Michigan State vs. Ohio State

Should I go to Michigan State University or Ohio State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Michigan State or Ohio State 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. Ohio State University comparison
Michigan State University Ohio State University College 3 College 4
Michigan State University Ohio State University
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Overview

 Michigan State Ohio State
Location East Lansing, MI Columbus, OH
Setting Rural Fringe Large City
Enrollment 50,023 60,540
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #240 #134
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website msu.edu osu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Michigan State Ohio State
Tuition (In State) $15,192 $11,525
Tuition (Out of State) $41,778 $35,762
Room & Board $10,990 $14,006
Avg Net Price $22,803 $19,582
Avg Grant Aid $8,684 $10,993
% Receiving Grant Aid 92% 74%

Admission

 Michigan State Ohio State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 53,341 65,189
Admitted 46,914 34,370
Acceptance Rate 88% 52.7%
Enrolled % 21% 23.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.72 3.76
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Very High Very High
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 25/31 29/32
SAT Range 1160/1360 1310/1480
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 Feb 1, 2025

Academics

 Michigan State Ohio State
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (17%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Communication (11%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Health Professions (6%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Engineering (9%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Work and Family Studies (7%)

Outcomes

 Michigan State Ohio State
Graduation Rate 77% 80%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $60,000 $50,600
Making Student Loan Payments 68% 63%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,484 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $263 $222

Diversity

 Michigan State Ohio State
% Men 47% 48%
% Women 53% 52%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 67% 71%
% Black 7% 6%
% Hispanic 4% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 13% 7%
% Unknown Race 1% 3%

Students

 Michigan State Ohio State
% In-State 71% 66%
% Out-of-State 21% 23%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Ohio State University is larger than than Michigan State based on total student enrollment (60,540 students vs. 50,023 students)

Michigan State vs. Ohio State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Michigan State or Ohio State?

  • Michigan State University is 31.8% more expensive to attend than Ohio State for in-state tuition ($15,192.00 vs. $11,525.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 16.8% higher at Michigan State than Ohio State University ($41,778.00 vs. $35,762.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Ohio State University than Michigan State ($19,582 vs. $22,803)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Michigan State University are 27.4% lower than costs at Ohio State University ($10,990 vs. $14,006)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Michigan State University than Ohio State University (92% vs. 74%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ohio State University students is 26.6% larger than aid received Michigan State University ($10,993 vs. $8,684)

Michigan State vs. Ohio State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Ohio State University (1295) is 136 points higher than at Michigan State (1159)
  • Incoming Ohio State students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at Michigan State (26)
  • Accepted freshman Ohio State 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 (88%) than Ohio State (52.7%)

Michigan State vs. Ohio State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Michigan State or Ohio State? 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 Ohio State and Michigan State.

  • The graduation rate at Ohio State is higher than Michigan State University (80% vs. 77%)
  • Graduates from Michigan State University earn on average $9,400 more per year than Ohio State graduates after ten years. ($60,000 vs. $50,600)
  • Ohio State University students graduate with a $3,984 lower median federal student loan debt than Michigan State graduates. ($21,500 vs. $25,484)
  • Ohio State graduates are paying $41 less per month on federal student loans than Michigan State graduates. ($222 vs. $263)
  • More Michigan State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Ohio State students, three years after graduation. (68% vs. 63%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/