Michigan State vs. UofSC

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

Michigan State UofSC
Location East Lansing, MI Columbia, SC
Setting Rural Fringe Midsize City
Enrollment 50,023 35,653
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #240 #208
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website msu.edu sc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Michigan State UofSC
Tuition (In State) $15,192 $12,288
Tuition (Out of State) $41,778 $33,528
Room & Board $10,990 $11,780
Avg Net Price $22,803 $22,427
Avg Grant Aid $8,684 $6,880
% Receiving Grant Aid 92% 98%

Admission

Michigan State UofSC
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 53,341 42,188
Admitted 46,914 27,022
Acceptance Rate 88% 64.1%
Enrolled % 21% 24.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.72 3.69
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Very High Very High
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 25/31 27/32
SAT Range 1160/1360 1180/1380
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 Dec 1, 2024

Academics

Michigan State UofSC
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (17%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Communication (11%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Health Professions (6%)
  • Business (35%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Psychology (6%)

Outcomes

Michigan State UofSC
Graduation Rate 77% 70%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $60,000 $51,700
Making Student Loan Payments 68% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,484 $23,250
Median Loan Payment $263 $240

Diversity

Michigan State UofSC
% Men 47% 42%
% Women 53% 58%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 67% 77%
% Black 7% 10%
% Hispanic 4% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 13% 1%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

Michigan State UofSC
% In-State 71% 52%
% Out-of-State 21% 47%

Campus

Michigan State UofSC
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 UofSC based on total student enrollment (50,023 students vs. 35,653 students)

Michigan State vs. UofSC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Michigan State or UofSC?

  • Michigan State University is 23.6% more expensive to attend than UofSC for in-state tuition ($15,192.00 vs. $12,288.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 24.6% higher at Michigan State than University of South Carolina Columbia ($41,778.00 vs. $33,528.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of South Carolina Columbia than Michigan State ($22,427 vs. $22,803)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Michigan State University are 7.2% lower than costs at University of South Carolina Columbia ($10,990 vs. $11,780)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of South Carolina Columbia than Michigan State University (98% vs. 92%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Michigan State University students is 26.2% larger than aid received University of South Carolina Columbia ($8,684 vs. $6,880)

Michigan State vs. UofSC Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of South Carolina Columbia (1220) is 61 points higher than at Michigan State (1159)
  • Incoming UofSC students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at Michigan State (26)
  • Accepted freshman Michigan State students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at UofSC (3.69)
  • Michigan State has a higher acceptance rate (88%) than UofSC (64.1%)

Michigan State vs. UofSC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Michigan State is higher than University of South Carolina Columbia (77% vs. 70%)
  • Graduates from Michigan State University earn on average $8,300 more per year than UofSC graduates after ten years. ($60,000 vs. $51,700)
  • University of South Carolina Columbia students graduate with a $2,234 lower median federal student loan debt than Michigan State graduates. ($23,250 vs. $25,484)
  • UofSC graduates are paying $23 less per month on federal student loans than Michigan State graduates. ($240 vs. $263)
  • More UofSC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Michigan State students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 68%)

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