Illinois vs. Michigan State

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

Illinois Michigan State
Location Champaign, IL East Lansing, MI
Setting Small City Rural Fringe
Enrollment 56,916 50,023
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #106 #240
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website illinois.edu msu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Illinois Michigan State
Tuition (In State) $12,474 $15,192
Tuition (Out of State) $30,446 $41,778
Room & Board $12,720 $10,990
Avg Net Price $14,544 $22,803
Avg Grant Aid $16,552 $8,684
% Receiving Grant Aid 54% 92%

Admission

Illinois Michigan State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 63,257 53,341
Admitted 28,354 46,914
Acceptance Rate 44.8% 88%
Enrolled % 28.1% 21%
Avg High School GPA 3.79 3.72
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Exceptional Very High
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 29/34 25/31
SAT Range 1320/1510 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 5, 2025

Academics

Illinois Michigan State
Student to Faculty Ratio 21:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Engineering (16%)
  • Business (13%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Communication (11%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Health Professions (6%)

Outcomes

Illinois Michigan State
Graduation Rate 82% 77%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $66,500 $60,000
Making Student Loan Payments 78% 68%
Median Student Loan Debt $20,500 $25,484
Median Loan Payment $211 $263

Diversity

Illinois Michigan State
% Men 54% 47%
% Women 46% 53%
Racial Diversity Very High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 48% 67%
% Black 6% 7%
% Hispanic 10% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 16% 13%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

Illinois Michigan State
% In-State 71% 71%
% Out-of-State 11% 21%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign is larger than than Michigan State based on total student enrollment (56,916 students vs. 50,023 students)

Illinois vs. Michigan State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Illinois or Michigan State?

  • Michigan State University is 21.8% more expensive to attend than Illinois for in-state tuition ($15,192.00 vs. $12,474.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 37.2% higher at Michigan State than University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign ($41,778.00 vs. $30,446.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign than Michigan State ($14,544 vs. $22,803)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Michigan State University are 15.7% lower than costs at University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign ($10,990 vs. $12,720)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Michigan State University than University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (92% vs. 54%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign students is 90.6% larger than aid received Michigan State University ($16,552 vs. $8,684)

Illinois vs. Michigan State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (1305) is 146 points higher than at Michigan State (1159)
  • Incoming Illinois students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at Michigan State (26)
  • Accepted freshman Illinois students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at Michigan State (3.72)
  • Michigan State has a higher acceptance rate (88%) than Illinois (44.8%)

Illinois vs. Michigan State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Illinois 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 Illinois.

  • The graduation rate at Illinois is higher than Michigan State University (82% vs. 77%)
  • Graduates from University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign earn on average $6,500 more per year than Michigan State graduates after ten years. ($66,500 vs. $60,000)
  • University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign students graduate with a $4,984 lower median federal student loan debt than Michigan State graduates. ($20,500 vs. $25,484)
  • Illinois graduates are paying $52 less per month on federal student loans than Michigan State graduates. ($211 vs. $263)
  • More Illinois graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Michigan State students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 68%)

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