Michigan State vs. Ohio State

Deciding between Michigan State University and Ohio State University Main Campus? 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
Ohio State University Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Michigan State East Lansing, MI
  • Ohio State Columbus, OH
  • Setting
  • Michigan State Rural Fringe
  • Ohio State Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Michigan State 52,089
  • Ohio State 61,443
  • Type
  • Michigan State Public 4 Year
  • Ohio State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Michigan State #241
  • Ohio State #135
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Michigan State -
  • Ohio State -
  • Status
  • Michigan State Non-profit
  • Ohio State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Michigan State
  • Ohio State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Michigan State $16,458
  • Ohio State $13,244
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Michigan State $43,842
  • Ohio State $40,022
  • Room & Board
  • Michigan State $12,564
  • Ohio State $14,738
  • Average Net Price
  • Michigan State $23,657
  • Ohio State $19,783
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Michigan State $9,750
  • Ohio State $13,151
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Michigan State 88%
  • Ohio State 70%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Michigan State 62,138
  • Ohio State 72,829
  • Admitted
  • Michigan State 52,690
  • Ohio State 44,116
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Michigan State 84.8%
  • Ohio State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Michigan State 18.3%
  • Ohio State 21.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Michigan State 1270
  • Ohio State 1400
  • Typical ACT score
  • Michigan State 28
  • Ohio State 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Michigan State 3.72
  • Ohio State 3.76
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Michigan State A-
  • Ohio State A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Michigan State Difficult
  • Ohio State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Michigan State
  • Ohio State Low
  • ACT Range
  • Michigan State 25/31
  • Ohio State 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • Michigan State 1180/1360
  • Ohio State 1310/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Michigan State Test optional
  • Ohio State Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Michigan State
  • Ohio State Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Michigan State 17:1
  • Ohio State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Michigan State
    • Business (17%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • Communication (11%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Health Professions (6%)
  • Ohio State
    • Business (18%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Work and Family Studies (7%)

  • Outcomes

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

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Michigan State 47%
  • Ohio State 48%
  • % Women
  • Michigan State 53%
  • Ohio State 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Michigan State Medium
  • Ohio State Medium
  • HBCU
  • Michigan State No
  • Ohio State No
  • % White
  • Michigan State 67%
  • Ohio State 71%
  • % Asian
  • Michigan State 5%
  • Ohio State 6%
  • % Black
  • Michigan State 7%
  • Ohio State 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Michigan State 4%
  • Ohio State 4%
  • % Native American
  • Michigan State 0%
  • Ohio State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Michigan State 0%
  • Ohio State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Michigan State 3%
  • Ohio State 3%
  • % International
  • Michigan State 13%
  • Ohio State 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Michigan State 1%
  • Ohio State 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Michigan State 77%
  • Ohio State 64%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Michigan State 19%
  • Ohio State 28%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Ohio State University Main Campus is larger than Michigan State based on total student enrollment (61,443 students vs. 52,089 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Michigan State University is located in East Lansing, MI (Rural Fringe setting); Ohio State University Main Campus is in Columbus, OH (Large City setting).
  • Michigan State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Ohio State University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Michigan State University 17:1; Ohio State University Main Campus 16:1.

Michigan State vs. Ohio State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Michigan State or Ohio State? 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 Ohio State University Main Campus than Michigan State ($19,783 vs. $23,657).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Michigan State University are 14.8% lower than at Ohio State University Main Campus ($12,564 vs. $14,738).
  • Michigan State University is 24.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Ohio State (about $3,214 more per year; $16,458.00 vs. $13,244.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 9.5% higher at Michigan State than at Ohio State University Main Campus (about $3,820 more per year; $43,842.00 vs. $40,022.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Michigan State University than at Ohio State University Main Campus (88% vs. 70%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ohio State University Main Campus students is 34.9% larger than aid received by Michigan State University students ($13,151 vs. $9,750).

Michigan State vs. Ohio State Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Ohio State University Main Campus (1400) is 130 points higher than at Michigan State (1270).
  • Incoming Ohio State students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 28 at Michigan State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Michigan State University 1180/1360; Ohio State University Main Campus 1310/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Michigan State University 25/31; Ohio State University Main Campus 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Michigan State - Test optional; Ohio State - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Ohio State Feb 1, 2027.
  • 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 (84.8%) than Ohio State (60.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.3% at Michigan State vs. 21.8% at Ohio State.

Michigan State vs. Ohio State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • Ohio State University Main Campus's six-year graduation rate (80%) is higher than Michigan State University's (77%).
  • Graduates from Michigan State University earn a median of about $9,400 more per year than Ohio State graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,000 vs. $50,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Ohio State University Main Campus graduates have a $3,984 lower median loan debt than Michigan State graduates ($21,500 vs. $25,484).
  • Among borrowers, Ohio State graduates have an estimated $41 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.