Michigan State University (MSU) vs University of Michigan-Ann Arbor (UMich)

Envision yourself as a student, standing at the crossroads of two esteemed institutions: Michigan State University (MSU) and University of Michigan-Ann Arbor (UMich). While both universities share the common ground of academic excellence, they diverge in their unique offerings and student experiences. MSU, nestled in East Lansing, boasts a higher acceptance rate, welcoming a diverse student body from various backgrounds. UMich, situated in Ann Arbor, maintains a lower acceptance rate, attracting a highly competitive pool of applicants. Explore the nuances of each university's popular majors, graduation rates, and student demographics in the comprehensive comparison table below. Discover which institution aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences, setting the stage for your transformative journey in higher education.
Michigan State University logo

Michigan State University

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor logo

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

Overview

Location East Lansing, Michigan Ann Arbor, Michigan
Campus setting City: Small City: Midsize
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Semester Trimester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 92.0% 97.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 83.3% 20.2%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $65

Graduate: $65
Undergraduate: $75

Graduate: $75
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 79,743
Total number of admissions given out 42,150 16,071
Admitted students who chose to enroll 9,225 7,290
Yield rate 21.9% 45.4%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required 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: $32,272

Out of state: $69,326
Average net price $8,738 $19,205
Tuition
In state: $14,750

Out of state: $40,562
In state: $15,850

Out of state: $52,904
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $4,408

Meal plan: $6,268
$12,592
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

58.0%
Average amount $12,822
59.0%
Average amount $16,326
Students receiving federal student loan 34.0%
Average amount $4,999
24.0%
Average amount $5,311
Students taking out private loans 6.0%
Average amount $18,093
3.0%
Average amount $21,796

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 38,574
Men 48.4% Women 51.6%
32,282
Men 48.8% Women 51.2%
Graduate students 11,085
Men 42.4% Women 57.6%
17,996
Men 49.4% Women 50.6%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Low
Out-of-state students 18.7% N/A
International students 8.3% 15.7%
Campus local/setting City: Small City: Midsize
Dormitory capacity 17,463 11,629
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 N/A

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Business
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Communication and Journalism
  • Health Professions
  • Engineering
  • Engineering
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Public Administration and Social Service
  • Computer and Information Science
Students to faculty ratio 16:1 12:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 82.1% 93.7%
Dropout rate 7.8% 5.7%
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
Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $185,139
  • Year 2: $178,741
  • Year 3: $197,723
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $209,842
  • Year 2: $168,125
  • Year 3: $177,935
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $146,285
  • Year 2: $139,927
  • Year 3: $151,208
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $139,794
  • Year 2: $140,166
  • Year 3: $148,785
Dentistry (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $118,208
  • Year 2: $112,215
  • Year 3: $137,273
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $78,398
  • Year 2: $97,071
  • Year 3: $123,926
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $100,643
  • Year 2: $94,281
  • Year 3: $117,745
Systems Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $102,847
  • Year 2: $116,354
  • Year 3: $116,465
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $96,171
  • Year 2: $99,772
  • Year 3: $107,831
Engineering, Other (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $91,194
  • Year 2: $84,653
  • Year 3: $101,999

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