Michigan State vs. UO

Deciding between Michigan State University and University of Oregon? 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 of Oregon

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Michigan State East Lansing, MI
  • UO Eugene, OR
  • Setting
  • Michigan State Rural Fringe
  • UO Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Michigan State 52,089
  • UO 24,404
  • Type
  • Michigan State Public 4 Year
  • UO Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Michigan State #241
  • UO #346
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Michigan State -
  • UO -
  • Status
  • Michigan State Non-profit
  • UO Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Michigan State
  • UO

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Michigan State $16,458
  • UO $16,137
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Michigan State $43,842
  • UO $44,598
  • Room & Board
  • Michigan State $12,564
  • UO $16,611
  • Average Net Price
  • Michigan State $23,657
  • UO $24,605
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Michigan State $9,750
  • UO $9,560
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Michigan State 88%
  • UO 84%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Michigan State 62,138
  • UO 40,021
  • Admitted
  • Michigan State 52,690
  • UO 35,337
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Michigan State 84.8%
  • UO 88.3%
  • Enrolled
  • Michigan State 18.3%
  • UO 14.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Michigan State 1270
  • UO 1250
  • Typical ACT score
  • Michigan State 28
  • UO 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • Michigan State 3.72
  • UO 3.73
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Michigan State A-
  • UO A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Michigan State Difficult
  • UO Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Michigan State
  • UO
  • ACT Range
  • Michigan State 25/31
  • UO 23/30
  • SAT Range
  • Michigan State 1180/1360
  • UO 1130/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Michigan State Test optional
  • UO Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Michigan State
  • UO Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Michigan State 17:1
  • UO 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Michigan State
    • Business (17%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • Communication (11%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Health Professions (6%)
  • UO
    • Social Sciences (22%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Michigan State 77%
  • UO 66%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Michigan State $60,000
  • UO $49,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Michigan State 68%
  • UO 62%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Michigan State $25,484
  • UO $21,101
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Michigan State $263
  • UO $218

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Michigan State 47%
  • UO 44%
  • % Women
  • Michigan State 53%
  • UO 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Michigan State Medium
  • UO High
  • HBCU
  • Michigan State No
  • UO No
  • % White
  • Michigan State 67%
  • UO 60%
  • % Asian
  • Michigan State 5%
  • UO 6%
  • % Black
  • Michigan State 7%
  • UO 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • Michigan State 4%
  • UO 10%
  • % Native American
  • Michigan State 0%
  • UO 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Michigan State 0%
  • UO 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Michigan State 3%
  • UO 7%
  • % International
  • Michigan State 13%
  • UO 14%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Michigan State 1%
  • UO 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Michigan State 77%
  • UO 48%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Michigan State 19%
  • UO 51%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Michigan State University in East Lansing, MI with University of Oregon in Eugene, OR on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Michigan State University is larger than UO based on total student enrollment (52,089 students vs. 24,404 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Michigan State University is located in East Lansing, MI (Rural Fringe setting); University of Oregon is in Eugene, OR (Midsize City setting).
  • Michigan State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Oregon is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Michigan State University 17:1; University of Oregon 19:1.

Michigan State vs. UO Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Michigan State or UO? 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 Michigan State University than UO ($23,657 vs. $24,605).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Michigan State University are 24.4% lower than at University of Oregon ($12,564 vs. $16,611).
  • Michigan State University is 2% more expensive for in-state tuition than UO (about $321 more per year; $16,458.00 vs. $16,137.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 1.7% higher at UO than at Michigan State University (about $756 more per year; $44,598.00 vs. $43,842.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Michigan State University than at University of Oregon (88% vs. 84%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Michigan State University students is 2% larger than aid received by University of Oregon students ($9,750 vs. $9,560).

Michigan State vs. UO Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Michigan State University (1270) is 20 points higher than at UO (1250).
  • Incoming Michigan State students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 26 at UO).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Michigan State University 1180/1360; University of Oregon 1130/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Michigan State University 25/31; University of Oregon 23/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Michigan State - Test optional; UO - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UO Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UO students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.73) than students at Michigan State (3.72).
  • UO has a higher acceptance rate (88.3%) than Michigan State (84.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.3% at Michigan State vs. 14.4% at UO.

Michigan State vs. UO Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Michigan State and UO? 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 of Oregon's (66%).
  • Graduates from Michigan State University earn a median of about $11,000 more per year than UO graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,000 vs. $49,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Oregon graduates have a $4,383 lower median loan debt than Michigan State graduates ($21,101 vs. $25,484).
  • Among borrowers, UO graduates have an estimated $45 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Michigan State graduates ($218 vs. $263).
  • More Michigan State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UO students, three years after graduation. (68% vs. 62%)

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.