KU vs. Michigan State

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

KU Michigan State
Location Lawrence, KS East Lansing, MI
Setting Small City Rural Fringe
Enrollment 26,708 50,023
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #252 #240
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website ku.edu msu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

KU Michigan State
Tuition (In State) $10,092 $15,192
Tuition (Out of State) $26,960 $41,778
Room & Board $10,136 $10,990
Avg Net Price $18,950 $22,803
Avg Grant Aid $11,140 $8,684
% Receiving Grant Aid 87% 92%

Admission

KU Michigan State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 16,204 53,341
Admitted 14,234 46,914
Acceptance Rate 87.8% 88%
Enrolled % 31.3% 21%
Avg High School GPA 3.66 3.72
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Challenging Very High
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/28 25/31
SAT Range 1090/1340 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 Aug 15, 2025

Academics

KU Michigan State
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (15%)
  • Communication (12%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Health Professions (7%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Communication (11%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Health Professions (6%)

Outcomes

KU Michigan State
Graduation Rate 61% 77%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $54,600 $60,000
Making Student Loan Payments 66% 68%
Median Student Loan Debt $20,500 $25,484
Median Loan Payment $211 $263

Diversity

KU Michigan State
% Men 45% 47%
% Women 55% 53%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 72% 67%
% Black 4% 7%
% Hispanic 7% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 3%
% International 6% 13%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

KU Michigan State
% In-State 58% 71%
% Out-of-State 39% 21%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Michigan State University is larger than than KU based on total student enrollment (50,023 students vs. 26,708 students)

KU vs. Michigan State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, KU or Michigan State?

  • Michigan State University is 50.5% more expensive to attend than KU for in-state tuition ($15,192.00 vs. $10,092.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 55% higher at Michigan State than University of Kansas ($41,778.00 vs. $26,960.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Kansas than Michigan State ($18,950 vs. $22,803)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Kansas are 8.4% lower than costs at Michigan State University ($10,136 vs. $10,990)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Michigan State University than University of Kansas (92% vs. 87%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Kansas students is 28.3% larger than aid received Michigan State University ($11,140 vs. $8,684)

KU vs. Michigan State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Michigan State University (1159) is 14 points higher than at KU (1145)
  • Incoming Michigan State students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at KU (25)
  • Accepted freshman Michigan State students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at KU (3.66)
  • Michigan State has a higher acceptance rate (88%) than KU (87.8%)

KU vs. Michigan State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, KU 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 KU.

  • The graduation rate at Michigan State is higher than University of Kansas (77% vs. 61%)
  • Graduates from Michigan State University earn on average $5,400 more per year than KU graduates after ten years. ($60,000 vs. $54,600)
  • University of Kansas students graduate with a $4,984 lower median federal student loan debt than Michigan State graduates. ($20,500 vs. $25,484)
  • KU graduates are paying $52 less per month on federal student loans than Michigan State graduates. ($211 vs. $263)
  • More Michigan State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former KU students, three years after graduation. (68% vs. 66%)

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