Loyola vs. Michigan State

Deciding between Loyola University Chicago 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.

Loyola University Chicago
Michigan State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Loyola Chicago, IL
  • Michigan State East Lansing, MI
  • Setting
  • Loyola Large City
  • Michigan State Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • Loyola 17,384
  • Michigan State 52,089
  • Type
  • Loyola Private 4 Year
  • Michigan State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Loyola #210
  • Michigan State #241
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Loyola Roman Catholic
  • Michigan State -
  • Status
  • Loyola Non-profit
  • Michigan State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Loyola
  • Michigan State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Loyola $53,710
  • Michigan State $16,458
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Loyola $53,710
  • Michigan State $43,842
  • Room & Board
  • Loyola $17,010
  • Michigan State $12,564
  • Average Net Price
  • Loyola $39,147
  • Michigan State $23,657
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Loyola $28,816
  • Michigan State $9,750
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Loyola 98%
  • Michigan State 88%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Loyola 39,315
  • Michigan State 62,138
  • Admitted
  • Loyola 32,081
  • Michigan State 52,690
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Loyola 81.6%
  • Michigan State 84.8%
  • Enrolled
  • Loyola 8.6%
  • Michigan State 18.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Loyola 1270
  • Michigan State 1270
  • Typical ACT score
  • Loyola 29
  • Michigan State 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • Loyola 3.71
  • Michigan State 3.72
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Loyola A-
  • Michigan State A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Loyola Very High
  • Michigan State Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Loyola
  • Michigan State
  • ACT Range
  • Loyola 27/32
  • Michigan State 25/31
  • SAT Range
  • Loyola 1170/1360
  • Michigan State 1180/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Loyola Test optional
  • Michigan State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Loyola
  • Michigan State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Loyola 13:1
  • Michigan State 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Loyola
    • Business (24%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
  • Michigan State
    • Business (17%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • Communication (11%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Health Professions (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Loyola 70%
  • Michigan State 77%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Loyola $59,800
  • Michigan State $60,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Loyola 76%
  • Michigan State 68%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Loyola $25,000
  • Michigan State $25,484
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Loyola $258
  • Michigan State $263

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Loyola 31%
  • Michigan State 47%
  • % Women
  • Loyola 69%
  • Michigan State 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Loyola High
  • Michigan State Medium
  • HBCU
  • Loyola No
  • Michigan State No
  • % White
  • Loyola 58%
  • Michigan State 67%
  • % Asian
  • Loyola 12%
  • Michigan State 5%
  • % Black
  • Loyola 4%
  • Michigan State 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Loyola 14%
  • Michigan State 4%
  • % Native American
  • Loyola 0%
  • Michigan State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Loyola 0%
  • Michigan State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Loyola 5%
  • Michigan State 3%
  • % International
  • Loyola 5%
  • Michigan State 13%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Loyola 1%
  • Michigan State 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Loyola 56%
  • Michigan State 77%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Loyola 42%
  • Michigan State 19%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Loyola University Chicago 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 Loyola based on total student enrollment (52,089 students vs. 17,384 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Loyola University Chicago is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); Michigan State University is in East Lansing, MI (Rural Fringe setting).
  • Loyola University Chicago is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Michigan State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Loyola University Chicago 13:1; Michigan State University 17:1.

Loyola vs. Michigan State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Loyola 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 Loyola ($23,657 vs. $39,147).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Michigan State University are 26.1% lower than at Loyola University Chicago ($12,564 vs. $17,010).
  • Loyola University Chicago is 226.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Michigan State (about $37,252 more per year; $53,710.00 vs. $16,458.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 22.5% higher at Loyola than at Michigan State University (about $9,868 more per year; $53,710.00 vs. $43,842.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Loyola University Chicago than at Michigan State University (98% vs. 88%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Loyola University Chicago students is 195.5% larger than aid received by Michigan State University students ($28,816 vs. $9,750).

Loyola vs. Michigan State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Loyola 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 Loyola.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Loyola University Chicago (1270) is the same as at Michigan State (1270).
  • Incoming Loyola students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 28 at Michigan State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Loyola University Chicago 1170/1360; Michigan State University 1180/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Loyola University Chicago 27/32; Michigan State University 25/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Loyola - Test optional; Michigan State - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman Michigan State students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at Loyola (3.71).
  • Michigan State has a higher acceptance rate (84.8%) than Loyola (81.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 8.6% at Loyola vs. 18.3% at Michigan State.

Loyola vs. Michigan State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Loyola 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 Loyola University Chicago's (70%).
  • Graduates from Michigan State University earn a median of about $200 more per year than Loyola graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,000 vs. $59,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Loyola University Chicago graduates have a $484 lower median loan debt than Michigan State graduates ($25,000 vs. $25,484).
  • Among borrowers, Loyola graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Michigan State graduates ($258 vs. $263).
  • More Loyola graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Michigan State students, three years after graduation. (76% 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.