Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Colorado State CU Denver Michigan WSU DU Colorado School of Mines GVSU Utah Michigan Tech IU Penn State UCCS| University of Colorado Boulder | Michigan State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
CU Boulder | Michigan State | ||
| Location | Boulder, CO | East Lansing, MI | ||
| Setting | Small City | Rural Fringe | ||
| Enrollment | 39,585 | 50,023 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #191 | #240 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | colorado.edu | msu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
CU Boulder | Michigan State | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $11,520 | $15,192 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $38,770 | $41,778 | ||
| Room & Board | $16,146 | $10,990 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $21,836 | $22,803 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $10,477 | $8,684 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 57% | 92% |
Admission |
CU Boulder | Michigan State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 53,781 | 53,341 | ||
| Admitted | 43,416 | 46,914 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 80.7% | 88% | ||
| Enrolled % | 16.4% | 21% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.68 | 3.72 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 26/32 | 25/31 | ||
| SAT Range | 1160/1390 | 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 | Jan 15, 2024 |
Academics |
CU Boulder | Michigan State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 17:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
CU Boulder | Michigan State | ||
| Graduation Rate | 68% | 77% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $56,900 | $60,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 73% | 68% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $19,500 | $25,484 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $201 | $263 |
Diversity |
CU Boulder | Michigan State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 55% | 47% | ||
| % Women | 45% | 53% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 71% | 67% | ||
| % Black | 2% | 7% | ||
| % Hispanic | 11% | 4% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 3% | ||
| % International | 6% | 13% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 1% |
Students |
CU Boulder | Michigan State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 53% | 71% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 45% | 21% | ||
Campus |
CU Boulder | Michigan State | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Michigan State University is larger than than CU Boulder based on total student enrollment (50,023 students vs. 39,585 students)
CU Boulder vs. Michigan State Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, CU Boulder or Michigan State?
- Michigan State University is 31.9% more expensive to attend than CU Boulder for in-state tuition ($15,192.00 vs. $11,520.00)
- Out of state tuition is 7.8% higher at Michigan State than University of Colorado Boulder ($41,778.00 vs. $38,770.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Colorado Boulder than Michigan State ($21,836 vs. $22,803)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Michigan State University are 46.9% lower than costs at University of Colorado Boulder ($10,990 vs. $16,146)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Michigan State University than University of Colorado Boulder (92% vs. 57%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of Colorado Boulder students is 20.6% larger than aid received Michigan State University ($10,477 vs. $8,684)
CU Boulder vs. Michigan State Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, CU Boulder or Michigan State? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Michigan State or CU Boulder .
- The average SAT score at University of Colorado Boulder (1212) is 53 points higher than at Michigan State (1159)
- Incoming CU Boulder students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at Michigan State (26)
- Accepted freshman Michigan State students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at CU Boulder (3.68)
- Michigan State has a higher acceptance rate (88%) than CU Boulder (80.7%)
CU Boulder vs. Michigan State Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, CU Boulder 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 CU Boulder.
- The graduation rate at Michigan State is higher than University of Colorado Boulder (77% vs. 68%)
- Graduates from Michigan State University earn on average $3,100 more per year than CU Boulder graduates after ten years. ($60,000 vs. $56,900)
- University of Colorado Boulder students graduate with a $5,984 lower median federal student loan debt than Michigan State graduates. ($19,500 vs. $25,484)
- CU Boulder graduates are paying $62 less per month on federal student loans than Michigan State graduates. ($201 vs. $263)
- More CU Boulder graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Michigan State students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 68%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/