Michigan State vs. Nebraska

Should I go to Michigan State University or University of Nebraska Lincoln? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Michigan State or Nebraska 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.

Add a college to compare up to four schools

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

Michigan WSU GVSU Michigan Tech IU Penn State CMU Iowa ISU Oakland UM-Dearborn UIC
Michigan State University vs. University of Nebraska Lincoln comparison
Michigan State University University of Nebraska Lincoln College 3 College 4
Michigan State University University of Nebraska Lincoln
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Michigan State Nebraska
Location East Lansing, MI Lincoln, NE
Setting Rural Fringe Large City
Enrollment 50,023 23,805
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #240 #306
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website msu.edu unl.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Michigan State Nebraska
Tuition (In State) $15,192 $7,770
Tuition (Out of State) $41,778 $24,900
Room & Board $10,990 $12,430
Avg Net Price $22,803 $16,805
Avg Grant Aid $8,684 $10,941
% Receiving Grant Aid 92% 91%

Admission

Michigan State Nebraska
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 53,341 19,102
Admitted 46,914 15,022
Acceptance Rate 88% 78.6%
Enrolled % 21% 30.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.72 3.63
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Very High Challenging
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 25/31 22/28
SAT Range 1160/1360 1110/1340
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 May 1, 2025

Academics

Michigan State Nebraska
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (17%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Communication (11%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Health Professions (6%)
  • Business (21%)
  • Engineering (9%)
  • Work and Family Studies (9%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Agriculture (7%)

Outcomes

Michigan State Nebraska
Graduation Rate 77% 67%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $60,000 $49,600
Making Student Loan Payments 68% 73%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,484 $21,700
Median Loan Payment $263 $224

Diversity

Michigan State Nebraska
% Men 47% 50%
% Women 53% 50%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 67% 77%
% Black 7% 3%
% Hispanic 4% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 13% 8%
% Unknown Race 1% 2%

Students

Michigan State Nebraska
% In-State 71% 73%
% Out-of-State 21% 25%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Michigan State University is larger than than Nebraska based on total student enrollment (50,023 students vs. 23,805 students)

Michigan State vs. Nebraska Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Michigan State or Nebraska?

  • Michigan State University is 95.5% more expensive to attend than Nebraska for in-state tuition ($15,192.00 vs. $7,770.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 67.8% higher at Michigan State than University of Nebraska Lincoln ($41,778.00 vs. $24,900.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Nebraska Lincoln than Michigan State ($16,805 vs. $22,803)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Michigan State University are 13.1% lower than costs at University of Nebraska Lincoln ($10,990 vs. $12,430)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Michigan State University than University of Nebraska Lincoln (92% vs. 91%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Nebraska Lincoln students is 26% larger than aid received Michigan State University ($10,941 vs. $8,684)

Michigan State vs. Nebraska Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Michigan State University (1159) is 14 points higher than at Nebraska (1145)
  • Incoming Michigan State students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at Nebraska (25)
  • Accepted freshman Michigan State students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at Nebraska (3.63)
  • Michigan State has a higher acceptance rate (88%) than Nebraska (78.6%)

Michigan State vs. Nebraska Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Michigan State is higher than University of Nebraska Lincoln (77% vs. 67%)
  • Graduates from Michigan State University earn on average $10,400 more per year than Nebraska graduates after ten years. ($60,000 vs. $49,600)
  • University of Nebraska Lincoln students graduate with a $3,784 lower median federal student loan debt than Michigan State graduates. ($21,700 vs. $25,484)
  • Nebraska graduates are paying $39 less per month on federal student loans than Michigan State graduates. ($224 vs. $263)
  • More Nebraska graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Michigan State students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 68%)

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