Michigan State vs. WVU

Deciding between Michigan State University and West Virginia University? 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
West Virginia University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Michigan State East Lansing, MI
  • WVU Morgantown, WV
  • Setting
  • Michigan State Rural Fringe
  • WVU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Michigan State 52,089
  • WVU 23,643
  • Type
  • Michigan State Public 4 Year
  • WVU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Michigan State #241
  • WVU #566
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Michigan State -
  • WVU -
  • Status
  • Michigan State Non-profit
  • WVU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Michigan State
  • WVU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Michigan State $16,458
  • WVU $10,104
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Michigan State $43,842
  • WVU $28,608
  • Room & Board
  • Michigan State $12,564
  • WVU $14,582
  • Average Net Price
  • Michigan State $23,657
  • WVU $15,169
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Michigan State $9,750
  • WVU $12,363
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Michigan State 88%
  • WVU 94%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Michigan State 62,138
  • WVU 18,729
  • Admitted
  • Michigan State 52,690
  • WVU 16,669
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Michigan State 84.8%
  • WVU 89%
  • Enrolled
  • Michigan State 18.3%
  • WVU 24.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Michigan State 1270
  • WVU 1120
  • Typical ACT score
  • Michigan State 28
  • WVU 23
  • Average High School GPA
  • Michigan State 3.72
  • WVU 3.45
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Michigan State A-
  • WVU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Michigan State Difficult
  • WVU Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • Michigan State
  • WVU
  • ACT Range
  • Michigan State 25/31
  • WVU 20/26
  • SAT Range
  • Michigan State 1180/1360
  • WVU 1010/1220
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Michigan State Test optional
  • WVU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Michigan State
  • WVU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Michigan State 17:1
  • WVU 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Michigan State
    • Business (17%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • Communication (11%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Health Professions (6%)
  • WVU
    • Business (12%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • General Studies (10%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Michigan State 77%
  • WVU 57%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Michigan State $60,000
  • WVU $50,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Michigan State 68%
  • WVU 59%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Michigan State $25,484
  • WVU $24,001
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Michigan State $263
  • WVU $248

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Michigan State 47%
  • WVU 47%
  • % Women
  • Michigan State 53%
  • WVU 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Michigan State Medium
  • WVU Low
  • HBCU
  • Michigan State No
  • WVU No
  • % White
  • Michigan State 67%
  • WVU 81%
  • % Asian
  • Michigan State 5%
  • WVU 1%
  • % Black
  • Michigan State 7%
  • WVU 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Michigan State 4%
  • WVU 4%
  • % Native American
  • Michigan State 0%
  • WVU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Michigan State 0%
  • WVU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Michigan State 3%
  • WVU 3%
  • % International
  • Michigan State 13%
  • WVU 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Michigan State 1%
  • WVU 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Michigan State 77%
  • WVU 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Michigan State 19%
  • WVU 58%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Michigan State University in East Lansing, MI with West Virginia University in Morgantown, WV on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Michigan State University is larger than WVU based on total student enrollment (52,089 students vs. 23,643 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Michigan State University is located in East Lansing, MI (Rural Fringe setting); West Virginia University is in Morgantown, WV (Small City setting).
  • Michigan State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. West Virginia University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Michigan State University 17:1; West Virginia University 19:1.

Michigan State vs. WVU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Michigan State or WVU? 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 West Virginia University than Michigan State ($15,169 vs. $23,657).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Michigan State University are 13.8% lower than at West Virginia University ($12,564 vs. $14,582).
  • Michigan State University is 62.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than WVU (about $6,354 more per year; $16,458.00 vs. $10,104.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 53.3% higher at Michigan State than at West Virginia University (about $15,234 more per year; $43,842.00 vs. $28,608.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at West Virginia University than at Michigan State University (94% vs. 88%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by West Virginia University students is 26.8% larger than aid received by Michigan State University students ($12,363 vs. $9,750).

Michigan State vs. WVU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Michigan State or WVU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between WVU and Michigan State.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Michigan State University (1270) is 150 points higher than at WVU (1120).
  • Incoming Michigan State students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (28 vs. 23 at WVU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Michigan State University 1180/1360; West Virginia University 1010/1220.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Michigan State University 25/31; West Virginia University 20/26.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Michigan State - Test optional; WVU - Test optional.
  • Enrolled freshman Michigan State students have a 0.27 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at WVU (3.45).
  • WVU has a higher acceptance rate (89%) than Michigan State (84.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.3% at Michigan State vs. 24.8% at WVU.

Michigan State vs. WVU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Michigan State and WVU? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

  • Michigan State University's six-year graduation rate (77%) is higher than West Virginia University's (57%).
  • Graduates from Michigan State University earn a median of about $9,400 more per year than WVU graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,000 vs. $50,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, West Virginia University graduates have a $1,483 lower median loan debt than Michigan State graduates ($24,001 vs. $25,484).
  • Among borrowers, WVU graduates have an estimated $15 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Michigan State graduates ($248 vs. $263).
  • More Michigan State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WVU students, three years after graduation. (68% vs. 59%)

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.