Michigan State vs. Case Western

Deciding between Michigan State University and Case Western Reserve 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.

Michigan State University
Case Western Reserve University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Michigan State East Lansing, MI
  • Case Western Cleveland, OH
  • Setting
  • Michigan State Rural Fringe
  • Case Western Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Michigan State 52,089
  • Case Western 12,475
  • Type
  • Michigan State Public 4 Year
  • Case Western Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Michigan State #241
  • Case Western #51
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Michigan State -
  • Case Western -
  • Status
  • Michigan State Non-profit
  • Case Western Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Michigan State
  • Case Western

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Michigan State $16,458
  • Case Western $66,608
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Michigan State $43,842
  • Case Western $66,608
  • Room & Board
  • Michigan State $12,564
  • Case Western $18,762
  • Average Net Price
  • Michigan State $23,657
  • Case Western $44,000
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Michigan State $9,750
  • Case Western $41,913
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Michigan State 88%
  • Case Western 88%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Michigan State 62,138
  • Case Western 37,082
  • Admitted
  • Michigan State 52,690
  • Case Western 13,550
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Michigan State 84.8%
  • Case Western 36.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Michigan State 18.3%
  • Case Western 11.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Michigan State 1270
  • Case Western 1490
  • Typical ACT score
  • Michigan State 28
  • Case Western 33
  • Average High School GPA
  • Michigan State 3.72
  • Case Western 3.86
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Michigan State A-
  • Case Western A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Michigan State Difficult
  • Case Western Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Michigan State
  • Case Western High
  • ACT Range
  • Michigan State 25/31
  • Case Western 32/34
  • SAT Range
  • Michigan State 1180/1360
  • Case Western 1430/1540
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Michigan State Test optional
  • Case Western Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Michigan State
  • Case Western Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Michigan State 17:1
  • Case Western 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Michigan State
    • Business (17%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • Communication (11%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Health Professions (6%)
  • Case Western
    • Engineering (28%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • Business (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Michigan State 77%
  • Case Western 78%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Michigan State $60,000
  • Case Western $84,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Michigan State 68%
  • Case Western 84%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Michigan State $25,484
  • Case Western $24,066
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Michigan State $263
  • Case Western $248

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Michigan State 47%
  • Case Western 48%
  • % Women
  • Michigan State 53%
  • Case Western 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Michigan State Medium
  • Case Western High
  • HBCU
  • Michigan State No
  • Case Western No
  • % White
  • Michigan State 67%
  • Case Western 52%
  • % Asian
  • Michigan State 5%
  • Case Western 20%
  • % Black
  • Michigan State 7%
  • Case Western 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Michigan State 4%
  • Case Western 6%
  • % Native American
  • Michigan State 0%
  • Case Western 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Michigan State 0%
  • Case Western 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Michigan State 3%
  • Case Western 4%
  • % International
  • Michigan State 13%
  • Case Western 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Michigan State 1%
  • Case Western 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Michigan State 77%
  • Case Western 13%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Michigan State 19%
  • Case Western 75%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Michigan State University in East Lansing, MI with Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Michigan State University is larger than Case Western based on total student enrollment (52,089 students vs. 12,475 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Michigan State University is located in East Lansing, MI (Rural Fringe setting); Case Western Reserve University is in Cleveland, OH (Large City setting).
  • Michigan State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Case Western Reserve University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Michigan State University 17:1; Case Western Reserve University 9:1.

Michigan State vs. Case Western Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Michigan State or Case Western? 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 Case Western ($23,657 vs. $44,000).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Michigan State University are 33% lower than at Case Western Reserve University ($12,564 vs. $18,762).
  • Case Western Reserve University is 304.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Michigan State (about $50,150 more per year; $66,608.00 vs. $16,458.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 51.9% higher at Case Western than at Michigan State University (about $22,766 more per year; $66,608.00 vs. $43,842.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Michigan State University as at Case Western Reserve University (88% vs. 88%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Case Western Reserve University students is 329.9% larger than aid received by Michigan State University students ($41,913 vs. $9,750).

Michigan State vs. Case Western Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Michigan State or Case Western? 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 Case Western and Michigan State.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Case Western Reserve University (1490) is 220 points higher than at Michigan State (1270).
  • Incoming Case Western students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 28 at Michigan State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Michigan State University 1180/1360; Case Western Reserve University 1430/1540.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Michigan State University 25/31; Case Western Reserve University 32/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Michigan State - Test optional; Case Western - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Case Western Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Case Western students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at Michigan State (3.72).
  • Michigan State has a higher acceptance rate (84.8%) than Case Western (36.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.3% at Michigan State vs. 11.9% at Case Western.

Michigan State vs. Case Western Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Michigan State and Case Western? 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).

  • Case Western Reserve University's six-year graduation rate (78%) is higher than Michigan State University's (77%).
  • Graduates from Case Western Reserve University earn a median of about $24,700 more per year than Michigan State graduates about ten years after starting college ($84,700 vs. $60,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Case Western Reserve University graduates have a $1,418 lower median loan debt than Michigan State graduates ($24,066 vs. $25,484).
  • Among borrowers, Case Western graduates have an estimated $15 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Michigan State graduates ($248 vs. $263).
  • More Case Western graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Michigan State students, three years after graduation. (84% 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.