St. Mary's College vs. Michigan State

Comparable Facts

Compare Saint Mary's College in Notre Dame, IN with Michigan State University in East Lansing, MI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Michigan State University is larger than St. Mary's College based on total student enrollment (52,089 students vs. 1,601 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Saint Mary's College is located in Notre Dame, IN (Rural Fringe setting); Michigan State University is in East Lansing, MI (Rural Fringe setting).
• Saint Mary's College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Michigan State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Saint Mary's College 9:1; Michigan State University 17:1.

St. Mary's College vs. Michigan State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, St. Mary's College or Michigan State? 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 Michigan State University than St. Mary's College ($23,657 vs. $27,865).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Michigan State University are 11.9% lower than at Saint Mary's College ($12,564 vs. $14,260).
• Saint Mary's College is 223.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Michigan State (about $36,772 more per year; $53,230.00 vs. $16,458.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 21.4% higher at St. Mary's College than at Michigan State University (about $9,388 more per year; $53,230.00 vs. $43,842.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Saint Mary's College than at Michigan State University (100% vs. 88%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Saint Mary's College students is 297.4% larger than aid received by Michigan State University students ($38,748 vs. $9,750).

St. Mary's College vs. Michigan State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, St. Mary's College or Michigan State? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Michigan State and St. Mary's College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Michigan State University (1270) is 40 points higher than at St. Mary's College (1230).
• Incoming St. Mary's College students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 28) as students at Michigan State (28).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Saint Mary's College 1130/1325; Michigan State University 1180/1360.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Saint Mary's College 26/30; Michigan State University 25/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: St. Mary's College - Test optional; Michigan State - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman St. Mary's College students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.83) than students at Michigan State (3.72).
• Michigan State has a higher acceptance rate (84.8%) than St. Mary's College (76%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.1% at St. Mary's College vs. 18.3% at Michigan State.

St. Mary's College vs. Michigan State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for St. Mary's College and Michigan State? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Saint Mary's College's six-year graduation rate (79%) is higher than Michigan State University's (77%).
• Graduates from Michigan State University earn a median of about $8,900 more per year than St. Mary's College graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,000 vs. $51,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Michigan State University graduates have a $1,516 lower median loan debt than St. Mary's College graduates ($25,484 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Michigan State graduates have an estimated $16 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than St. Mary's College graduates ($263 vs. $279).
• More St. Mary's College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Michigan State students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 68%)

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.