IU vs. Michigan State

Deciding between Indiana University Bloomington 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.

Indiana University Bloomington
Michigan State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • IU Bloomington, IN
  • Michigan State East Lansing, MI
  • Setting
  • IU Small City
  • Michigan State Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • IU 48,424
  • Michigan State 52,089
  • Type
  • IU Public 4 Year
  • Michigan State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • IU #207
  • Michigan State #241
  • Religious Affiliation
  • IU -
  • Michigan State -
  • Status
  • IU Non-profit
  • Michigan State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • IU
  • Michigan State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • IU $12,144
  • Michigan State $16,458
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • IU $41,891
  • Michigan State $43,842
  • Room & Board
  • IU $13,984
  • Michigan State $12,564
  • Average Net Price
  • IU $17,270
  • Michigan State $23,657
  • Average Grant Aid
  • IU $10,487
  • Michigan State $9,750
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • IU 73%
  • Michigan State 88%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • IU 67,658
  • Michigan State 62,138
  • Admitted
  • IU 52,918
  • Michigan State 52,690
  • Acceptance Rate
  • IU 78.2%
  • Michigan State 84.8%
  • Enrolled
  • IU 18.2%
  • Michigan State 18.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • IU 1290
  • Michigan State 1270
  • Typical ACT score
  • IU 30
  • Michigan State 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • IU 3.74
  • Michigan State 3.72
  • Typical High School Grades
  • IU A-
  • Michigan State A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • IU Very High
  • Michigan State Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • IU
  • Michigan State
  • ACT Range
  • IU 27/33
  • Michigan State 25/31
  • SAT Range
  • IU 1170/1400
  • Michigan State 1180/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • IU Test optional
  • Michigan State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • IU
  • Michigan State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • IU 18:1
  • Michigan State 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • IU
    • Business (21%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Education (7%)
  • Michigan State
    • Business (17%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • Communication (11%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Health Professions (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • IU 72%
  • Michigan State 77%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • IU $56,200
  • Michigan State $60,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • IU 72%
  • Michigan State 68%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • IU $22,500
  • Michigan State $25,484
  • Median Loan Payment
  • IU $232
  • Michigan State $263

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • IU 50%
  • Michigan State 47%
  • % Women
  • IU 50%
  • Michigan State 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • IU Medium
  • Michigan State Medium
  • HBCU
  • IU No
  • Michigan State No
  • % White
  • IU 71%
  • Michigan State 67%
  • % Asian
  • IU 4%
  • Michigan State 5%
  • % Black
  • IU 4%
  • Michigan State 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • IU 5%
  • Michigan State 4%
  • % Native American
  • IU 0%
  • Michigan State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • IU 0%
  • Michigan State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • IU 4%
  • Michigan State 3%
  • % International
  • IU 11%
  • Michigan State 13%
  • % Unknown Race
  • IU 0%
  • Michigan State 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • IU 55%
  • Michigan State 77%
  • % Out-of-State
  • IU 41%
  • Michigan State 19%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Indiana University Bloomington in Bloomington, 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 IU based on total student enrollment (52,089 students vs. 48,424 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Indiana University Bloomington is located in Bloomington, IN (Small City setting); Michigan State University is in East Lansing, MI (Rural Fringe setting).
  • Indiana University Bloomington is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Michigan State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Indiana University Bloomington 18:1; Michigan State University 17:1.

IU vs. Michigan State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IU 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 Indiana University Bloomington than Michigan State ($17,270 vs. $23,657).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Michigan State University are 10.2% lower than at Indiana University Bloomington ($12,564 vs. $13,984).
  • Michigan State University is 35.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than IU (about $4,314 more per year; $16,458.00 vs. $12,144.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 4.7% higher at Michigan State than at Indiana University Bloomington (about $1,951 more per year; $43,842.00 vs. $41,891.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Michigan State University than at Indiana University Bloomington (88% vs. 73%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Indiana University Bloomington students is 7.6% larger than aid received by Michigan State University students ($10,487 vs. $9,750).

IU vs. Michigan State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, IU 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 IU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Indiana University Bloomington (1290) is 20 points higher than at Michigan State (1270).
  • Incoming IU 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: Indiana University Bloomington 1170/1400; Michigan State University 1180/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Indiana University Bloomington 27/33; Michigan State University 25/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IU - Test optional; Michigan State - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman IU students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.74) than students at Michigan State (3.72).
  • Michigan State has a higher acceptance rate (84.8%) than IU (78.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.2% at IU vs. 18.3% at Michigan State.

IU vs. Michigan State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IU 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 Indiana University Bloomington's (72%).
  • Graduates from Michigan State University earn a median of about $3,800 more per year than IU graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,000 vs. $56,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Indiana University Bloomington graduates have a $2,984 lower median loan debt than Michigan State graduates ($22,500 vs. $25,484).
  • Among borrowers, IU graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Michigan State graduates ($232 vs. $263).
  • More IU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Michigan State students, three years after graduation. (72% 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.