Michigan State vs. OU

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

Michigan State OU
Location East Lansing, MI Norman, OK
Setting Rural Fringe Small Suburban
Enrollment 51,316 29,145
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #227 #223
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website msu.edu ou.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Michigan State OU
Tuition (In State) $15,648 $5,070
Tuition (Out of State) $43,032 $22,140
Room & Board $11,754 $13,310
Avg Net Price $24,630 $19,900
Avg Grant Aid $8,147 $10,830
% Receiving Grant Aid 96% 99%

Admission

Michigan State OU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 58,879 22,337
Admitted 49,414 17,097
Acceptance Rate 83.9% 76.5%
Enrolled % 19.3% 30.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.72 3.66
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Very High Difficult
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 26/31 23/29
SAT Range 1150/1350 1140/1330
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, 2026

Academics

Michigan State OU
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (17%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Communication (11%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Health Professions (6%)
  • Business (20%)
  • General Studies (13%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Engineering (8%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)

Outcomes

Michigan State OU
Graduation Rate 77% 67%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $60,000 $59,300
Making Student Loan Payments 68% 68%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,484 $20,000
Median Loan Payment $263 $206

Diversity

Michigan State OU
% Men 9% 10%
% Women 12% 14%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 67% 62%
% Black 7% 5%
% Hispanic 4% 9%
% Native American 0% 4%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 7%
% International 13% 4%
% Unknown Race 1% 2%

Students

Michigan State OU
% In-State 76% 50%
% Out-of-State 18% 48%

Campus

Michigan State OU
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 OU based on total student enrollment (51,316 students vs. 29,145 students)

Michigan State vs. OU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Michigan State or OU?

  • Michigan State University is 208.6% more expensive to attend than OU for in-state tuition ($15,648.00 vs. $5,070.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 94.4% higher at Michigan State than University of Oklahoma Norman Campus ($43,032.00 vs. $22,140.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus than Michigan State ($19,900 vs. $24,630)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Michigan State University are 13.2% lower than costs at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus ($11,754 vs. $13,310)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus than Michigan State University (99% vs. 96%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Oklahoma Norman Campus students is 32.9% larger than aid received Michigan State University ($10,830 vs. $8,147)

Michigan State vs. OU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus (1204) is 45 points higher than at Michigan State (1159)
  • Incoming OU 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 OU (3.66)
  • Michigan State has a higher acceptance rate (83.9%) than OU (76.5%)

Michigan State vs. OU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Michigan State is higher than University of Oklahoma Norman Campus (77% vs. 67%)
  • Graduates from Michigan State University earn on average $700 more per year than OU graduates after ten years. ($60,000 vs. $59,300)
  • University of Oklahoma Norman Campus students graduate with a $5,484 lower median federal student loan debt than Michigan State graduates. ($20,000 vs. $25,484)
  • OU graduates are paying $57 less per month on federal student loans than Michigan State graduates. ($206 vs. $263)
  • More OU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Michigan State students, three years after graduation. (68% vs. 68%)

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