Michigan State vs. WSU

Should I go to Michigan State University or Wayne State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Michigan State or WSU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

Add a college to compare up to four schools

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

Michigan GVSU UM-Dearborn Oakland Michigan Tech IU Penn State CMU ISU Detroit Mercy- UDM- U of D- University of Detroit Eastern Michigan University UIC
Michigan State University vs. Wayne State University comparison
Michigan State University Wayne State University College 3 College 4
Michigan State University Wayne State University
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Michigan State WSU
Location East Lansing, MI Detroit, MI
Setting Rural Fringe Large City
Enrollment 50,023 23,630
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #240 #582
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website msu.edu wayne.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Michigan State WSU
Tuition (In State) $15,192 $12,933
Tuition (Out of State) $41,778 $29,622
Room & Board $10,990 $11,321
Avg Net Price $22,803 $15,347
Avg Grant Aid $8,684 $10,605
% Receiving Grant Aid 92% 96%

Admission

Michigan State WSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 53,341 14,002
Admitted 46,914 10,547
Acceptance Rate 88% 75.3%
Enrolled % 21% 24.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.72 3.42
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Very High Challenging
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 25/31 21/28
SAT Range 1160/1360 1040/1260
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 Aug 1, 2024

Academics

Michigan State WSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (17%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Communication (11%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Health Professions (6%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Biology (7%)

Outcomes

Michigan State WSU
Graduation Rate 77% 26%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $60,000 $51,000
Making Student Loan Payments 68% 38%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,484 $22,258
Median Loan Payment $263 $230

Diversity

Michigan State WSU
% Men 47% 40%
% Women 53% 60%
Racial Diversity Medium High
HBCU No No
% White 67% 57%
% Black 7% 19%
% Hispanic 4% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 13% 2%
% Unknown Race 1% 5%

Students

Michigan State WSU
% In-State 71% 93%
% Out-of-State 21% 3%

Campus

Michigan State WSU
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 WSU based on total student enrollment (50,023 students vs. 23,630 students)

Michigan State vs. WSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Michigan State or WSU?

  • Michigan State University is 17.5% more expensive to attend than WSU for in-state tuition ($15,192.00 vs. $12,933.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 41% higher at Michigan State than Wayne State University ($41,778.00 vs. $29,622.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Wayne State University than Michigan State ($15,347 vs. $22,803)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Michigan State University are 3% lower than costs at Wayne State University ($10,990 vs. $11,321)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Wayne State University than Michigan State University (96% vs. 92%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Wayne State University students is 22.1% larger than aid received Michigan State University ($10,605 vs. $8,684)

Michigan State vs. WSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Michigan State or WSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WSU or Michigan State .

  • The average SAT score at Michigan State University (1159) is 89 points higher than at WSU (1070)
  • Incoming Michigan State students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at WSU (23)
  • Accepted freshman Michigan State students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at WSU (3.42)
  • Michigan State has a higher acceptance rate (88%) than WSU (75.3%)

Michigan State vs. WSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Michigan State or WSU? 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 WSU and Michigan State.

  • The graduation rate at Michigan State is higher than Wayne State University (77% vs. 26%)
  • Graduates from Michigan State University earn on average $9,000 more per year than WSU graduates after ten years. ($60,000 vs. $51,000)
  • Wayne State University students graduate with a $3,226 lower median federal student loan debt than Michigan State graduates. ($22,258 vs. $25,484)
  • WSU graduates are paying $33 less per month on federal student loans than Michigan State graduates. ($230 vs. $263)
  • More Michigan State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WSU students, three years after graduation. (68% vs. 38%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/