Michigan State vs. WMU

Should I go to Michigan State University or Western Michigan University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Michigan State or WMU 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.

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Michigan State University vs. Western Michigan University comparison
Michigan State University Western Michigan University College 3 College 4
Michigan State University Western Michigan University
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Overview

Michigan State WMU
Location East Lansing, MI Kalamazoo, MI
Setting Rural Fringe Small City
Enrollment 51,316 16,693
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #227 #631
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website msu.edu wmich.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Michigan State WMU
Tuition (In State) $15,648 $15,198
Tuition (Out of State) $43,032 $18,998
Room & Board $11,754 $11,713
Avg Net Price $24,630 $20,183
Avg Grant Aid $8,147 $8,217
% Receiving Grant Aid 96% 91%

Admission

Michigan State WMU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 58,879 20,100
Admitted 49,414 17,020
Acceptance Rate 83.9% 84.7%
Enrolled % 19.3% 14.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.72 3.5
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Very High Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 26/31 20/27
SAT Range 1150/1350 990/1220
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

Academics

Michigan State WMU
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (17%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Communication (11%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Health Professions (6%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Communication (6%)
  • Engineering (6%)

Outcomes

Michigan State WMU
Graduation Rate 77% 56%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $60,000 $48,900
Making Student Loan Payments 68% 54%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,484 $26,633
Median Loan Payment $263 $275

Diversity

Michigan State WMU
% Men 9% 8%
% Women 12% 14%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 67% 72%
% Black 7% 12%
% Hispanic 4% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 13% 4%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

Michigan State WMU
% In-State 76% 78%
% Out-of-State 18% 21%

Campus

Michigan State WMU
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 WMU based on total student enrollment (51,316 students vs. 16,693 students)

Michigan State vs. WMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Michigan State or WMU?

  • Michigan State University is 3% more expensive to attend than WMU for in-state tuition ($15,648.00 vs. $15,198.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 126.5% higher at Michigan State than Western Michigan University ($43,032.00 vs. $18,998.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Michigan University than Michigan State ($20,183 vs. $24,630)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Michigan University are 0.4% lower than costs at Michigan State University ($11,713 vs. $11,754)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Michigan State University than Western Michigan University (96% vs. 91%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Western Michigan University students is 0.9% larger than aid received Michigan State University ($8,217 vs. $8,147)

Michigan State vs. WMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Michigan State University (1159) is 129 points higher than at WMU (1030)
  • Incoming Michigan State students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at WMU (22)
  • Accepted freshman Michigan State students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at WMU (3.5)
  • WMU has a higher acceptance rate (84.7%) than Michigan State (83.9%)

Michigan State vs. WMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Michigan State is higher than Western Michigan University (77% vs. 56%)
  • Graduates from Michigan State University earn on average $11,100 more per year than WMU graduates after ten years. ($60,000 vs. $48,900)
  • Michigan State University students graduate with a $1,149 lower median federal student loan debt than WMU graduates. ($25,484 vs. $26,633)
  • Michigan State graduates are paying $12 less per month on federal student loans than WMU graduates. ($263 vs. $275)
  • More Michigan State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WMU students, three years after graduation. (68% vs. 54%)

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