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Minnesota Michigan WSU Illinois Ohio State GVSU Michigan Tech IU UW-Seattle Penn State Purdue Maryland| Michigan State University | University of Wisconsin Madison | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Michigan State | Wisconsin | ||
| Location | East Lansing, MI | Madison, WI | ||
| Setting | Rural Fringe | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 50,023 | 48,956 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #240 | #105 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | msu.edu | wisc.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Michigan State | Wisconsin | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $15,192 | $9,273 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $41,778 | $37,904 | ||
| Room & Board | $10,990 | $12,894 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $22,803 | $13,376 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $8,684 | $11,171 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 92% | 47% |
Admission |
Michigan State | Wisconsin | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 53,341 | 60,214 | ||
| Admitted | 46,914 | 29,539 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 88% | 49.1% | ||
| Enrolled % | 21% | 29.2% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.72 | 3.88 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Exceptional | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 25/31 | 26/32 | ||
| SAT Range | 1160/1360 | 1340/1510 | ||
| 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 | Jan 15, 2025 |
Academics |
Michigan State | Wisconsin | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 18:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Michigan State | Wisconsin | ||
| Graduation Rate | 77% | 82% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $60,000 | $64,800 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 68% | 84% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,484 | $22,250 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $263 | $230 |
Diversity |
Michigan State | Wisconsin | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 47% | 47% | ||
| % Women | 53% | 53% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 67% | 76% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 2% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 13% | 8% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 0% |
Students |
Michigan State | Wisconsin | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 71% | 43% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 21% | 47% | ||
Campus |
Michigan State | Wisconsin | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Michigan State University is larger than than Wisconsin based on total student enrollment (50,023 students vs. 48,956 students)
Michigan State vs. Wisconsin Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Michigan State or Wisconsin?
- Michigan State University is 63.8% more expensive to attend than Wisconsin for in-state tuition ($15,192.00 vs. $9,273.00)
- Out of state tuition is 10.2% higher at Michigan State than University of Wisconsin Madison ($41,778.00 vs. $37,904.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Wisconsin Madison than Michigan State ($13,376 vs. $22,803)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Michigan State University are 17.3% lower than costs at University of Wisconsin Madison ($10,990 vs. $12,894)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Michigan State University than University of Wisconsin Madison (92% vs. 47%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of Wisconsin Madison students is 28.6% larger than aid received Michigan State University ($11,171 vs. $8,684)
Michigan State vs. Wisconsin Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Michigan State or Wisconsin? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Wisconsin or Michigan State .
- The average SAT score at University of Wisconsin Madison (1300) is 141 points higher than at Michigan State (1159)
- Incoming Wisconsin students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at Michigan State (26)
- Accepted freshman Wisconsin students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at Michigan State (3.72)
- Michigan State has a higher acceptance rate (88%) than Wisconsin (49.1%)
Michigan State vs. Wisconsin Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Michigan State or Wisconsin? 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 Wisconsin and Michigan State.
- The graduation rate at Wisconsin is higher than Michigan State University (82% vs. 77%)
- Graduates from University of Wisconsin Madison earn on average $4,800 more per year than Michigan State graduates after ten years. ($64,800 vs. $60,000)
- University of Wisconsin Madison students graduate with a $3,234 lower median federal student loan debt than Michigan State graduates. ($22,250 vs. $25,484)
- Wisconsin graduates are paying $33 less per month on federal student loans than Michigan State graduates. ($230 vs. $263)
- More Wisconsin graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Michigan State students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 68%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/