U of A vs. Michigan State

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

 U of A Michigan State
Location Tucson, AZ East Lansing, MI
Setting Large City Rural Fringe
Enrollment 49,403 50,023
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #294 #240
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website arizona.edu msu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 U of A Michigan State
Tuition (In State) $11,525 $15,192
Tuition (Out of State) $37,827 $41,778
Room & Board $13,650 $10,990
Avg Net Price $17,075 $22,803
Avg Grant Aid $15,279 $8,684
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 92%

Admission

 U of A Michigan State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 52,091 53,341
Admitted 45,194 46,914
Acceptance Rate 86.8% 88%
Enrolled % 20% 21%
Avg High School GPA 3.48 3.72
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Difficult Very High
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/29 25/31
SAT Range 1140/1370 1160/1360
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

Academics

 U of A Michigan State
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (16%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (5%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Communication (11%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Health Professions (6%)

Outcomes

 U of A Michigan State
Graduation Rate 61% 77%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $54,000 $60,000
Making Student Loan Payments 66% 68%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,000 $25,484
Median Loan Payment $196 $263

Diversity

 U of A Michigan State
% Men 45% 47%
% Women 55% 53%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 52% 67%
% Black 4% 7%
% Hispanic 25% 4%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 6% 13%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

 U of A Michigan State
% In-State 47% 71%
% Out-of-State 48% 21%

Campus

 U of A 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 U of A based on total student enrollment (50,023 students vs. 49,403 students)

U of A vs. Michigan State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, U of A or Michigan State?

  • Michigan State University is 31.8% more expensive to attend than U of A for in-state tuition ($15,192.00 vs. $11,525.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 10.4% higher at Michigan State than University of Arizona ($41,778.00 vs. $37,827.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Arizona than Michigan State ($17,075 vs. $22,803)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Michigan State University are 24.2% lower than costs at University of Arizona ($10,990 vs. $13,650)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Arizona than Michigan State University (98% vs. 92%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Arizona students is 75.9% larger than aid received Michigan State University ($15,279 vs. $8,684)

U of A vs. Michigan State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Michigan State students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at U of A (3.48)
  • Michigan State has a higher acceptance rate (88%) than U of A (86.8%)

U of A vs. Michigan State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, U of A 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 U of A.

  • The graduation rate at Michigan State is higher than University of Arizona (77% vs. 61%)
  • Graduates from Michigan State University earn on average $6,000 more per year than U of A graduates after ten years. ($60,000 vs. $54,000)
  • University of Arizona students graduate with a $6,484 lower median federal student loan debt than Michigan State graduates. ($19,000 vs. $25,484)
  • U of A graduates are paying $67 less per month on federal student loans than Michigan State graduates. ($196 vs. $263)
  • More Michigan State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former U of A students, three years after graduation. (68% vs. 66%)

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