Notre Dame vs. Michigan State

Deciding between University of Notre Dame 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 Notre Dame
Michigan State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Notre Dame Notre Dame, IN
  • Michigan State East Lansing, MI
  • Setting
  • Notre Dame Rural Fringe
  • Michigan State Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • Notre Dame 13,042
  • Michigan State 52,089
  • Type
  • Notre Dame Private 4 Year
  • Michigan State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Notre Dame #27
  • Michigan State #241
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Notre Dame Roman Catholic
  • Michigan State -
  • Status
  • Notre Dame Non-profit
  • Michigan State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Notre Dame
  • Michigan State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Notre Dame $65,025
  • Michigan State $16,458
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Notre Dame $65,025
  • Michigan State $43,842
  • Room & Board
  • Notre Dame $17,900
  • Michigan State $12,564
  • Average Net Price
  • Notre Dame $29,300
  • Michigan State $23,657
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Notre Dame $53,971
  • Michigan State $9,750
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Notre Dame 61%
  • Michigan State 88%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Notre Dame 29,942
  • Michigan State 62,138
  • Admitted
  • Notre Dame 3,374
  • Michigan State 52,690
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Notre Dame 11.3%
  • Michigan State 84.8%
  • Enrolled
  • Notre Dame 61.7%
  • Michigan State 18.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Notre Dame 1510
  • Michigan State 1270
  • Typical ACT score
  • Notre Dame 34
  • Michigan State 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • Notre Dame 3.91
  • Michigan State 3.72
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Notre Dame A
  • Michigan State A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Notre Dame Elite
  • Michigan State Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Notre Dame Very High
  • Michigan State
  • ACT Range
  • Notre Dame 33/35
  • Michigan State 25/31
  • SAT Range
  • Notre Dame 1455/1560
  • Michigan State 1180/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Notre Dame Test optional
  • Michigan State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Notre Dame Jan 1, 2027
  • Michigan State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Notre Dame 8:1
  • Michigan State 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Notre Dame
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (9%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
  • Michigan State
    • Business (17%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • Communication (11%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Health Professions (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Notre Dame 96%
  • Michigan State 77%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Notre Dame $89,800
  • Michigan State $60,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Notre Dame 92%
  • Michigan State 68%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Notre Dame $21,500
  • Michigan State $25,484
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Notre Dame $222
  • Michigan State $263

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Notre Dame 52%
  • Michigan State 47%
  • % Women
  • Notre Dame 48%
  • Michigan State 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Notre Dame Medium
  • Michigan State Medium
  • HBCU
  • Notre Dame No
  • Michigan State No
  • % White
  • Notre Dame 69%
  • Michigan State 67%
  • % Asian
  • Notre Dame 6%
  • Michigan State 5%
  • % Black
  • Notre Dame 4%
  • Michigan State 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Notre Dame 11%
  • Michigan State 4%
  • % Native American
  • Notre Dame 0%
  • Michigan State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Notre Dame 0%
  • Michigan State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Notre Dame 4%
  • Michigan State 3%
  • % International
  • Notre Dame 6%
  • Michigan State 13%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Notre Dame 1%
  • Michigan State 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Notre Dame 8%
  • Michigan State 77%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Notre Dame 82%
  • Michigan State 19%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Michigan State University is larger than Notre Dame based on total student enrollment (52,089 students vs. 13,042 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Notre Dame is located in Notre Dame, IN (Rural Fringe setting); Michigan State University is in East Lansing, MI (Rural Fringe setting).
  • University of Notre Dame is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Michigan State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Notre Dame 8:1; Michigan State University 17:1.

Notre Dame vs. Michigan State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Notre Dame 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 Michigan State University than Notre Dame ($23,657 vs. $29,300).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Michigan State University are 29.8% lower than at University of Notre Dame ($12,564 vs. $17,900).
  • University of Notre Dame is 295.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Michigan State (about $48,567 more per year; $65,025.00 vs. $16,458.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 48.3% higher at Notre Dame than at Michigan State University (about $21,183 more per year; $65,025.00 vs. $43,842.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Michigan State University than at University of Notre Dame (88% vs. 61%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Notre Dame students is 453.5% larger than aid received by Michigan State University students ($53,971 vs. $9,750).

Notre Dame vs. Michigan State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Notre Dame 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 Notre Dame .

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Notre Dame (1510) is 240 points higher than at Michigan State (1270).
  • Incoming Notre Dame students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 28 at Michigan State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Notre Dame 1455/1560; Michigan State University 1180/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Notre Dame 33/35; Michigan State University 25/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Notre Dame - Test optional; Michigan State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Notre Dame Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Notre Dame students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at Michigan State (3.72).
  • Michigan State has a higher acceptance rate (84.8%) than Notre Dame (11.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 61.7% at Notre Dame vs. 18.3% at Michigan State.

Notre Dame vs. Michigan State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Notre Dame 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 Notre Dame's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than Michigan State University's (77%).
  • Graduates from University of Notre Dame earn a median of about $29,800 more per year than Michigan State graduates about ten years after starting college ($89,800 vs. $60,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Notre Dame graduates have a $3,984 lower median loan debt than Michigan State graduates ($21,500 vs. $25,484).
  • Among borrowers, Notre Dame graduates have an estimated $41 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Michigan State graduates ($222 vs. $263).
  • More Notre Dame graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Michigan State students, three years after graduation. (92% 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.