Auburn vs. Michigan State

Deciding between Auburn University 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.

Auburn University
Michigan State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Auburn Auburn, AL
  • Michigan State East Lansing, MI
  • Setting
  • Auburn Small City
  • Michigan State Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • Auburn 34,145
  • Michigan State 52,089
  • Type
  • Auburn Public 4 Year
  • Michigan State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Auburn #301
  • Michigan State #241
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Auburn -
  • Michigan State -
  • Status
  • Auburn Non-profit
  • Michigan State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Auburn
  • Michigan State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Auburn $12,890
  • Michigan State $16,458
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Auburn $34,922
  • Michigan State $43,842
  • Room & Board
  • Auburn $16,626
  • Michigan State $12,564
  • Average Net Price
  • Auburn $25,242
  • Michigan State $23,657
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Auburn $10,872
  • Michigan State $9,750
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Auburn 80%
  • Michigan State 88%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Auburn 55,056
  • Michigan State 62,138
  • Admitted
  • Auburn 25,284
  • Michigan State 52,690
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Auburn 45.9%
  • Michigan State 84.8%
  • Enrolled
  • Auburn 24.1%
  • Michigan State 18.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Auburn 1330
  • Michigan State 1270
  • Typical ACT score
  • Auburn 28
  • Michigan State 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • Auburn 3.97
  • Michigan State 3.72
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Auburn A
  • Michigan State A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Auburn Very High
  • Michigan State Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Auburn Low
  • Michigan State
  • ACT Range
  • Auburn 26/31
  • Michigan State 25/31
  • SAT Range
  • Auburn 1260/1390
  • Michigan State 1180/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Auburn Required
  • Michigan State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Auburn Feb 1, 2027
  • Michigan State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Auburn 21:1
  • Michigan State 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Auburn
    • Business (22%)
    • Engineering (14%)
    • Education (10%)
    • Communication (6%)
    • Biology (6%)
  • Michigan State
    • Business (17%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • Communication (11%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Health Professions (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Auburn 66%
  • Michigan State 77%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Auburn $54,100
  • Michigan State $60,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Auburn 73%
  • Michigan State 68%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Auburn $21,500
  • Michigan State $25,484
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Auburn $222
  • Michigan State $263

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Auburn 49%
  • Michigan State 47%
  • % Women
  • Auburn 51%
  • Michigan State 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Auburn Very Low
  • Michigan State Medium
  • HBCU
  • Auburn No
  • Michigan State No
  • % White
  • Auburn 84%
  • Michigan State 67%
  • % Asian
  • Auburn 2%
  • Michigan State 5%
  • % Black
  • Auburn 7%
  • Michigan State 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Auburn 3%
  • Michigan State 4%
  • % Native American
  • Auburn 1%
  • Michigan State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Auburn 0%
  • Michigan State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Auburn 1%
  • Michigan State 3%
  • % International
  • Auburn 1%
  • Michigan State 13%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Auburn 1%
  • Michigan State 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Auburn 53%
  • Michigan State 77%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Auburn 46%
  • Michigan State 19%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Auburn University in Auburn, AL 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 Auburn based on total student enrollment (52,089 students vs. 34,145 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Auburn University is located in Auburn, AL (Small City setting); Michigan State University is in East Lansing, MI (Rural Fringe setting).
  • Auburn University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Michigan State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Auburn University 21:1; Michigan State University 17:1.

Auburn vs. Michigan State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Auburn 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 Auburn ($23,657 vs. $25,242).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Michigan State University are 24.4% lower than at Auburn University ($12,564 vs. $16,626).
  • Michigan State University is 27.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Auburn (about $3,568 more per year; $16,458.00 vs. $12,890.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 25.5% higher at Michigan State than at Auburn University (about $8,920 more per year; $43,842.00 vs. $34,922.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Michigan State University than at Auburn University (88% vs. 80%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Auburn University students is 11.5% larger than aid received by Michigan State University students ($10,872 vs. $9,750).

Auburn vs. Michigan State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Auburn 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 Auburn.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Auburn University (1330) is 60 points higher than at Michigan State (1270).
  • Incoming Auburn students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 28) as students at Michigan State (28).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Auburn University 1260/1390; Michigan State University 1180/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Auburn University 26/31; Michigan State University 25/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Auburn - Required; Michigan State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Auburn Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Auburn students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (3.97) than students at Michigan State (3.72).
  • Michigan State has a higher acceptance rate (84.8%) than Auburn (45.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 24.1% at Auburn vs. 18.3% at Michigan State.

Auburn vs. Michigan State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Auburn 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).

  • Michigan State University's six-year graduation rate (77%) is higher than Auburn University's (66%).
  • Graduates from Michigan State University earn a median of about $5,900 more per year than Auburn graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,000 vs. $54,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Auburn University graduates have a $3,984 lower median loan debt than Michigan State graduates ($21,500 vs. $25,484).
  • Among borrowers, Auburn graduates have an estimated $41 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Michigan State graduates ($222 vs. $263).
  • More Auburn 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.