan State .
- The average SAT score at Michigan State University (1159) is 62 points higher than at VCU (1097)
- Incoming Michigan State students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at VCU (24)
- Accepted freshman VCU students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at Michigan State (3.72)
- VCU has a higher acceptance rate (93.1%) than Michigan State (83.9%)
Michigan State vs. VCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Michigan State or VCU? 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 VCU and Michigan State.
- The graduation rate at Michigan State is higher than Virginia Commonwealth University (77% vs. 53%)
- Graduates from Michigan State University earn on average $12,500 more per year than VCU graduates after ten years. ($60,000 vs. $47,500)
- Virginia Commonwealth University students graduate with a $2,234 lower median federal student loan debt than Michigan State graduates. ($23,250 vs. $25,484)
- VCU graduates are paying $23 less per month on federal student loans than Michigan State graduates. ($240 vs. $263)
- More Michigan State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former VCU students, three years after graduation. (68% vs. 56%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/