Michigan State vs. Lawrence

Should I go to Michigan State University or Lawrence University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Michigan State or Lawrence is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Michigan State University vs. Lawrence University comparison
Michigan State University Lawrence University College 3 College 4
Michigan State University Lawrence University
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Overview

Michigan State Lawrence
Location East Lansing, MI Appleton, WI
Setting Rural Fringe Small City
Enrollment 51,316 1,410
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #227 #187
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website msu.edu lawrence.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Michigan State Lawrence
Tuition (In State) $15,648 $55,149
Tuition (Out of State) $43,032 $55,149
Room & Board $11,754 $11,838
Avg Net Price $24,630 $27,393
Avg Grant Aid $8,147 $40,431
% Receiving Grant Aid 96% 100%

Admission

Michigan State Lawrence
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 58,879 3,489
Admitted 49,414 2,199
Acceptance Rate 83.9% 63%
Enrolled % 19.3% 15.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.72 3.52
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Very High Very High
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 26/31 27/32
SAT Range 1150/1350 1200/1430
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 15, 2025

Academics

Michigan State Lawrence
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 7:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (17%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Communication (11%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Health Professions (6%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (26%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Biology (12%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Foreign Languages (7%)

Outcomes

Michigan State Lawrence
Graduation Rate 77% 77%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $60,000 $45,600
Making Student Loan Payments 68% 76%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,484 $27,350
Median Loan Payment $263 $282

Diversity

Michigan State Lawrence
% Men 9% 0%
% Women 12% 1%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 67% 70%
% Black 7% 3%
% Hispanic 4% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 13% 10%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

Michigan State Lawrence
% In-State 76% 23%
% Out-of-State 18% 65%

Campus

Michigan State Lawrence
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Michigan State University is larger than than Lawrence based on total student enrollment (51,316 students vs. 1,410 students)

Michigan State vs. Lawrence Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Michigan State or Lawrence?

  • Lawrence University is 252.4% more expensive to attend than Michigan State for in-state tuition ($55,149.00 vs. $15,648.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 28.2% higher at Lawrence than Michigan State University ($55,149.00 vs. $43,032.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Michigan State University than Lawrence ($24,630 vs. $27,393)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Michigan State University are 0.7% lower than costs at Lawrence University ($11,754 vs. $11,838)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Lawrence University than Michigan State University (100% vs. 96%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Lawrence University students is 396.3% larger than aid received Michigan State University ($40,431 vs. $8,147)

Michigan State vs. Lawrence Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Michigan State or Lawrence? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Lawrence or Michigan State .

  • Accepted freshman Michigan State students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at Lawrence (3.52)
  • Michigan State has a higher acceptance rate (83.9%) than Lawrence (63%)

Michigan State vs. Lawrence Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Michigan State or Lawrence? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Lawrence and Michigan State.

  • The graduation rate at Michigan State is the same as at Lawrence University (77% vs. 77%)
  • Graduates from Michigan State University earn on average $14,400 more per year than Lawrence graduates after ten years. ($60,000 vs. $45,600)
  • Michigan State University students graduate with a $1,866 lower median federal student loan debt than Lawrence graduates. ($25,484 vs. $27,350)
  • Michigan State graduates are paying $19 less per month on federal student loans than Lawrence graduates. ($263 vs. $282)
  • More Lawrence 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/