Florida State vs. Michigan State

Deciding between Florida State 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.

Florida State University
Michigan State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Florida State Tallahassee, FL
  • Michigan State East Lansing, MI
  • Setting
  • Florida State Midsize City
  • Michigan State Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • Florida State 43,889
  • Michigan State 52,089
  • Type
  • Florida State Public 4 Year
  • Michigan State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Florida State #181
  • Michigan State #241
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Florida State -
  • Michigan State -
  • Status
  • Florida State Non-profit
  • Michigan State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Florida State
  • Michigan State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Florida State $5,656
  • Michigan State $16,458
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Florida State $18,786
  • Michigan State $43,842
  • Room & Board
  • Florida State $13,474
  • Michigan State $12,564
  • Average Net Price
  • Florida State $15,815
  • Michigan State $23,657
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Florida State $9,279
  • Michigan State $9,750
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Florida State 91%
  • Michigan State 88%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Florida State 78,272
  • Michigan State 62,138
  • Admitted
  • Florida State 18,954
  • Michigan State 52,690
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Florida State 24.2%
  • Michigan State 84.8%
  • Enrolled
  • Florida State 30.9%
  • Michigan State 18.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Florida State 1340
  • Michigan State 1270
  • Typical ACT score
  • Florida State 30
  • Michigan State 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • Florida State 3.7
  • Michigan State 3.72
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Florida State A-
  • Michigan State A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Florida State Very High
  • Michigan State Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Florida State Very High
  • Michigan State
  • ACT Range
  • Florida State 29/32
  • Michigan State 25/31
  • SAT Range
  • Florida State 1270/1410
  • Michigan State 1180/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Florida State Required
  • Michigan State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Florida State Mar 1, 2027
  • Michigan State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Florida State 17:1
  • Michigan State 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Florida State
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (19%)
    • Psychology (5%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (5%)
    • Work and Family Studies (5%)
  • Michigan State
    • Business (17%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • Communication (11%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Health Professions (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Florida State 74%
  • Michigan State 77%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Florida State $51,400
  • Michigan State $60,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Florida State 63%
  • Michigan State 68%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Florida State $20,750
  • Michigan State $25,484
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Florida State $214
  • Michigan State $263

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Florida State 42%
  • Michigan State 47%
  • % Women
  • Florida State 58%
  • Michigan State 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Florida State Medium
  • Michigan State Medium
  • HBCU
  • Florida State No
  • Michigan State No
  • % White
  • Florida State 64%
  • Michigan State 67%
  • % Asian
  • Florida State 2%
  • Michigan State 5%
  • % Black
  • Florida State 8%
  • Michigan State 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Florida State 19%
  • Michigan State 4%
  • % Native American
  • Florida State 0%
  • Michigan State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Florida State 0%
  • Michigan State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Florida State 3%
  • Michigan State 3%
  • % International
  • Florida State 1%
  • Michigan State 13%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Florida State 1%
  • Michigan State 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Florida State 80%
  • Michigan State 77%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Florida State 19%
  • Michigan State 19%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Florida State University in Tallahassee, FL 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 Florida State based on total student enrollment (52,089 students vs. 43,889 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Florida State vs. Michigan State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Florida State 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 Florida State University than Michigan State ($15,815 vs. $23,657).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Michigan State University are 6.8% lower than at Florida State University ($12,564 vs. $13,474).
  • Michigan State University is 191% more expensive for in-state tuition than Florida State (about $10,802 more per year; $16,458.00 vs. $5,656.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 133.4% higher at Michigan State than at Florida State University (about $25,056 more per year; $43,842.00 vs. $18,786.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Florida State University than at Michigan State University (91% vs. 88%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Michigan State University students is 5.1% larger than aid received by Florida State University students ($9,750 vs. $9,279).

Florida State vs. Michigan State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Florida State 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 Florida State.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Florida State University (1340) is 70 points higher than at Michigan State (1270).
  • Incoming Florida State 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: Florida State University 1270/1410; Michigan State University 1180/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Florida State University 29/32; Michigan State University 25/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Florida State - Required; Michigan State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Florida State Mar 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Michigan State students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at Florida State (3.7).
  • Michigan State has a higher acceptance rate (84.8%) than Florida State (24.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 30.9% at Florida State vs. 18.3% at Michigan State.

Florida State vs. Michigan State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Florida State 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 Florida State University's (74%).
  • Graduates from Michigan State University earn a median of about $8,600 more per year than Florida State graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,000 vs. $51,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Florida State University graduates have a $4,734 lower median loan debt than Michigan State graduates ($20,750 vs. $25,484).
  • Among borrowers, Florida State graduates have an estimated $49 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Michigan State graduates ($214 vs. $263).
  • More Michigan State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Florida State students, three years after graduation. (68% vs. 63%)

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.