Michigan State vs. UNCW

Should I go to Michigan State University or University of North Carolina at Wilmington? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Michigan State or UNCW 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 North Carolina at Wilmington comparison
Michigan State University University of North Carolina at Wilmington College 3 College 4
Michigan State University University of North Carolina at Wilmington
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Overview

Michigan State UNCW
Location East Lansing, MI Wilmington, NC
Setting Rural Fringe Midsize City
Enrollment 50,023 17,843
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #240 #377
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website msu.edu uncw.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Michigan State UNCW
Tuition (In State) $15,192 $4,443
Tuition (Out of State) $41,778 $19,063
Room & Board $10,990 $12,120
Avg Net Price $22,803 $18,709
Avg Grant Aid $8,684 $6,217
% Receiving Grant Aid 92% 56%

Admission

Michigan State UNCW
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 53,341 16,860
Admitted 46,914 11,605
Acceptance Rate 88% 68.8%
Enrolled % 21% 20.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.72 3.56
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Very High Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 25/31 24/29
SAT Range 1160/1360 1220/1370
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 Feb 1, 2025

Academics

Michigan State UNCW
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (17%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Communication (11%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Health Professions (6%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Biology (8%)

Outcomes

Michigan State UNCW
Graduation Rate 77% 67%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $60,000 $44,700
Making Student Loan Payments 68% 64%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,484 $20,500
Median Loan Payment $263 $211

Diversity

Michigan State UNCW
% Men 47% 34%
% Women 53% 66%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 67% 78%
% Black 7% 5%
% Hispanic 4% 7%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 13% 1%
% Unknown Race 1% 3%

Students

Michigan State UNCW
% In-State 71% 80%
% Out-of-State 21% 19%

Campus

Michigan State UNCW
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 UNCW based on total student enrollment (50,023 students vs. 17,843 students)

Michigan State vs. UNCW Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Michigan State or UNCW?

  • Michigan State University is 241.9% more expensive to attend than UNCW for in-state tuition ($15,192.00 vs. $4,443.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 119.2% higher at Michigan State than University of North Carolina at Wilmington ($41,778.00 vs. $19,063.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of North Carolina at Wilmington than Michigan State ($18,709 vs. $22,803)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Michigan State University are 10.3% lower than costs at University of North Carolina at Wilmington ($10,990 vs. $12,120)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Michigan State University than University of North Carolina at Wilmington (92% vs. 56%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Michigan State University students is 39.7% larger than aid received University of North Carolina at Wilmington ($8,684 vs. $6,217)

Michigan State vs. UNCW Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of North Carolina at Wilmington (1162) is 3 points higher than at Michigan State (1159)
  • Incoming Michigan State students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at UNCW (25)
  • Accepted freshman Michigan State students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at UNCW (3.56)
  • Michigan State has a higher acceptance rate (88%) than UNCW (68.8%)

Michigan State vs. UNCW Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Michigan State is higher than University of North Carolina at Wilmington (77% vs. 67%)
  • Graduates from Michigan State University earn on average $15,300 more per year than UNCW graduates after ten years. ($60,000 vs. $44,700)
  • University of North Carolina at Wilmington students graduate with a $4,984 lower median federal student loan debt than Michigan State graduates. ($20,500 vs. $25,484)
  • UNCW graduates are paying $52 less per month on federal student loans than Michigan State graduates. ($211 vs. $263)
  • More Michigan State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UNCW students, three years after graduation. (68% vs. 64%)

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