Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Michigan WSU GVSU Michigan Tech IU Penn State CMU ISU Oakland UM-Dearborn UIC Purdue| Michigan State University | Virginia Military Institute | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Michigan State | VMI | ||
| Location | East Lansing, MI | Lexington, VA | ||
| Setting | Rural Fringe | Distant Rural | ||
| Enrollment | 50,023 | 1,512 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #240 | #150 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | msu.edu | vmi.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Michigan State | VMI | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $15,192 | $9,782 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $41,778 | $39,590 | ||
| Room & Board | $10,990 | $10,674 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $22,803 | $18,129 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $8,684 | $19,111 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 92% | 69% |
Admission |
Michigan State | VMI | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 53,341 | 1,192 | ||
| Admitted | 46,914 | 847 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 88% | 71.1% | ||
| Enrolled % | 21% | 42.3% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.72 | 3.65 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Challenging | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 25/31 | 22/29 | ||
| SAT Range | 1160/1360 | 1105/1300 | ||
| 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, 2025 |
Academics |
Michigan State | VMI | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 10:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
Michigan State | VMI | ||
| Graduation Rate | 77% | 69% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $60,000 | $62,100 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 68% | 84% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,484 | $25,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $263 | $258 |
Diversity |
Michigan State | VMI | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 47% | 87% | ||
| % Women | 53% | 13% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 67% | 80% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 6% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 2% | ||
| % International | 13% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 0% |
Students |
Michigan State | VMI | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 71% | 63% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 21% | 35% | ||
Campus |
Michigan State | VMI | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | Yes | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Michigan State University is larger than than VMI based on total student enrollment (50,023 students vs. 1,512 students)
Michigan State vs. VMI Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Michigan State or VMI?
- Michigan State University is 55.3% more expensive to attend than VMI for in-state tuition ($15,192.00 vs. $9,782.00)
- Out of state tuition is 5.5% higher at Michigan State than Virginia Military Institute ($41,778.00 vs. $39,590.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Virginia Military Institute than Michigan State ($18,129 vs. $22,803)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Military Institute are 3% lower than costs at Michigan State University ($10,674 vs. $10,990)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Michigan State University than Virginia Military Institute (92% vs. 69%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia Military Institute students is 120.1% larger than aid received Michigan State University ($19,111 vs. $8,684)
Michigan State vs. VMI Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Michigan State or VMI? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between VMI or Michigan State .
- The average SAT score at Michigan State University (1159) is 20 points higher than at VMI (1139)
- Incoming Michigan State students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at VMI (25)
- Accepted freshman Michigan State students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at VMI (3.65)
- Michigan State has a higher acceptance rate (88%) than VMI (71.1%)
Michigan State vs. VMI Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Michigan State or VMI? 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 VMI and Michigan State.
- The graduation rate at Michigan State is higher than Virginia Military Institute (77% vs. 69%)
- Graduates from Virginia Military Institute earn on average $2,100 more per year than Michigan State graduates after ten years. ($62,100 vs. $60,000)
- Virginia Military Institute students graduate with a $484 lower median federal student loan debt than Michigan State graduates. ($25,000 vs. $25,484)
- VMI graduates are paying $5 less per month on federal student loans than Michigan State graduates. ($258 vs. $263)
- More VMI 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/