Earlham vs. Michigan State

Should I go to Earlham College or Michigan State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Earlham or Michigan State is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Earlham College vs. Michigan State University comparison
Earlham College Michigan State University College 3 College 4
Earlham College Michigan State University
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Overview

Earlham Michigan State
Location Richmond, IN East Lansing, MI
Setting Distant Town Rural Fringe
Enrollment 677 50,023
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #240
Religious Affiliation Friends - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website earlham.edu msu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Earlham Michigan State
Tuition (In State) $49,218 $15,192
Tuition (Out of State) $49,218 $41,778
Room & Board $12,448 $10,990
Avg Net Price $25,746 $22,803
Avg Grant Aid $37,303 $8,684
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 92%

Admission

Earlham Michigan State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,375 53,341
Admitted 1,007 46,914
Acceptance Rate 73.2% 88%
Enrolled % 17.1% 21%
Avg High School GPA 3.67 3.72
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Very High Very High
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 24/32 25/31
SAT Range 1130/1380 1160/1360
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 Mar 1, 2025

Academics

Earlham Michigan State
Student to Faculty Ratio 6:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • General Studies (18%)
  • Biology (17%)
  • Social Sciences (14%)
  • Physical Sciences (7%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Communication (11%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Health Professions (6%)

Outcomes

Earlham Michigan State
Graduation Rate 66% 77%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $39,100 $60,000
Making Student Loan Payments 75% 68%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $25,484
Median Loan Payment $268 $263

Diversity

Earlham Michigan State
% Men 46% 47%
% Women 54% 53%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 51% 67%
% Black 12% 7%
% Hispanic 6% 4%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 3%
% International 22% 13%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

Earlham Michigan State
% In-State 32% 71%
% Out-of-State 51% 21%

Campus

Earlham Michigan State
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Michigan State University is larger than than Earlham based on total student enrollment (50,023 students vs. 677 students)

Earlham vs. Michigan State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Earlham or Michigan State?

  • Earlham College is 224% more expensive to attend than Michigan State for in-state tuition ($49,218.00 vs. $15,192.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 17.8% higher at Earlham than Michigan State University ($49,218.00 vs. $41,778.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Michigan State University than Earlham ($22,803 vs. $25,746)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Michigan State University are 13.3% lower than costs at Earlham College ($10,990 vs. $12,448)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Earlham College than Michigan State University (100% vs. 92%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Earlham College students is 329.6% larger than aid received Michigan State University ($37,303 vs. $8,684)

Earlham vs. Michigan State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Earlham or Michigan State? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Michigan State or Earlham .

  • Accepted freshman Michigan State students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at Earlham (3.67)
  • Michigan State has a higher acceptance rate (88%) than Earlham (73.2%)

Earlham vs. Michigan State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Earlham 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 Earlham.

  • The graduation rate at Michigan State is higher than Earlham College (77% vs. 66%)
  • Graduates from Michigan State University earn on average $20,900 more per year than Earlham graduates after ten years. ($60,000 vs. $39,100)
  • Michigan State University students graduate with a $516 lower median federal student loan debt than Earlham graduates. ($25,484 vs. $26,000)
  • Michigan State graduates are paying $5 less per month on federal student loans than Earlham graduates. ($263 vs. $268)
  • More Earlham graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Michigan State students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 68%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/