NKU vs. Michigan State

Should I go to Northern Kentucky University or Michigan State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if NKU or Michigan State 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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Northern Kentucky University vs. Michigan State University comparison
Northern Kentucky University Michigan State University College 3 College 4
Northern Kentucky University Michigan State University
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Overview

NKU Michigan State
Location Highland Heights, KY East Lansing, MI
Setting Large Suburban Rural Fringe
Enrollment 15,801 50,023
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #805 #240
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website nku.edu msu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

NKU Michigan State
Tuition (In State) $10,208 $15,192
Tuition (Out of State) $20,464 $41,778
Room & Board $11,248 $10,990
Avg Net Price $7,259 $22,803
Avg Grant Aid $11,275 $8,684
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 92%

Admission

NKU Michigan State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,905 53,341
Admitted 5,939 46,914
Acceptance Rate 86% 88%
Enrolled % 27.6% 21%
Avg High School GPA 3.42 3.72
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Average Very High
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/25 25/31
SAT Range 1030/1290 1160/1360
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 15, 2024

Academics

NKU Michigan State
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (26%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Communication (11%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Health Professions (6%)

Outcomes

NKU Michigan State
Graduation Rate 37% 77%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $39,700 $60,000
Making Student Loan Payments 53% 68%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,950 $25,484
Median Loan Payment $257 $263

Diversity

NKU Michigan State
% Men 36% 47%
% Women 64% 53%
Racial Diversity Very Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 82% 67%
% Black 7% 7%
% Hispanic 3% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 3% 13%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

NKU Michigan State
% In-State 66% 71%
% Out-of-State 26% 21%

Campus

NKU Michigan State
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 NKU based on total student enrollment (50,023 students vs. 15,801 students)

NKU vs. Michigan State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NKU or Michigan State?

  • Michigan State University is 48.8% more expensive to attend than NKU for in-state tuition ($15,192.00 vs. $10,208.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 104.2% higher at Michigan State than Northern Kentucky University ($41,778.00 vs. $20,464.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than Michigan State ($7,259 vs. $22,803)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Michigan State University are 2.3% lower than costs at Northern Kentucky University ($10,990 vs. $11,248)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Northern Kentucky University than Michigan State University (100% vs. 92%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Kentucky University students is 29.8% larger than aid received Michigan State University ($11,275 vs. $8,684)

NKU vs. Michigan State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Michigan State University (1159) is 91 points higher than at NKU (1068)
  • Incoming Michigan State students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at NKU (23)
  • Accepted freshman Michigan State students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at NKU (3.42)
  • Michigan State has a higher acceptance rate (88%) than NKU (86%)

NKU vs. Michigan State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Michigan State is higher than Northern Kentucky University (77% vs. 37%)
  • Graduates from Michigan State University earn on average $20,300 more per year than NKU graduates after ten years. ($60,000 vs. $39,700)
  • Northern Kentucky University students graduate with a $534 lower median federal student loan debt than Michigan State graduates. ($24,950 vs. $25,484)
  • NKU graduates are paying $6 less per month on federal student loans than Michigan State graduates. ($257 vs. $263)
  • More Michigan State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NKU students, three years after graduation. (68% vs. 53%)

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