Michigan State vs. Tennessee

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

Michigan State Tennessee
Location East Lansing, MI Knoxville, TN
Setting Rural Fringe Midsize City
Enrollment 50,023 33,805
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #240 #232
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website msu.edu tennessee.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Michigan State Tennessee
Tuition (In State) $15,192 $11,332
Tuition (Out of State) $41,778 $29,522
Room & Board $10,990 $12,150
Avg Net Price $22,803 $21,880
Avg Grant Aid $8,684 $10,593
% Receiving Grant Aid 92% 88%

Admission

Michigan State Tennessee
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 53,341 36,290
Admitted 46,914 24,826
Acceptance Rate 88% 68.4%
Enrolled % 21% 27.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.72 3.66
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Very High Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 25/31 25/31
SAT Range 1160/1360 1170/1330
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline

Academics

Michigan State Tennessee
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (17%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Communication (11%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Health Professions (6%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Engineering (8%)

Outcomes

Michigan State Tennessee
Graduation Rate 77% 63%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $60,000 $56,300
Making Student Loan Payments 68% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,484 $20,000
Median Loan Payment $263 $206

Diversity

Michigan State Tennessee
% Men 47% 45%
% Women 53% 55%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 67% 79%
% Black 7% 7%
% Hispanic 4% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 13% 1%
% Unknown Race 1% 3%

Students

Michigan State Tennessee
% In-State 71% 54%
% Out-of-State 21% 45%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Michigan State University is larger than than Tennessee based on total student enrollment (50,023 students vs. 33,805 students)

Michigan State vs. Tennessee Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Michigan State or Tennessee?

  • Michigan State University is 34.1% more expensive to attend than Tennessee for in-state tuition ($15,192.00 vs. $11,332.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 41.5% higher at Michigan State than The University of Tennessee ($41,778.00 vs. $29,522.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at The University of Tennessee than Michigan State ($21,880 vs. $22,803)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Michigan State University are 10.6% lower than costs at The University of Tennessee ($10,990 vs. $12,150)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Michigan State University than The University of Tennessee (92% vs. 88%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by The University of Tennessee students is 22% larger than aid received Michigan State University ($10,593 vs. $8,684)

Michigan State vs. Tennessee Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at The University of Tennessee (1214) is 55 points higher than at Michigan State (1159)
  • Incoming Tennessee students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at Michigan State (26)
  • Accepted freshman Michigan State students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at Tennessee (3.66)
  • Michigan State has a higher acceptance rate (88%) than Tennessee (68.4%)

Michigan State vs. Tennessee Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Michigan State is higher than The University of Tennessee (77% vs. 63%)
  • Graduates from Michigan State University earn on average $3,700 more per year than Tennessee graduates after ten years. ($60,000 vs. $56,300)
  • The University of Tennessee students graduate with a $5,484 lower median federal student loan debt than Michigan State graduates. ($20,000 vs. $25,484)
  • Tennessee graduates are paying $57 less per month on federal student loans than Michigan State graduates. ($206 vs. $263)
  • More Tennessee graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Michigan State students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 68%)

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