Michigan State vs. UB

Deciding between Michigan State University and University at Buffalo? 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
University at Buffalo

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Michigan State East Lansing, MI
  • UB Buffalo, NY
  • Setting
  • Michigan State Rural Fringe
  • UB Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Michigan State 52,089
  • UB 31,903
  • Type
  • Michigan State Public 4 Year
  • UB Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Michigan State #241
  • UB #101
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Michigan State -
  • UB -
  • Status
  • Michigan State Non-profit
  • UB Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Michigan State
  • UB

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Michigan State $16,458
  • UB $10,936
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Michigan State $43,842
  • UB $31,536
  • Room & Board
  • Michigan State $12,564
  • UB $17,426
  • Average Net Price
  • Michigan State $23,657
  • UB $20,529
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Michigan State $9,750
  • UB $10,663
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Michigan State 88%
  • UB 76%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Michigan State 62,138
  • UB 40,856
  • Admitted
  • Michigan State 52,690
  • UB 30,308
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Michigan State 84.8%
  • UB 74.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Michigan State 18.3%
  • UB 14.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Michigan State 1270
  • UB 1300
  • Typical ACT score
  • Michigan State 28
  • UB 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • Michigan State 3.72
  • UB 3.75
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Michigan State A-
  • UB A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Michigan State Difficult
  • UB Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Michigan State
  • UB Low
  • ACT Range
  • Michigan State 25/31
  • UB 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • Michigan State 1180/1360
  • UB 1210/1380
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Michigan State Test optional
  • UB Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Michigan State
  • UB

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Michigan State 17:1
  • UB 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Michigan State
    • Business (17%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • Communication (11%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Health Professions (6%)
  • UB
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Communication (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Michigan State 77%
  • UB 71%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Michigan State $60,000
  • UB $58,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Michigan State 68%
  • UB 70%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Michigan State $25,484
  • UB $19,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Michigan State $263
  • UB $201

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Michigan State 47%
  • UB 51%
  • % Women
  • Michigan State 53%
  • UB 49%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Michigan State Medium
  • UB High
  • HBCU
  • Michigan State No
  • UB No
  • % White
  • Michigan State 67%
  • UB 48%
  • % Asian
  • Michigan State 5%
  • UB 14%
  • % Black
  • Michigan State 7%
  • UB 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Michigan State 4%
  • UB 6%
  • % Native American
  • Michigan State 0%
  • UB 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Michigan State 0%
  • UB 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Michigan State 3%
  • UB 2%
  • % International
  • Michigan State 13%
  • UB 16%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Michigan State 1%
  • UB 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Michigan State 77%
  • UB 88%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Michigan State 19%
  • UB 3%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Michigan State University is larger than UB based on total student enrollment (52,089 students vs. 31,903 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Michigan State University is located in East Lansing, MI (Rural Fringe setting); University at Buffalo is in Buffalo, NY (Large Suburban setting).
  • Michigan State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University at Buffalo is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Michigan State University 17:1; University at Buffalo 11:1.

Michigan State vs. UB Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Michigan State or UB? 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 University at Buffalo than Michigan State ($20,529 vs. $23,657).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Michigan State University are 27.9% lower than at University at Buffalo ($12,564 vs. $17,426).
  • Michigan State University is 50.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than UB (about $5,522 more per year; $16,458.00 vs. $10,936.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 39% higher at Michigan State than at University at Buffalo (about $12,306 more per year; $43,842.00 vs. $31,536.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Michigan State University than at University at Buffalo (88% vs. 76%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University at Buffalo students is 9.4% larger than aid received by Michigan State University students ($10,663 vs. $9,750).

Michigan State vs. UB Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University at Buffalo (1300) is 30 points higher than at Michigan State (1270).
  • Incoming UB students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 28 at Michigan State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Michigan State University 1180/1360; University at Buffalo 1210/1380.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Michigan State University 25/31; University at Buffalo 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Michigan State - Test optional; UB - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman UB students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at Michigan State (3.72).
  • Michigan State has a higher acceptance rate (84.8%) than UB (74.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.3% at Michigan State vs. 14.1% at UB.

Michigan State vs. UB Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Michigan State and UB? 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 University at Buffalo's (71%).
  • Graduates from Michigan State University earn a median of about $1,600 more per year than UB graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,000 vs. $58,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University at Buffalo graduates have a $5,984 lower median loan debt than Michigan State graduates ($19,500 vs. $25,484).
  • Among borrowers, UB graduates have an estimated $62 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Michigan State graduates ($201 vs. $263).
  • More UB graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Michigan State students, three years after graduation. (70% 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.