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Michigan GVSU UM-Dearborn Oakland Michigan Tech IU Penn State CMU ISU Detroit Mercy- UDM- U of D- University of Detroit Eastern Michigan University UIC| Michigan State University | Wayne State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
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 | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 13:1 | ||
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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/