Wheaton College vs. Michigan State

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

Wheaton College Michigan State
Location Wheaton, IL East Lansing, MI
Setting Large Suburban Rural Fringe
Enrollment 2,799 51,316
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #156 #227
Religious Affiliation Undenominational - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wheaton.edu msu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Wheaton College Michigan State
Tuition (In State) $43,670 $15,648
Tuition (Out of State) $43,670 $43,032
Room & Board $12,390 $11,754
Avg Net Price $31,346 $24,630
Avg Grant Aid $25,196 $8,147
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 96%

Admission

Wheaton College Michigan State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,866 58,879
Admitted 1,679 49,414
Acceptance Rate 90% 83.9%
Enrolled % 32.9% 19.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.75 3.72
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Very High Very High
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 27/32 26/31
SAT Range 1260/1440 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 Aug 1, 2025

Academics

Wheaton College Michigan State
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (15%)
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (9%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Business (8%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Communication (11%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Health Professions (6%)

Outcomes

Wheaton College Michigan State
Graduation Rate 87% 77%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $54,300 $60,000
Making Student Loan Payments 90% 68%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,500 $25,484
Median Loan Payment $232 $263

Diversity

Wheaton College Michigan State
% Men 10% 9%
% Women 14% 12%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 76% 67%
% Black 3% 7%
% Hispanic 6% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 3%
% International 3% 13%
% Unknown Race 0% 1%

Students

Wheaton College Michigan State
% In-State 21% 76%
% Out-of-State 54% 18%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Michigan State University is larger than than Wheaton College based on total student enrollment (51,316 students vs. 2,799 students)

Wheaton College vs. Michigan State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Wheaton College or Michigan State?

  • Wheaton College is 179.1% more expensive to attend than Michigan State for in-state tuition ($43,670.00 vs. $15,648.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 1.5% higher at Wheaton College than Michigan State University ($43,670.00 vs. $43,032.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Michigan State University than Wheaton College ($24,630 vs. $31,346)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Michigan State University are 5.4% lower than costs at Wheaton College ($11,754 vs. $12,390)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Wheaton College than Michigan State University (98% vs. 96%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Wheaton College students is 209.3% larger than aid received Michigan State University ($25,196 vs. $8,147)

Wheaton College vs. Michigan State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Wheaton College (1314) is 155 points higher than at Michigan State (1159)
  • Incoming Wheaton College students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (30) than students at Michigan State (26)
  • Accepted freshman Wheaton College students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at Michigan State (3.72)
  • Wheaton College has a higher acceptance rate (90%) than Michigan State (83.9%)

Wheaton College vs. Michigan State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Wheaton College 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 Wheaton College.

  • The graduation rate at Wheaton College is higher than Michigan State University (87% vs. 77%)
  • Graduates from Michigan State University earn on average $5,700 more per year than Wheaton College graduates after ten years. ($60,000 vs. $54,300)
  • Wheaton College students graduate with a $2,984 lower median federal student loan debt than Michigan State graduates. ($22,500 vs. $25,484)
  • Wheaton College graduates are paying $31 less per month on federal student loans than Michigan State graduates. ($232 vs. $263)
  • More Wheaton College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Michigan State students, three years after graduation. (90% vs. 68%)

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