Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Wisconsin Michigan WSU GVSU Michigan Tech IU Penn State CMU ISU University of Minnesota-Duluth Ohio State Oakland| University of Minnesota Twin Cities | Michigan State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Minnesota | Michigan State | ||
| Location | Minneapolis, MN | East Lansing, MI | ||
| Setting | Large City | Rural Fringe | ||
| Enrollment | 54,890 | 51,316 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #150 | #227 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | umn.edu | msu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Minnesota | Michigan State | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $14,496 | $15,648 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $34,410 | $43,032 | ||
| Room & Board | $13,028 | $11,754 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $16,730 | $24,630 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,807 | $8,147 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 62% | 96% |
Admission |
Minnesota | Michigan State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applied | 39,863 | 58,879 | ||
| Admitted | 30,705 | 49,414 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 77% | 83.9% | ||
| Enrolled % | 21.9% | 19.3% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.75 | 3.72 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 27/31 | 26/31 | ||
| SAT Range | 1310/1480 | 1150/1350 | ||
| 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 1, 2026 |
Academics |
Minnesota | Michigan State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 16:1 | 17:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
Minnesota | Michigan State | ||
| Graduation Rate | 70% | 77% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $58,200 | $60,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 74% | 68% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $20,185 | $25,484 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $208 | $263 |
Diversity |
Minnesota | Michigan State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 12% | 9% | ||
| % Women | 16% | 12% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 70% | 67% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 7% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 4% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 3% | ||
| % International | 9% | 13% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 1% |
Students |
Minnesota | Michigan State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 66% | 76% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 26% | 18% | ||
Campus |
Minnesota | 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
- University of Minnesota Twin Cities is larger than than Michigan State based on total student enrollment (54,890 students vs. 51,316 students)
Minnesota vs. Michigan State Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Minnesota or Michigan State?
- Michigan State University is 7.9% more expensive to attend than Minnesota for in-state tuition ($15,648.00 vs. $14,496.00)
- Out of state tuition is 25.1% higher at Michigan State than University of Minnesota Twin Cities ($43,032.00 vs. $34,410.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Minnesota Twin Cities than Michigan State ($16,730 vs. $24,630)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Michigan State University are 10.8% lower than costs at University of Minnesota Twin Cities ($11,754 vs. $13,028)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Michigan State University than University of Minnesota Twin Cities (96% vs. 62%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of Minnesota Twin Cities students is 44.9% larger than aid received Michigan State University ($11,807 vs. $8,147)
Minnesota vs. Michigan State Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Minnesota or Michigan State? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Michigan State or Minnesota .
- The average SAT score at University of Minnesota Twin Cities (1288) is 129 points higher than at Michigan State (1159)
- Incoming Minnesota students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at Michigan State (26)
- Accepted freshman Minnesota students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at Michigan State (3.72)
- Michigan State has a higher acceptance rate (83.9%) than Minnesota (77%)
Minnesota vs. Michigan State Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Minnesota 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 Minnesota.
- The graduation rate at Michigan State is higher than University of Minnesota Twin Cities (77% vs. 70%)
- Graduates from Michigan State University earn on average $1,800 more per year than Minnesota graduates after ten years. ($60,000 vs. $58,200)
- University of Minnesota Twin Cities students graduate with a $5,299 lower median federal student loan debt than Michigan State graduates. ($20,185 vs. $25,484)
- Minnesota graduates are paying $55 less per month on federal student loans than Michigan State graduates. ($208 vs. $263)
- More Minnesota graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Michigan State students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 68%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/