DePauw vs. Michigan State

Deciding between DePauw 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.

DePauw University
Michigan State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • DePauw Greencastle, IN
  • Michigan State East Lansing, MI
  • Setting
  • DePauw Distant Town
  • Michigan State Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • DePauw 1,917
  • Michigan State 52,089
  • Type
  • DePauw Private 4 Year
  • Michigan State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • DePauw #99
  • Michigan State #241
  • Religious Affiliation
  • DePauw United Methodist
  • Michigan State -
  • Status
  • DePauw Non-profit
  • Michigan State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • DePauw
  • Michigan State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • DePauw $59,070
  • Michigan State $16,458
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • DePauw $59,070
  • Michigan State $43,842
  • Room & Board
  • DePauw $15,330
  • Michigan State $12,564
  • Average Net Price
  • DePauw $31,411
  • Michigan State $23,657
  • Average Grant Aid
  • DePauw $42,909
  • Michigan State $9,750
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • DePauw 99%
  • Michigan State 88%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • DePauw 6,683
  • Michigan State 62,138
  • Admitted
  • DePauw 3,822
  • Michigan State 52,690
  • Acceptance Rate
  • DePauw 57.2%
  • Michigan State 84.8%
  • Enrolled
  • DePauw 13.2%
  • Michigan State 18.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • DePauw 1310
  • Michigan State 1270
  • Typical ACT score
  • DePauw 30
  • Michigan State 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • DePauw 3.97
  • Michigan State 3.72
  • Typical High School Grades
  • DePauw A
  • Michigan State A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • DePauw Very High
  • Michigan State Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • DePauw Low
  • Michigan State
  • ACT Range
  • DePauw 28/32
  • Michigan State 25/31
  • SAT Range
  • DePauw 1200/1410
  • Michigan State 1180/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • DePauw Test optional
  • Michigan State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • DePauw Feb 1, 2027
  • Michigan State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • DePauw 10:1
  • Michigan State 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • DePauw
    • Social Sciences (19%)
    • Communication (12%)
    • English and Literature (11%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Michigan State
    • Business (17%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • Communication (11%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Health Professions (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • DePauw 85%
  • Michigan State 77%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • DePauw $61,000
  • Michigan State $60,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • DePauw 80%
  • Michigan State 68%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • DePauw $25,588
  • Michigan State $25,484
  • Median Loan Payment
  • DePauw $264
  • Michigan State $263

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • DePauw 50%
  • Michigan State 47%
  • % Women
  • DePauw 50%
  • Michigan State 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • DePauw Medium
  • Michigan State Medium
  • HBCU
  • DePauw No
  • Michigan State No
  • % White
  • DePauw 71%
  • Michigan State 67%
  • % Asian
  • DePauw 4%
  • Michigan State 5%
  • % Black
  • DePauw 5%
  • Michigan State 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • DePauw 4%
  • Michigan State 4%
  • % Native American
  • DePauw 0%
  • Michigan State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • DePauw 0%
  • Michigan State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • DePauw 7%
  • Michigan State 3%
  • % International
  • DePauw 8%
  • Michigan State 13%
  • % Unknown Race
  • DePauw 2%
  • Michigan State 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • DePauw 40%
  • Michigan State 77%
  • % Out-of-State
  • DePauw 41%
  • Michigan State 19%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare DePauw University in Greencastle, 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 DePauw based on total student enrollment (52,089 students vs. 1,917 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • DePauw University is located in Greencastle, IN (Distant Town setting); Michigan State University is in East Lansing, MI (Rural Fringe setting).
  • DePauw University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Michigan State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: DePauw University 10:1; Michigan State University 17:1.

DePauw vs. Michigan State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, DePauw 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 DePauw ($23,657 vs. $31,411).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Michigan State University are 18% lower than at DePauw University ($12,564 vs. $15,330).
  • DePauw University is 258.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Michigan State (about $42,612 more per year; $59,070.00 vs. $16,458.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 34.7% higher at DePauw than at Michigan State University (about $15,228 more per year; $59,070.00 vs. $43,842.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at DePauw University than at Michigan State University (99% vs. 88%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by DePauw University students is 340.1% larger than aid received by Michigan State University students ($42,909 vs. $9,750).

DePauw vs. Michigan State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, DePauw 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 DePauw.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at DePauw University (1310) is 40 points higher than at Michigan State (1270).
  • Incoming DePauw students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 28 at Michigan State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: DePauw University 1200/1410; Michigan State University 1180/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: DePauw University 28/32; Michigan State University 25/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: DePauw - Test optional; Michigan State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: DePauw Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman DePauw 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 DePauw (57.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.2% at DePauw vs. 18.3% at Michigan State.

DePauw vs. Michigan State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for DePauw 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).

  • DePauw University's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than Michigan State University's (77%).
  • Graduates from DePauw University earn a median of about $1,000 more per year than Michigan State graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,000 vs. $60,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Michigan State University graduates have a $104 lower median loan debt than DePauw graduates ($25,484 vs. $25,588).
  • Among borrowers, Michigan State graduates have an estimated $1 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than DePauw graduates ($263 vs. $264).
  • More DePauw graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Michigan State students, three years after graduation. (80% 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.