Iowa vs. Michigan State

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

 Iowa Michigan State
Location Iowa City, IA East Lansing, MI
Setting Small City Rural Fringe
Enrollment 30,042 51,316
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #225 #227
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website uiowa.edu msu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Iowa Michigan State
Tuition (In State) $9,016 $15,648
Tuition (Out of State) $30,979 $43,032
Room & Board $12,616 $11,754
Avg Net Price $20,121 $24,630
Avg Grant Aid $9,512 $8,147
% Receiving Grant Aid 74% 96%

Admission

 Iowa Michigan State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 25,682 58,879
Admitted 21,746 49,414
Acceptance Rate 84.7% 83.9%
Enrolled % 23.3% 19.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.81 3.72
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Challenging Very High
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 22/28 26/31
SAT Range 1130/1320 1150/1350
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 May 1, 2026

Academics

 Iowa Michigan State
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (18%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Communication (11%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Health Professions (6%)

Outcomes

 Iowa Michigan State
Graduation Rate 71% 77%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $59,800 $60,000
Making Student Loan Payments 70% 68%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,616 $25,484
Median Loan Payment $223 $263

Diversity

 Iowa Michigan State
% Men 12% 9%
% Women 14% 12%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 67% 67%
% Black 3% 7%
% Hispanic 7% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 12% 13%
% Unknown Race 4% 1%

Students

 Iowa Michigan State
% In-State 52% 76%
% Out-of-State 46% 18%

Campus

 Iowa 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 Iowa based on total student enrollment (51,316 students vs. 30,042 students)

Iowa vs. Michigan State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Iowa or Michigan State?

  • Michigan State University is 73.6% more expensive to attend than Iowa for in-state tuition ($15,648.00 vs. $9,016.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 38.9% higher at Michigan State than University of Iowa ($43,032.00 vs. $30,979.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Iowa than Michigan State ($20,121 vs. $24,630)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Michigan State University are 7.3% lower than costs at University of Iowa ($11,754 vs. $12,616)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Michigan State University than University of Iowa (96% vs. 74%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Iowa students is 16.8% larger than aid received Michigan State University ($9,512 vs. $8,147)

Iowa vs. Michigan State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of Iowa (1164) is 5 points higher than at Michigan State (1159)
  • Incoming Iowa students have at the same average ACT score (26) as students at Michigan State (26)
  • Accepted freshman Iowa students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at Michigan State (3.72)
  • Iowa has a higher acceptance rate (84.7%) than Michigan State (83.9%)

Iowa vs. Michigan State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Iowa 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 Iowa.

  • The graduation rate at Michigan State is higher than University of Iowa (77% vs. 71%)
  • Graduates from Michigan State University earn on average $200 more per year than Iowa graduates after ten years. ($60,000 vs. $59,800)
  • University of Iowa students graduate with a $3,868 lower median federal student loan debt than Michigan State graduates. ($21,616 vs. $25,484)
  • Iowa graduates are paying $40 less per month on federal student loans than Michigan State graduates. ($223 vs. $263)
  • More Iowa graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Michigan State students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 68%)

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