North Central College vs. Michigan State

Should I go to North Central College or Michigan State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if North Central College or Michigan State 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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North Central College vs. Michigan State University comparison
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North Central College Michigan State University
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Overview

 North Central College Michigan State
Location Naperville, IL East Lansing, MI
Setting Midsize City Rural Fringe
Enrollment 2,856 51,316
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #349 #227
Religious Affiliation United Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website northcentralcollege.edu msu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 North Central College Michigan State
Tuition (In State) $44,114 $15,648
Tuition (Out of State) $44,114 $43,032
Room & Board $12,434 $11,754
Avg Net Price $24,190 $24,630
Avg Grant Aid $30,619 $8,147
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 96%

Admission

 North Central College Michigan State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,241 58,879
Admitted 3,056 49,414
Acceptance Rate 58.3% 83.9%
Enrolled % 16.9% 19.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.6 3.72
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Average Very High
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 23/27 26/31
SAT Range 1065/1280 1150/1350
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 Apr 15, 2025

Academics

 North Central College Michigan State
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (28%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Communication (11%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Health Professions (6%)

Outcomes

 North Central College Michigan State
Graduation Rate 64% 77%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $48,900 $60,000
Making Student Loan Payments 74% 68%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $25,484
Median Loan Payment $258 $263

Diversity

 North Central College Michigan State
% Men 4% 9%
% Women 12% 12%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 71% 67%
% Black 4% 7%
% Hispanic 11% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 2% 13%
% Unknown Race 7% 1%

Students

 North Central College Michigan State
% In-State 79% 76%
% Out-of-State 18% 18%

Campus

 North Central College Michigan State
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Michigan State University is larger than than North Central College based on total student enrollment (51,316 students vs. 2,856 students)

North Central College vs. Michigan State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, North Central College or Michigan State?

  • North Central College is 181.9% more expensive to attend than Michigan State for in-state tuition ($44,114.00 vs. $15,648.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 2.5% higher at North Central College than Michigan State University ($44,114.00 vs. $43,032.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at North Central College than Michigan State ($24,190 vs. $24,630)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Michigan State University are 5.8% lower than costs at North Central College ($11,754 vs. $12,434)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at North Central College than Michigan State University (100% vs. 96%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by North Central College students is 275.8% larger than aid received Michigan State University ($30,619 vs. $8,147)

North Central College vs. Michigan State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Michigan State University (1159) is 34 points higher than at North Central College (1125)
  • Incoming Michigan State students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at North Central College (25)
  • Accepted freshman Michigan State students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at North Central College (3.6)
  • Michigan State has a higher acceptance rate (83.9%) than North Central College (58.3%)

North Central College vs. Michigan State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, North Central College or Michigan State? 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 Michigan State and North Central College.

  • The graduation rate at Michigan State is higher than North Central College (77% vs. 64%)
  • Graduates from Michigan State University earn on average $11,100 more per year than North Central College graduates after ten years. ($60,000 vs. $48,900)
  • North Central College students graduate with a $484 lower median federal student loan debt than Michigan State graduates. ($25,000 vs. $25,484)
  • North Central College graduates are paying $5 less per month on federal student loans than Michigan State graduates. ($258 vs. $263)
  • More North Central College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Michigan State students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 68%)

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