Michigan State vs. WSU

Should I go to Michigan State University or Wayne State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Michigan State or WSU 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. Wayne State University comparison
Michigan State University Wayne State University College 3 College 4
Michigan State University Wayne State University
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Overview

Michigan State WSU
Location East Lansing, MI Detroit, MI
Setting Rural Fringe Large City
Enrollment 51,316 23,553
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #227 #580
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website msu.edu wayne.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Michigan State WSU
Tuition (In State) $15,648 $12,493
Tuition (Out of State) $43,032 $28,615
Room & Board $11,754 $11,762
Avg Net Price $24,630 $16,021
Avg Grant Aid $8,147 $10,862
% Receiving Grant Aid 96% 95%

Admission

Michigan State WSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 58,879 15,190
Admitted 49,414 12,461
Acceptance Rate 83.9% 82%
Enrolled % 19.3% 24%
Avg High School GPA 3.72 3.42
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Very High Challenging
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 26/31 21/28
SAT Range 1150/1350 1040/1260
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 Aug 1, 2025

Academics

Michigan State WSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (17%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Communication (11%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Health Professions (6%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Biology (7%)

Outcomes

Michigan State WSU
Graduation Rate 77% 26%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $60,000 $51,000
Making Student Loan Payments 68% 38%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,484 $22,258
Median Loan Payment $263 $230

Diversity

Michigan State WSU
% Men 9% 12%
% Women 12% 19%
Racial Diversity Medium High
HBCU No No
% White 67% 57%
% Black 7% 19%
% Hispanic 4% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 13% 2%
% Unknown Race 1% 5%

Students

Michigan State WSU
% In-State 76% 95%
% Out-of-State 18% 2%

Campus

Michigan State WSU
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 WSU based on total student enrollment (51,316 students vs. 23,553 students)

Michigan State vs. WSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Michigan State or WSU?

  • Michigan State University is 25.3% more expensive to attend than WSU for in-state tuition ($15,648.00 vs. $12,493.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 50.4% higher at Michigan State than Wayne State University ($43,032.00 vs. $28,615.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Wayne State University than Michigan State ($16,021 vs. $24,630)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Michigan State University are 0.1% lower than costs at Wayne State University ($11,754 vs. $11,762)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Michigan State University than Wayne State University (96% vs. 95%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Wayne State University students is 33.3% larger than aid received Michigan State University ($10,862 vs. $8,147)

Michigan State vs. WSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Michigan State University (1159) is 89 points higher than at WSU (1070)
  • Incoming Michigan State students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at WSU (23)
  • Accepted freshman Michigan State students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at WSU (3.42)
  • Michigan State has a higher acceptance rate (83.9%) than WSU (82%)

Michigan State vs. WSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Michigan State is higher than Wayne State University (77% vs. 26%)
  • Graduates from Michigan State University earn on average $9,000 more per year than WSU graduates after ten years. ($60,000 vs. $51,000)
  • Wayne State University students graduate with a $3,226 lower median federal student loan debt than Michigan State graduates. ($22,258 vs. $25,484)
  • WSU graduates are paying $33 less per month on federal student loans than Michigan State graduates. ($230 vs. $263)
  • More Michigan State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WSU students, three years after graduation. (68% vs. 38%)

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