Michigan State vs. Oberlin

Deciding between Michigan State University and Oberlin College? 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
Oberlin College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Michigan State East Lansing, MI
  • Oberlin Oberlin, OH
  • Setting
  • Michigan State Rural Fringe
  • Oberlin Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Michigan State 52,089
  • Oberlin 2,909
  • Type
  • Michigan State Public 4 Year
  • Oberlin Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Michigan State #241
  • Oberlin #153
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Michigan State -
  • Oberlin -
  • Status
  • Michigan State Non-profit
  • Oberlin Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Michigan State
  • Oberlin

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Michigan State $16,458
  • Oberlin $67,366
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Michigan State $43,842
  • Oberlin $67,366
  • Room & Board
  • Michigan State $12,564
  • Oberlin $19,510
  • Average Net Price
  • Michigan State $23,657
  • Oberlin $51,624
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Michigan State $9,750
  • Oberlin $35,780
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Michigan State 88%
  • Oberlin 99%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Michigan State 62,138
  • Oberlin 10,536
  • Admitted
  • Michigan State 52,690
  • Oberlin 3,601
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Michigan State 84.8%
  • Oberlin 34.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Michigan State 18.3%
  • Oberlin 19.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Michigan State 1270
  • Oberlin 1440
  • Typical ACT score
  • Michigan State 28
  • Oberlin 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Michigan State 3.72
  • Oberlin 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Michigan State A-
  • Oberlin A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Michigan State Difficult
  • Oberlin Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Michigan State
  • Oberlin High
  • ACT Range
  • Michigan State 25/31
  • Oberlin 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • Michigan State 1180/1360
  • Oberlin 1360/1520
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Michigan State Test optional
  • Oberlin Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Michigan State
  • Oberlin Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Michigan State 17:1
  • Oberlin 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Michigan State
    • Business (17%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • Communication (11%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Health Professions (6%)
  • Oberlin
    • Visual and Performing Arts (26%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Ethnic Studies (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Michigan State 77%
  • Oberlin 88%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Michigan State $60,000
  • Oberlin $43,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Michigan State 68%
  • Oberlin 82%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Michigan State $25,484
  • Oberlin $26,579
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Michigan State $263
  • Oberlin $274

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Michigan State 47%
  • Oberlin 41%
  • % Women
  • Michigan State 53%
  • Oberlin 59%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Michigan State Medium
  • Oberlin Medium
  • HBCU
  • Michigan State No
  • Oberlin No
  • % White
  • Michigan State 67%
  • Oberlin 68%
  • % Asian
  • Michigan State 5%
  • Oberlin 4%
  • % Black
  • Michigan State 7%
  • Oberlin 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Michigan State 4%
  • Oberlin 8%
  • % Native American
  • Michigan State 0%
  • Oberlin 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Michigan State 0%
  • Oberlin 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Michigan State 3%
  • Oberlin 6%
  • % International
  • Michigan State 13%
  • Oberlin 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Michigan State 1%
  • Oberlin 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Michigan State 77%
  • Oberlin 6%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Michigan State 19%
  • Oberlin 82%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Michigan State University is larger than Oberlin based on total student enrollment (52,089 students vs. 2,909 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Michigan State vs. Oberlin Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Michigan State or Oberlin? 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 Oberlin ($23,657 vs. $51,624).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Michigan State University are 35.6% lower than at Oberlin College ($12,564 vs. $19,510).
  • Oberlin College is 309.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Michigan State (about $50,908 more per year; $67,366.00 vs. $16,458.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 53.7% higher at Oberlin than at Michigan State University (about $23,524 more per year; $67,366.00 vs. $43,842.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Oberlin College than at Michigan State University (99% vs. 88%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Oberlin College students is 267% larger than aid received by Michigan State University students ($35,780 vs. $9,750).

Michigan State vs. Oberlin Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Oberlin College (1440) is 170 points higher than at Michigan State (1270).
  • Incoming Oberlin students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 28 at Michigan State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Michigan State University 1180/1360; Oberlin College 1360/1520.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Michigan State University 25/31; Oberlin College 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Michigan State - Test optional; Oberlin - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Oberlin Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Michigan State students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at Oberlin (3.67).
  • Michigan State has a higher acceptance rate (84.8%) than Oberlin (34.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.3% at Michigan State vs. 19.5% at Oberlin.

Michigan State vs. Oberlin Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • Oberlin College's six-year graduation rate (88%) is higher than Michigan State University's (77%).
  • Graduates from Michigan State University earn a median of about $16,100 more per year than Oberlin graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,000 vs. $43,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Michigan State University graduates have a $1,095 lower median loan debt than Oberlin graduates ($25,484 vs. $26,579).
  • Among borrowers, Michigan State graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Oberlin graduates ($263 vs. $274).
  • More Oberlin graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Michigan State students, three years after graduation. (82% 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.