Illinois vs. Michigan State

Deciding between University of Illinois Urbana Champaign 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 Urbana Champaign
Michigan State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Illinois Champaign, IL
  • Michigan State East Lansing, MI
  • Setting
  • Illinois Small City
  • Michigan State Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • Illinois 59,238
  • Michigan State 52,089
  • Type
  • Illinois Public 4 Year
  • Michigan State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Illinois #117
  • Michigan State #241
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Illinois -
  • Michigan State -
  • Status
  • Illinois Non-profit
  • Michigan State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Illinois
  • Michigan State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Illinois $16,004
  • Michigan State $16,458
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Illinois $35,124
  • Michigan State $43,842
  • Room & Board
  • Illinois $14,522
  • Michigan State $12,564
  • Average Net Price
  • Illinois $13,973
  • Michigan State $23,657
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Illinois $19,299
  • Michigan State $9,750
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Illinois 52%
  • Michigan State 88%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Illinois 73,742
  • Michigan State 62,138
  • Admitted
  • Illinois 31,247
  • Michigan State 52,690
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Illinois 42.4%
  • Michigan State 84.8%
  • Enrolled
  • Illinois 28.8%
  • Michigan State 18.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Illinois 1420
  • Michigan State 1270
  • Typical ACT score
  • Illinois 32
  • Michigan State 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • Illinois 3.79
  • Michigan State 3.72
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Illinois A-
  • Michigan State A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Illinois Exceptional
  • Michigan State Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Illinois Low
  • Michigan State
  • ACT Range
  • Illinois 30/34
  • Michigan State 25/31
  • SAT Range
  • Illinois 1310/1520
  • Michigan State 1180/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Illinois Test optional
  • Michigan State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Illinois Jan 5, 2027
  • Michigan State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Illinois 20:1
  • Michigan State 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Illinois
    • Engineering (16%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • Michigan State
    • Business (17%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • Communication (11%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Health Professions (6%)

  • Outcomes

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

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Illinois 54%
  • Michigan State 47%
  • % Women
  • Illinois 46%
  • Michigan State 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Illinois High
  • Michigan State Medium
  • HBCU
  • Illinois No
  • Michigan State No
  • % White
  • Illinois 48%
  • Michigan State 67%
  • % Asian
  • Illinois 17%
  • Michigan State 5%
  • % Black
  • Illinois 6%
  • Michigan State 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Illinois 10%
  • Michigan State 4%
  • % Native American
  • Illinois 0%
  • Michigan State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Illinois 0%
  • Michigan State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Illinois 3%
  • Michigan State 3%
  • % International
  • Illinois 16%
  • Michigan State 13%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Illinois 1%
  • Michigan State 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Illinois 71%
  • Michigan State 77%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Illinois 14%
  • Michigan State 19%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Illinois Urbana Champaign in Champaign, IL with Michigan State University in East Lansing, MI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Illinois Urbana Champaign is larger than Michigan State based on total student enrollment (59,238 students vs. 52,089 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Illinois Urbana Champaign is located in Champaign, IL (Small City setting); Michigan State University is in East Lansing, MI (Rural Fringe setting).
  • University of Illinois Urbana Champaign 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 Urbana Champaign 20:1; Michigan State University 17:1.

Illinois vs. Michigan State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Illinois 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 Urbana Champaign than Michigan State ($13,973 vs. $23,657).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Michigan State University are 13.5% lower than at University of Illinois Urbana Champaign ($12,564 vs. $14,522).
  • Michigan State University is 2.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Illinois (about $454 more per year; $16,458.00 vs. $16,004.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 24.8% higher at Michigan State than at University of Illinois Urbana Champaign (about $8,718 more per year; $43,842.00 vs. $35,124.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Michigan State University than at University of Illinois Urbana Champaign (88% vs. 52%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Illinois Urbana Champaign students is 97.9% larger than aid received by Michigan State University students ($19,299 vs. $9,750).

Illinois vs. Michigan State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Illinois 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 Illinois.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Illinois Urbana Champaign (1420) is 150 points higher than at Michigan State (1270).
  • Incoming Illinois students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 28 at Michigan State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Urbana Champaign 1310/1520; Michigan State University 1180/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Urbana Champaign 30/34; Michigan State University 25/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Illinois - Test optional; Michigan State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Illinois Jan 5, 2027.
  • 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 (84.8%) than Illinois (42.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28.8% at Illinois vs. 18.3% at Michigan State.

Illinois vs. Michigan State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Illinois 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).

  • University of Illinois Urbana Champaign's six-year graduation rate (82%) is higher than Michigan State University's (77%).
  • Graduates from University of Illinois Urbana Champaign earn a median of about $6,500 more per year than Michigan State graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,500 vs. $60,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign graduates have a $4,984 lower median loan debt than Michigan State graduates ($20,500 vs. $25,484).
  • Among borrowers, Illinois graduates have an estimated $52 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.