Michigan State University (MSU) vs Berkeley

Envision yourself immersed in the vibrant college towns of East Lansing, Michigan, and Berkeley, California, home to two esteemed institutions of higher learning: Michigan State University (MSU) and University of California-Berkeley (UC Berkeley). While both universities share a commitment to academic excellence, they offer distinct experiences shaped by their unique characteristics. MSU, a Big Ten Conference member, boasts a larger student body and a lower acceptance rate compared to UC Berkeley, a prestigious public research university known for its rigorous academics and highly selective admissions process. Explore the nuances of these two exceptional universities through a comprehensive side-by-side comparison, delving into acceptance rates, popular majors, student body demographics, graduation rates, and more. Discover which institution aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences, empowering you to make an informed decision about your future.
Michigan State University logo

Michigan State University

University of California-Berkeley logo

University of California-Berkeley

Overview

Location East Lansing, Michigan Berkeley, California
Campus setting City: Small City: Midsize
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 92.0% 96.0%
Common app member Yes No
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 83.3% 14.4%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $65

Graduate: $65
Undergraduate: $70

Graduate: $120
SAT range 1100 - 1320 N/A
ACT range 23 - 29 N/A
Students submitting SAT score 48.0%
Students submitting ACT score 16.0%
Total number of applicants 50,630 112,843
Total number of admissions given out 42,150 16,295
Admitted students who chose to enroll 9,225 6,931
Yield rate 21.9% 42.5%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $29,734

Out of state: $55,546
In state: $37,920

Out of state: $67,674
Average net price $8,738 $17,652
Tuition
In state: $14,750

Out of state: $40,562
In state: $11,442

Out of state: $41,196
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $4,408

Meal plan: $6,268
$20,236
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

58.0%
Average amount $12,822
52.0%
Average amount $21,406
Students receiving federal student loan 34.0%
Average amount $4,999
15.0%
Average amount $4,586
Students taking out private loans 6.0%
Average amount $18,093
6.0%
Average amount $7,122

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 38,574
Men 48.4% Women 51.6%
31,814
Men 45.4% Women 54.6%
Graduate students 11,085
Men 42.4% Women 57.6%
13,222
Men 51.7% Women 48.3%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Moderate
Out-of-state students 18.7% 16.9%
International students 8.3% 18.0%
Campus local/setting City: Small City: Midsize
Dormitory capacity 17,463 9,630
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from Michigan Illinois California Ohio New York California New Jersey Texas Virginia New York

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Business
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Communication and Journalism
  • Health Professions
  • Engineering
  • Engineering
  • Business
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Legal Profession
  • Health Professions
Students to faculty ratio 16:1 20:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 82.1% 92.8%
Dropout rate 7.8% 6.3%
Transferred out 9.8% N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Business/Commerce, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $126,500
  • Year 2: $123,886
  • Year 3: $132,790
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $101,863
  • Year 2: $98,481
  • Year 3: $108,546
Human Resources Management and Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $90,313
  • Year 2: $89,435
  • Year 3: $101,511
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $92,361
  • Year 2: $96,183
  • Year 3: $100,492
Educational Administration and Supervision (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $101,072
  • Year 3: $97,714
Veterinary Medicine (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $79,294
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: $93,263
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $84,609
  • Year 2: $83,915
  • Year 3: $92,316
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $83,457
  • Year 2: $86,129
  • Year 3: $91,721
Food Science and Technology (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $81,178
  • Year 2: $83,915
  • Year 3: $89,761
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $75,462
  • Year 2: $80,133
  • Year 3: $84,869
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $171,936
  • Year 3: $191,597
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $122,038
  • Year 3: $167,052
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $125,250
  • Year 2: $125,388
  • Year 3: $161,399
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $126,367
  • Year 2: $128,868
  • Year 3: $160,666
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $160,390
  • Year 2: $142,470
  • Year 3: $143,984
Information Science/Studies (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $119,358
  • Year 3: $143,516
Chemistry (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $107,442
  • Year 2: $63,005
  • Year 3: $112,973
Optometry (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $74,750
  • Year 2: $91,363
  • Year 3: $104,601
Mechanical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $95,600
  • Year 2: $85,760
  • Year 3: $103,738
Applied Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $71,282
  • Year 2: $65,387
  • Year 3: $102,543

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