Michigan State vs. RIT

Deciding between Michigan State University and Rochester Institute of Technology? 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
Rochester Institute of Technology

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Michigan State East Lansing, MI
  • RIT Rochester, NY
  • Setting
  • Michigan State Rural Fringe
  • RIT Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Michigan State 52,089
  • RIT 17,098
  • Type
  • Michigan State Public 4 Year
  • RIT Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Michigan State #241
  • RIT #175
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Michigan State -
  • RIT -
  • Status
  • Michigan State Non-profit
  • RIT Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Michigan State
  • RIT

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Michigan State $16,458
  • RIT $59,274
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Michigan State $43,842
  • RIT $59,274
  • Room & Board
  • Michigan State $12,564
  • RIT $16,142
  • Average Net Price
  • Michigan State $23,657
  • RIT $39,534
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Michigan State $9,750
  • RIT $35,077
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Michigan State 88%
  • RIT 98%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Michigan State 62,138
  • RIT 27,911
  • Admitted
  • Michigan State 52,690
  • RIT 18,682
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Michigan State 84.8%
  • RIT 66.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Michigan State 18.3%
  • RIT 16.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Michigan State 1270
  • RIT 1380
  • Typical ACT score
  • Michigan State 28
  • RIT 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Michigan State 3.72
  • RIT 3.7
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Michigan State A-
  • RIT A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Michigan State Difficult
  • RIT Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Michigan State
  • RIT Low
  • ACT Range
  • Michigan State 25/31
  • RIT 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • Michigan State 1180/1360
  • RIT 1300/1460
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Michigan State Test optional
  • RIT Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Michigan State
  • RIT Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Michigan State 17:1
  • RIT 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Michigan State
    • Business (17%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • Communication (11%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Health Professions (6%)
  • RIT
    • Visual and Performing Arts (16%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (14%)
    • Engineering (13%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Engineering Technology (11%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Michigan State 77%
  • RIT 64%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Michigan State $60,000
  • RIT $64,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Michigan State 68%
  • RIT 75%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Michigan State $25,484
  • RIT $28,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Michigan State $263
  • RIT $289

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Michigan State 47%
  • RIT 64%
  • % Women
  • Michigan State 53%
  • RIT 36%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Michigan State Medium
  • RIT Medium
  • HBCU
  • Michigan State No
  • RIT No
  • % White
  • Michigan State 67%
  • RIT 66%
  • % Asian
  • Michigan State 5%
  • RIT 8%
  • % Black
  • Michigan State 7%
  • RIT 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Michigan State 4%
  • RIT 7%
  • % Native American
  • Michigan State 0%
  • RIT 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Michigan State 0%
  • RIT 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Michigan State 3%
  • RIT 3%
  • % International
  • Michigan State 13%
  • RIT 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Michigan State 1%
  • RIT 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Michigan State 77%
  • RIT 44%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Michigan State 19%
  • RIT 51%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Michigan State University in East Lansing, MI with Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Michigan State University is larger than RIT based on total student enrollment (52,089 students vs. 17,098 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Michigan State University is located in East Lansing, MI (Rural Fringe setting); Rochester Institute of Technology is in Rochester, NY (Large Suburban setting).
  • Michigan State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Rochester Institute of Technology is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Michigan State University 17:1; Rochester Institute of Technology 13:1.

Michigan State vs. RIT Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Michigan State or RIT ? 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 RIT ($23,657 vs. $39,534).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Michigan State University are 22.2% lower than at Rochester Institute of Technology ($12,564 vs. $16,142).
  • Rochester Institute of Technology is 260.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Michigan State (about $42,816 more per year; $59,274.00 vs. $16,458.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 35.2% higher at RIT than at Michigan State University (about $15,432 more per year; $59,274.00 vs. $43,842.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rochester Institute of Technology than at Michigan State University (98% vs. 88%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rochester Institute of Technology students is 259.8% larger than aid received by Michigan State University students ($35,077 vs. $9,750).

Michigan State vs. RIT Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rochester Institute of Technology (1380) is 110 points higher than at Michigan State (1270).
  • Incoming RIT students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 28 at Michigan State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Michigan State University 1180/1360; Rochester Institute of Technology 1300/1460.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Michigan State University 25/31; Rochester Institute of Technology 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Michigan State - Test optional; RIT - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: RIT Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Michigan State students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at RIT (3.7).
  • Michigan State has a higher acceptance rate (84.8%) than RIT (66.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.3% at Michigan State vs. 16.3% at RIT .

Michigan State vs. RIT Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Michigan State and RIT ? 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 Rochester Institute of Technology's (64%).
  • Graduates from Rochester Institute of Technology earn a median of about $4,900 more per year than Michigan State graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,900 vs. $60,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Michigan State University graduates have a $2,516 lower median loan debt than RIT graduates ($25,484 vs. $28,000).
  • Among borrowers, Michigan State graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RIT graduates ($263 vs. $289).
  • More RIT graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Michigan State students, three years after graduation. (75% 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.