Michigan State vs. Denison

Deciding between Michigan State University and Denison 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
Denison University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Michigan State East Lansing, MI
  • Denison Granville, OH
  • Setting
  • Michigan State Rural Fringe
  • Denison Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • Michigan State 52,089
  • Denison 2,394
  • Type
  • Michigan State Public 4 Year
  • Denison Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Michigan State #241
  • Denison #95
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Michigan State -
  • Denison -
  • Status
  • Michigan State Non-profit
  • Denison Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Michigan State
  • Denison

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Michigan State $16,458
  • Denison $67,000
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Michigan State $43,842
  • Denison $67,000
  • Room & Board
  • Michigan State $12,564
  • Denison $16,400
  • Average Net Price
  • Michigan State $23,657
  • Denison $43,721
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Michigan State $9,750
  • Denison $38,179
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Michigan State 88%
  • Denison 94%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Michigan State 62,138
  • Denison 15,012
  • Admitted
  • Michigan State 52,690
  • Denison 2,611
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Michigan State 84.8%
  • Denison 17.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Michigan State 18.3%
  • Denison 23.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Michigan State 1270
  • Denison 1410
  • Typical ACT score
  • Michigan State 28
  • Denison 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Michigan State 3.72
  • Denison 3.76
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Michigan State A-
  • Denison A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Michigan State Difficult
  • Denison Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Michigan State
  • Denison Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Michigan State 25/31
  • Denison 30/33
  • SAT Range
  • Michigan State 1180/1360
  • Denison 1320/1490
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Michigan State Test optional
  • Denison Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Michigan State
  • Denison Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Michigan State 17:1
  • Denison 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Michigan State
    • Business (17%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • Communication (11%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Health Professions (6%)
  • Denison
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Communication (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Michigan State 77%
  • Denison 79%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Michigan State $60,000
  • Denison $56,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Michigan State 68%
  • Denison 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Michigan State $25,484
  • Denison $26,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Michigan State $263
  • Denison $268

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Michigan State 47%
  • Denison 48%
  • % Women
  • Michigan State 53%
  • Denison 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Michigan State Medium
  • Denison Medium
  • HBCU
  • Michigan State No
  • Denison No
  • % White
  • Michigan State 67%
  • Denison 66%
  • % Asian
  • Michigan State 5%
  • Denison 4%
  • % Black
  • Michigan State 7%
  • Denison 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Michigan State 4%
  • Denison 10%
  • % Native American
  • Michigan State 0%
  • Denison 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Michigan State 0%
  • Denison 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Michigan State 3%
  • Denison 4%
  • % International
  • Michigan State 13%
  • Denison 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Michigan State 1%
  • Denison 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Michigan State 77%
  • Denison 23%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Michigan State 19%
  • Denison 58%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Michigan State University is larger than Denison based on total student enrollment (52,089 students vs. 2,394 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Michigan State vs. Denison Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Michigan State or Denison? 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 Denison ($23,657 vs. $43,721).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Michigan State University are 23.4% lower than at Denison University ($12,564 vs. $16,400).
  • Denison University is 307.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Michigan State (about $50,542 more per year; $67,000.00 vs. $16,458.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 52.8% higher at Denison than at Michigan State University (about $23,158 more per year; $67,000.00 vs. $43,842.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Denison University than at Michigan State University (94% vs. 88%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Denison University students is 291.6% larger than aid received by Michigan State University students ($38,179 vs. $9,750).

Michigan State vs. Denison Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Denison University (1410) is 140 points higher than at Michigan State (1270).
  • Incoming Denison students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 28 at Michigan State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Michigan State University 1180/1360; Denison University 1320/1490.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Michigan State University 25/31; Denison University 30/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Michigan State - Test optional; Denison - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Denison Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Denison students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.76) than students at Michigan State (3.72).
  • Michigan State has a higher acceptance rate (84.8%) than Denison (17.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.3% at Michigan State vs. 23.8% at Denison.

Michigan State vs. Denison Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Michigan State and Denison? 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).

  • Denison University's six-year graduation rate (79%) is higher than Michigan State University's (77%).
  • Graduates from Michigan State University earn a median of about $3,900 more per year than Denison graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,000 vs. $56,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Michigan State University graduates have a $516 lower median loan debt than Denison graduates ($25,484 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, Michigan State graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Denison graduates ($263 vs. $268).
  • More Denison graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Michigan State students, three years after graduation. (83% 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.