Michigan vs. Michigan State

Deciding between University of Michigan Ann Arbor and Michigan State University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

University of Michigan Ann Arbor
Michigan State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Michigan Ann Arbor, MI
  • Michigan State East Lansing, MI
  • Setting
  • Michigan Midsize City
  • Michigan State Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • Michigan 52,855
  • Michigan State 52,089
  • Type
  • Michigan Public 4 Year
  • Michigan State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Michigan #48
  • Michigan State #241
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Michigan -
  • Michigan State -
  • Status
  • Michigan Non-profit
  • Michigan State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Michigan
  • Michigan State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Michigan $17,736
  • Michigan State $16,458
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Michigan $60,946
  • Michigan State $43,842
  • Room & Board
  • Michigan $15,328
  • Michigan State $12,564
  • Average Net Price
  • Michigan $17,574
  • Michigan State $23,657
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Michigan $25,099
  • Michigan State $9,750
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Michigan 59%
  • Michigan State 88%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Michigan 98,310
  • Michigan State 62,138
  • Admitted
  • Michigan 15,373
  • Michigan State 52,690
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Michigan 15.6%
  • Michigan State 84.8%
  • Enrolled
  • Michigan 47.3%
  • Michigan State 18.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Michigan 1450
  • Michigan State 1270
  • Typical ACT score
  • Michigan 32
  • Michigan State 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • Michigan 3.88
  • Michigan State 3.72
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Michigan A
  • Michigan State A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Michigan Exceptional
  • Michigan State Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Michigan Very High
  • Michigan State
  • ACT Range
  • Michigan 31/34
  • Michigan State 25/31
  • SAT Range
  • Michigan 1360/1530
  • Michigan State 1180/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Michigan Test optional
  • Michigan State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Michigan Feb 1, 2027
  • Michigan State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Michigan 11:1
  • Michigan State 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Michigan
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Engineering (15%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Michigan State
    • Business (17%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • Communication (11%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Health Professions (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Michigan 90%
  • Michigan State 77%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Michigan $74,400
  • Michigan State $60,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Michigan 78%
  • Michigan State 68%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Michigan $20,103
  • Michigan State $25,484
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Michigan $207
  • Michigan State $263

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Michigan 47%
  • Michigan State 47%
  • % Women
  • Michigan 53%
  • Michigan State 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Michigan Medium
  • Michigan State Medium
  • HBCU
  • Michigan No
  • Michigan State No
  • % White
  • Michigan 62%
  • Michigan State 67%
  • % Asian
  • Michigan 13%
  • Michigan State 5%
  • % Black
  • Michigan 4%
  • Michigan State 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Michigan 5%
  • Michigan State 4%
  • % Native American
  • Michigan 0%
  • Michigan State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Michigan 0%
  • Michigan State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Michigan 3%
  • Michigan State 3%
  • % International
  • Michigan 7%
  • Michigan State 13%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Michigan 6%
  • Michigan State 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Michigan 52%
  • Michigan State 77%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Michigan 43%
  • Michigan State 19%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Michigan Yes
  • Michigan State Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Michigan No
  • Michigan State No
  • Meal Plan
  • Michigan Yes
  • Michigan State Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Michigan Yes
  • Michigan State Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Michigan Yes
  • Michigan State Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Michigan Ann Arbor in Ann Arbor, MI with Michigan State University in East Lansing, MI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Michigan Ann Arbor is larger than Michigan State based on total student enrollment (52,855 students vs. 52,089 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Michigan Ann Arbor is located in Ann Arbor, MI (Midsize City setting); Michigan State University is in East Lansing, MI (Rural Fringe setting).
  • University of Michigan Ann Arbor is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Michigan State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Michigan Ann Arbor 11:1; Michigan State University 17:1.

Michigan vs. Michigan State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Michigan or Michigan State? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Michigan Ann Arbor than Michigan State ($17,574 vs. $23,657).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Michigan State University are 18% lower than at University of Michigan Ann Arbor ($12,564 vs. $15,328).
  • University of Michigan Ann Arbor is 7.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Michigan State (about $1,278 more per year; $17,736.00 vs. $16,458.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 39% higher at Michigan than at Michigan State University (about $17,104 more per year; $60,946.00 vs. $43,842.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Michigan State University than at University of Michigan Ann Arbor (88% vs. 59%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Michigan Ann Arbor students is 157.4% larger than aid received by Michigan State University students ($25,099 vs. $9,750).

Michigan vs. Michigan State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Michigan or Michigan State? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Michigan State and Michigan.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Michigan Ann Arbor (1450) is 180 points higher than at Michigan State (1270).
  • Incoming Michigan students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 28 at Michigan State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Michigan Ann Arbor 1360/1530; Michigan State University 1180/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Michigan Ann Arbor 31/34; Michigan State University 25/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Michigan - Test optional; Michigan State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Michigan Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Michigan students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at Michigan State (3.72).
  • Michigan State has a higher acceptance rate (84.8%) than Michigan (15.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 47.3% at Michigan vs. 18.3% at Michigan State.

Michigan vs. Michigan State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Michigan and Michigan State? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • University of Michigan Ann Arbor's six-year graduation rate (90%) is higher than Michigan State University's (77%).
  • Graduates from University of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of about $14,400 more per year than Michigan State graduates about ten years after starting college ($74,400 vs. $60,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates have a $5,381 lower median loan debt than Michigan State graduates ($20,103 vs. $25,484).
  • Among borrowers, Michigan graduates have an estimated $56 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Michigan State graduates ($207 vs. $263).
  • More Michigan graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Michigan State students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 68%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.