Michigan State vs. UofSC

Deciding between Michigan State University and University of South Carolina Columbia? 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 South Carolina Columbia

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Michigan State East Lansing, MI
  • UofSC Columbia, SC
  • Setting
  • Michigan State Rural Fringe
  • UofSC Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Michigan State 52,089
  • UofSC 38,532
  • Type
  • Michigan State Public 4 Year
  • UofSC Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Michigan State #241
  • UofSC #220
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Michigan State -
  • UofSC -
  • Status
  • Michigan State Non-profit
  • UofSC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Michigan State
  • UofSC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Michigan State $16,458
  • UofSC $12,688
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Michigan State $43,842
  • UofSC $35,972
  • Room & Board
  • Michigan State $12,564
  • UofSC $13,534
  • Average Net Price
  • Michigan State $23,657
  • UofSC $24,488
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Michigan State $9,750
  • UofSC $7,139
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Michigan State 88%
  • UofSC 91%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Michigan State 62,138
  • UofSC 52,703
  • Admitted
  • Michigan State 52,690
  • UofSC 31,701
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Michigan State 84.8%
  • UofSC 60.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Michigan State 18.3%
  • UofSC 22.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Michigan State 1270
  • UofSC 1270
  • Typical ACT score
  • Michigan State 28
  • UofSC 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • Michigan State 3.72
  • UofSC 3.69
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Michigan State A-
  • UofSC A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Michigan State Difficult
  • UofSC Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Michigan State
  • UofSC Low
  • ACT Range
  • Michigan State 25/31
  • UofSC 26/32
  • SAT Range
  • Michigan State 1180/1360
  • UofSC 1180/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Michigan State Test optional
  • UofSC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Michigan State
  • UofSC Dec 1, 2026

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Michigan State 17:1
  • UofSC 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Michigan State
    • Business (17%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • Communication (11%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Health Professions (6%)
  • UofSC
    • Business (35%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Psychology (6%)

  • Outcomes

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

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Michigan State 47%
  • UofSC 40%
  • % Women
  • Michigan State 53%
  • UofSC 60%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Michigan State Medium
  • UofSC Low
  • HBCU
  • Michigan State No
  • UofSC No
  • % White
  • Michigan State 67%
  • UofSC 77%
  • % Asian
  • Michigan State 5%
  • UofSC 3%
  • % Black
  • Michigan State 7%
  • UofSC 10%
  • % Hispanic
  • Michigan State 4%
  • UofSC 4%
  • % Native American
  • Michigan State 0%
  • UofSC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Michigan State 0%
  • UofSC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Michigan State 3%
  • UofSC 4%
  • % International
  • Michigan State 13%
  • UofSC 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Michigan State 1%
  • UofSC 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Michigan State 77%
  • UofSC 54%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Michigan State 19%
  • UofSC 45%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Michigan State University in East Lansing, MI with University of South Carolina Columbia in Columbia, SC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Michigan State University is larger than UofSC based on total student enrollment (52,089 students vs. 38,532 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Michigan State vs. UofSC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Michigan State or UofSC? 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 UofSC ($23,657 vs. $24,488).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Michigan State University are 7.2% lower than at University of South Carolina Columbia ($12,564 vs. $13,534).
  • Michigan State University is 29.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than UofSC (about $3,770 more per year; $16,458.00 vs. $12,688.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 21.9% higher at Michigan State than at University of South Carolina Columbia (about $7,870 more per year; $43,842.00 vs. $35,972.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of South Carolina Columbia than at Michigan State University (91% vs. 88%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Michigan State University students is 36.6% larger than aid received by University of South Carolina Columbia students ($9,750 vs. $7,139).

Michigan State vs. UofSC Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Michigan State University (1270) is the same as at UofSC (1270).
  • Incoming UofSC students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 28 at Michigan State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Michigan State University 1180/1360; University of South Carolina Columbia 1180/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Michigan State University 25/31; University of South Carolina Columbia 26/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Michigan State - Test optional; UofSC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UofSC Dec 1, 2026.
  • 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 (84.8%) than UofSC (60.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.3% at Michigan State vs. 22.9% at UofSC.

Michigan State vs. UofSC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Michigan State and UofSC? 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 South Carolina Columbia's (70%).
  • Graduates from Michigan State University earn a median of about $8,300 more per year than UofSC graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,000 vs. $51,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of South Carolina Columbia graduates have a $2,234 lower median loan debt than Michigan State graduates ($23,250 vs. $25,484).
  • Among borrowers, UofSC graduates have an estimated $23 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.