UIC vs. Michigan State

Deciding between University of Illinois Chicago and Michigan State 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.

University of Illinois Chicago
Michigan State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UIC Chicago, IL
  • Michigan State East Lansing, MI
  • Setting
  • UIC Large City
  • Michigan State Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • UIC 33,906
  • Michigan State 52,089
  • Type
  • UIC Public 4 Year
  • Michigan State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UIC #215
  • Michigan State #241
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UIC -
  • Michigan State -
  • Status
  • UIC Non-profit
  • Michigan State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UIC
  • Michigan State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UIC $14,338
  • Michigan State $16,458
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UIC $29,884
  • Michigan State $43,842
  • Room & Board
  • UIC $16,500
  • Michigan State $12,564
  • Average Net Price
  • UIC $10,852
  • Michigan State $23,657
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UIC $16,755
  • Michigan State $9,750
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UIC 74%
  • Michigan State 88%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UIC 27,085
  • Michigan State 62,138
  • Admitted
  • UIC 20,951
  • Michigan State 52,690
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UIC 77.4%
  • Michigan State 84.8%
  • Enrolled
  • UIC 21.1%
  • Michigan State 18.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UIC 1240
  • Michigan State 1270
  • Typical ACT score
  • UIC 28
  • Michigan State 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • UIC 3.41
  • Michigan State 3.72
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UIC B+
  • Michigan State A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UIC Difficult
  • Michigan State Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • UIC
  • Michigan State
  • ACT Range
  • UIC 25/31
  • Michigan State 25/31
  • SAT Range
  • UIC 1130/1350
  • Michigan State 1180/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UIC Test optional
  • Michigan State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UIC Feb 1, 2027
  • Michigan State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UIC 17:1
  • Michigan State 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UIC
    • Business (16%)
    • Psychology (13%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Engineering (9%)
  • Michigan State
    • Business (17%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • Communication (11%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Health Professions (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UIC 54%
  • Michigan State 77%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UIC $61,900
  • Michigan State $60,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UIC 68%
  • Michigan State 68%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UIC $18,750
  • Michigan State $25,484
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UIC $193
  • Michigan State $263

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UIC 44%
  • Michigan State 47%
  • % Women
  • UIC 56%
  • Michigan State 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UIC Very High
  • Michigan State Medium
  • HBCU
  • UIC No
  • Michigan State No
  • % White
  • UIC 34%
  • Michigan State 67%
  • % Asian
  • UIC 22%
  • Michigan State 5%
  • % Black
  • UIC 8%
  • Michigan State 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • UIC 28%
  • Michigan State 4%
  • % Native American
  • UIC 0%
  • Michigan State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UIC 0%
  • Michigan State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UIC 3%
  • Michigan State 3%
  • % International
  • UIC 2%
  • Michigan State 13%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UIC 2%
  • Michigan State 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UIC 89%
  • Michigan State 77%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UIC 4%
  • Michigan State 19%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Illinois Chicago in Chicago, IL 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 UIC based on total student enrollment (52,089 students vs. 33,906 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Illinois Chicago is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); Michigan State University is in East Lansing, MI (Rural Fringe setting).
  • University of Illinois Chicago is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Michigan State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Illinois Chicago 17:1; Michigan State University 17:1.

UIC vs. Michigan State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UIC 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 University of Illinois Chicago than Michigan State ($10,852 vs. $23,657).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Michigan State University are 23.9% lower than at University of Illinois Chicago ($12,564 vs. $16,500).
  • Michigan State University is 14.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than UIC (about $2,120 more per year; $16,458.00 vs. $14,338.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 46.7% higher at Michigan State than at University of Illinois Chicago (about $13,958 more per year; $43,842.00 vs. $29,884.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Michigan State University than at University of Illinois Chicago (88% vs. 74%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Illinois Chicago students is 71.8% larger than aid received by Michigan State University students ($16,755 vs. $9,750).

UIC vs. Michigan State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UIC 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 UIC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Michigan State University (1270) is 30 points higher than at UIC (1240).
  • Incoming UIC 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: University of Illinois Chicago 1130/1350; Michigan State University 1180/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Chicago 25/31; Michigan State University 25/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UIC - Test optional; Michigan State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UIC Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Michigan State students have a 0.31 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at UIC (3.41).
  • Michigan State has a higher acceptance rate (84.8%) than UIC (77.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.1% at UIC vs. 18.3% at Michigan State.

UIC vs. Michigan State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UIC 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).

  • Michigan State University's six-year graduation rate (77%) is higher than University of Illinois Chicago's (54%).
  • Graduates from University of Illinois Chicago earn a median of about $1,900 more per year than Michigan State graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,900 vs. $60,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Illinois Chicago graduates have a $6,734 lower median loan debt than Michigan State graduates ($18,750 vs. $25,484).
  • Among borrowers, UIC graduates have an estimated $70 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Michigan State graduates ($193 vs. $263).
  • More Michigan State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UIC students, three years after graduation. (68% 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.