Michigan State vs. Purdue

Deciding between Michigan State University and Purdue 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
Purdue University Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Michigan State East Lansing, MI
  • Purdue West Lafayette, IN
  • Setting
  • Michigan State Rural Fringe
  • Purdue Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Michigan State 52,089
  • Purdue 58,658
  • Type
  • Michigan State Public 4 Year
  • Purdue Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Michigan State #241
  • Purdue #102
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Michigan State -
  • Purdue -
  • Status
  • Michigan State Non-profit
  • Purdue Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Michigan State
  • Purdue

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Michigan State $16,458
  • Purdue $9,992
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Michigan State $43,842
  • Purdue $28,794
  • Room & Board
  • Michigan State $12,564
  • Purdue $12,820
  • Average Net Price
  • Michigan State $23,657
  • Purdue $13,722
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Michigan State $9,750
  • Purdue $11,294
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Michigan State 88%
  • Purdue 40%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Michigan State 62,138
  • Purdue 78,745
  • Admitted
  • Michigan State 52,690
  • Purdue 39,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Michigan State 84.8%
  • Purdue 49.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Michigan State 18.3%
  • Purdue 29.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Michigan State 1270
  • Purdue 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • Michigan State 28
  • Purdue 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Michigan State 3.72
  • Purdue 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Michigan State A-
  • Purdue A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Michigan State Difficult
  • Purdue Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Michigan State
  • Purdue Low
  • ACT Range
  • Michigan State 25/31
  • Purdue 27/34
  • SAT Range
  • Michigan State 1180/1360
  • Purdue 1200/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Michigan State Test optional
  • Purdue Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Michigan State
  • Purdue

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Michigan State 17:1
  • Purdue 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Michigan State
    • Business (17%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • Communication (11%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Health Professions (6%)
  • Purdue
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Michigan State 77%
  • Purdue 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Michigan State $60,000
  • Purdue $61,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Michigan State 68%
  • Purdue 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Michigan State $25,484
  • Purdue $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Michigan State $263
  • Purdue $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Michigan State 47%
  • Purdue 59%
  • % Women
  • Michigan State 53%
  • Purdue 41%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Michigan State Medium
  • Purdue Medium
  • HBCU
  • Michigan State No
  • Purdue No
  • % White
  • Michigan State 67%
  • Purdue 65%
  • % Asian
  • Michigan State 5%
  • Purdue 6%
  • % Black
  • Michigan State 7%
  • Purdue 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Michigan State 4%
  • Purdue 4%
  • % Native American
  • Michigan State 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Michigan State 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Michigan State 3%
  • Purdue 2%
  • % International
  • Michigan State 13%
  • Purdue 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Michigan State 1%
  • Purdue 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Michigan State 77%
  • Purdue 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Michigan State 19%
  • Purdue 47%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Michigan State University in East Lansing, MI with Purdue University Main Campus in West Lafayette, IN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Purdue University Main Campus is larger than Michigan State based on total student enrollment (58,658 students vs. 52,089 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Michigan State University is located in East Lansing, MI (Rural Fringe setting); Purdue University Main Campus is in West Lafayette, IN (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • Michigan State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Purdue University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Michigan State University 17:1; Purdue University Main Campus 14:1.

Michigan State vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Michigan State or Purdue? 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 Purdue University Main Campus than Michigan State ($13,722 vs. $23,657).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Michigan State University are 2% lower than at Purdue University Main Campus ($12,564 vs. $12,820).
  • Michigan State University is 64.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purdue (about $6,466 more per year; $16,458.00 vs. $9,992.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 52.3% higher at Michigan State than at Purdue University Main Campus (about $15,048 more per year; $43,842.00 vs. $28,794.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Michigan State University than at Purdue University Main Campus (88% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Purdue University Main Campus students is 15.8% larger than aid received by Michigan State University students ($11,294 vs. $9,750).

Michigan State vs. Purdue Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Purdue University Main Campus (1340) is 70 points higher than at Michigan State (1270).
  • Incoming Purdue 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; Purdue University Main Campus 1200/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Michigan State University 25/31; Purdue University Main Campus 27/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Michigan State - Test optional; Purdue - Required.
  • Accepted freshman Michigan State students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at Purdue (3.67).
  • Michigan State has a higher acceptance rate (84.8%) than Purdue (49.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.3% at Michigan State vs. 29.2% at Purdue.

Michigan State vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • Michigan State University's six-year graduation rate (77%) is higher than Purdue University Main Campus's (68%).
  • Graduates from Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of about $1,200 more per year than Michigan State graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,200 vs. $60,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Purdue University Main Campus graduates have a $3,984 lower median loan debt than Michigan State graduates ($21,500 vs. $25,484).
  • Among borrowers, Purdue graduates have an estimated $41 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Michigan State graduates ($222 vs. $263).
  • More Purdue graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Michigan State students, three years after graduation. (78% 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.