DePaul vs. Michigan State

Deciding between DePaul 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.

DePaul University
Michigan State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • DePaul Chicago, IL
  • Michigan State East Lansing, MI
  • Setting
  • DePaul Large City
  • Michigan State Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • DePaul 21,210
  • Michigan State 52,089
  • Type
  • DePaul Private 4 Year
  • Michigan State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • DePaul #253
  • Michigan State #241
  • Religious Affiliation
  • DePaul Roman Catholic
  • Michigan State -
  • Status
  • DePaul Non-profit
  • Michigan State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • DePaul
  • Michigan State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • DePaul $45,999
  • Michigan State $16,458
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • DePaul $45,999
  • Michigan State $43,842
  • Room & Board
  • DePaul $19,095
  • Michigan State $12,564
  • Average Net Price
  • DePaul $34,135
  • Michigan State $23,657
  • Average Grant Aid
  • DePaul $29,285
  • Michigan State $9,750
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • DePaul 100%
  • Michigan State 88%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • DePaul 31,266
  • Michigan State 62,138
  • Admitted
  • DePaul 23,729
  • Michigan State 52,690
  • Acceptance Rate
  • DePaul 75.9%
  • Michigan State 84.8%
  • Enrolled
  • DePaul 10.8%
  • Michigan State 18.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • DePaul 1240
  • Michigan State 1270
  • Typical ACT score
  • DePaul 28
  • Michigan State 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • DePaul 3.8
  • Michigan State 3.72
  • Typical High School Grades
  • DePaul A-
  • Michigan State A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • DePaul Difficult
  • Michigan State Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • DePaul
  • Michigan State
  • ACT Range
  • DePaul 25/31
  • Michigan State 25/31
  • SAT Range
  • DePaul 1140/1330
  • Michigan State 1180/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • DePaul Test optional
  • Michigan State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • DePaul Feb 1, 2027
  • Michigan State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • DePaul 17:1
  • Michigan State 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • DePaul
    • Business (33%)
    • Communication (12%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • Michigan State
    • Business (17%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • Communication (11%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Health Professions (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • DePaul 66%
  • Michigan State 77%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • DePaul $56,900
  • Michigan State $60,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • DePaul 62%
  • Michigan State 68%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • DePaul $23,332
  • Michigan State $25,484
  • Median Loan Payment
  • DePaul $241
  • Michigan State $263

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • DePaul 45%
  • Michigan State 47%
  • % Women
  • DePaul 55%
  • Michigan State 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • DePaul High
  • Michigan State Medium
  • HBCU
  • DePaul No
  • Michigan State No
  • % White
  • DePaul 55%
  • Michigan State 67%
  • % Asian
  • DePaul 8%
  • Michigan State 5%
  • % Black
  • DePaul 8%
  • Michigan State 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • DePaul 18%
  • Michigan State 4%
  • % Native American
  • DePaul 0%
  • Michigan State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • DePaul 0%
  • Michigan State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • DePaul 4%
  • Michigan State 3%
  • % International
  • DePaul 3%
  • Michigan State 13%
  • % Unknown Race
  • DePaul 4%
  • Michigan State 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • DePaul 64%
  • Michigan State 77%
  • % Out-of-State
  • DePaul 32%
  • Michigan State 19%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare DePaul University in Chicago, IL 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 DePaul based on total student enrollment (52,089 students vs. 21,210 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • DePaul University is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); Michigan State University is in East Lansing, MI (Rural Fringe setting).
  • DePaul University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Michigan State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: DePaul University 17:1; Michigan State University 17:1.

DePaul vs. Michigan State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, DePaul 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 DePaul ($23,657 vs. $34,135).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Michigan State University are 34.2% lower than at DePaul University ($12,564 vs. $19,095).
  • DePaul University is 179.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Michigan State (about $29,541 more per year; $45,999.00 vs. $16,458.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 4.9% higher at DePaul than at Michigan State University (about $2,157 more per year; $45,999.00 vs. $43,842.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at DePaul University than at Michigan State University (100% vs. 88%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by DePaul University students is 200.4% larger than aid received by Michigan State University students ($29,285 vs. $9,750).

DePaul vs. Michigan State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, DePaul 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 DePaul.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Michigan State University (1270) is 30 points higher than at DePaul (1240).
  • Incoming DePaul 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: DePaul University 1140/1330; Michigan State University 1180/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: DePaul University 25/31; Michigan State University 25/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: DePaul - Test optional; Michigan State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: DePaul Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman DePaul students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.8) than students at Michigan State (3.72).
  • Michigan State has a higher acceptance rate (84.8%) than DePaul (75.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.8% at DePaul vs. 18.3% at Michigan State.

DePaul vs. Michigan State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for DePaul 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 DePaul University's (66%).
  • Graduates from Michigan State University earn a median of about $3,100 more per year than DePaul graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,000 vs. $56,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, DePaul University graduates have a $2,152 lower median loan debt than Michigan State graduates ($23,332 vs. $25,484).
  • Among borrowers, DePaul graduates have an estimated $22 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Michigan State graduates ($241 vs. $263).
  • More Michigan State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former DePaul students, three years after graduation. (68% vs. 62%)

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.