CU Boulder vs. Michigan State

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

CU Boulder Michigan State
Location Boulder, CO East Lansing, MI
Setting Small City Rural Fringe
Enrollment 39,585 50,023
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #191 #240
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website colorado.edu msu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

CU Boulder Michigan State
Tuition (In State) $11,520 $15,192
Tuition (Out of State) $38,770 $41,778
Room & Board $16,146 $10,990
Avg Net Price $21,836 $22,803
Avg Grant Aid $10,477 $8,684
% Receiving Grant Aid 57% 92%

Admission

CU Boulder Michigan State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 53,781 53,341
Admitted 43,416 46,914
Acceptance Rate 80.7% 88%
Enrolled % 16.4% 21%
Avg High School GPA 3.68 3.72
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Very High Very High
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 26/32 25/31
SAT Range 1160/1390 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 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

CU Boulder Michigan State
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Communication (11%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Health Professions (6%)

Outcomes

CU Boulder Michigan State
Graduation Rate 68% 77%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $56,900 $60,000
Making Student Loan Payments 73% 68%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,500 $25,484
Median Loan Payment $201 $263

Diversity

CU Boulder Michigan State
% Men 55% 47%
% Women 45% 53%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 71% 67%
% Black 2% 7%
% Hispanic 11% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 3%
% International 6% 13%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

CU Boulder Michigan State
% In-State 53% 71%
% Out-of-State 45% 21%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Michigan State University is larger than than CU Boulder based on total student enrollment (50,023 students vs. 39,585 students)

CU Boulder vs. Michigan State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CU Boulder or Michigan State?

  • Michigan State University is 31.9% more expensive to attend than CU Boulder for in-state tuition ($15,192.00 vs. $11,520.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 7.8% higher at Michigan State than University of Colorado Boulder ($41,778.00 vs. $38,770.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Colorado Boulder than Michigan State ($21,836 vs. $22,803)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Michigan State University are 46.9% lower than costs at University of Colorado Boulder ($10,990 vs. $16,146)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Michigan State University than University of Colorado Boulder (92% vs. 57%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Colorado Boulder students is 20.6% larger than aid received Michigan State University ($10,477 vs. $8,684)

CU Boulder vs. Michigan State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of Colorado Boulder (1212) is 53 points higher than at Michigan State (1159)
  • Incoming CU Boulder students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at Michigan State (26)
  • Accepted freshman Michigan State students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at CU Boulder (3.68)
  • Michigan State has a higher acceptance rate (88%) than CU Boulder (80.7%)

CU Boulder vs. Michigan State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, CU Boulder 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 CU Boulder.

  • The graduation rate at Michigan State is higher than University of Colorado Boulder (77% vs. 68%)
  • Graduates from Michigan State University earn on average $3,100 more per year than CU Boulder graduates after ten years. ($60,000 vs. $56,900)
  • University of Colorado Boulder students graduate with a $5,984 lower median federal student loan debt than Michigan State graduates. ($19,500 vs. $25,484)
  • CU Boulder graduates are paying $62 less per month on federal student loans than Michigan State graduates. ($201 vs. $263)
  • More CU Boulder graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Michigan State students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 68%)

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