Michigan State vs. UC

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

Michigan State UC
Location East Lansing, MI Cincinnati, OH
Setting Rural Fringe Large City
Enrollment 50,023 41,155
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #240 #413
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website msu.edu uc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Michigan State UC
Tuition (In State) $15,192 $11,498
Tuition (Out of State) $41,778 $26,862
Room & Board $10,990 $12,852
Avg Net Price $22,803 $20,149
Avg Grant Aid $8,684 $8,733
% Receiving Grant Aid 92% 64%

Admission

Michigan State UC
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 53,341 29,025
Admitted 46,914 25,024
Acceptance Rate 88% 86.2%
Enrolled % 21% 25.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.72 3.69
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Very High Difficult
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 25/31 24/29
SAT Range 1160/1360 1160/1360
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Mar 1, 2025

Academics

Michigan State UC
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (17%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Communication (11%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Health Professions (6%)
  • Health Professions (16%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Engineering (9%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)

Outcomes

Michigan State UC
Graduation Rate 77% 59%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $60,000 $45,600
Making Student Loan Payments 68% 57%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,484 $23,000
Median Loan Payment $263 $237

Diversity

Michigan State UC
% Men 47% 46%
% Women 53% 54%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 67% 75%
% Black 7% 7%
% Hispanic 4% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 13% 4%
% Unknown Race 1% 4%

Students

Michigan State UC
% In-State 71% 78%
% Out-of-State 21% 17%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Michigan State University is larger than than UC based on total student enrollment (50,023 students vs. 41,155 students)

Michigan State vs. UC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Michigan State or UC?

  • Michigan State University is 32.1% more expensive to attend than UC for in-state tuition ($15,192.00 vs. $11,498.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 55.5% higher at Michigan State than University of Cincinnati Main Campus ($41,778.00 vs. $26,862.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Cincinnati Main Campus than Michigan State ($20,149 vs. $22,803)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Michigan State University are 16.9% lower than costs at University of Cincinnati Main Campus ($10,990 vs. $12,852)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Michigan State University than University of Cincinnati Main Campus (92% vs. 64%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Cincinnati Main Campus students is 0.6% larger than aid received Michigan State University ($8,733 vs. $8,684)

Michigan State vs. UC Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of Cincinnati Main Campus (1165) is 6 points higher than at Michigan State (1159)
  • Incoming Michigan State students have at the same average ACT score (26) as students at UC (26)
  • Accepted freshman Michigan State students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at UC (3.69)
  • Michigan State has a higher acceptance rate (88%) than UC (86.2%)

Michigan State vs. UC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Michigan State is higher than University of Cincinnati Main Campus (77% vs. 59%)
  • Graduates from Michigan State University earn on average $14,400 more per year than UC graduates after ten years. ($60,000 vs. $45,600)
  • University of Cincinnati Main Campus students graduate with a $2,484 lower median federal student loan debt than Michigan State graduates. ($23,000 vs. $25,484)
  • UC graduates are paying $26 less per month on federal student loans than Michigan State graduates. ($237 vs. $263)
  • More Michigan State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UC students, three years after graduation. (68% vs. 57%)

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