OU-Athens vs Michigan State University (MSU)

Ohio University-Main Campus and Michigan State University, both esteemed public research universities, offer distinct educational experiences. Ohio University boasts a higher acceptance rate, making it more accessible to a broader range of students. In contrast, Michigan State University has a lower acceptance rate, indicating a more selective admissions process. While Ohio University's student body is predominantly composed of Ohio residents, Michigan State University attracts a more diverse student population from across the nation and the globe. Both universities offer a wide array of undergraduate programs, with popular majors such as Business, Engineering, and Health Sciences featuring prominently at both institutions. However, Michigan State University offers a slightly higher graduation rate, suggesting that students may find it easier to complete their degrees within the expected timeframe. To help you make an informed decision about your higher education journey, we have compiled a comprehensive comparison table that delves into these and other key differences between Ohio University-Main Campus and Michigan State University.
Michigan State University logo

Michigan State University

Ohio University-Main Campus logo

Ohio University-Main Campus

Overview

Location East Lansing, Michigan Athens, Ohio
Campus setting City: Small Town: Distant
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% 81.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 83.3% 88.6%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $65

Graduate: $65
Undergraduate: $50

Graduate: $50
SAT range 1100 - 1320 1070 - 1290
ACT range 23 - 29 22 - 27
Students submitting SAT score 48.0% 12.0%
Students submitting ACT score 16.0% 49.0%
Total number of applicants 50,630 21,733
Total number of admissions given out 42,150 19,245
Admitted students who chose to enroll 9,225 3,664
Yield rate 21.9% 19.0%
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: $28,616

Out of state: $38,586
Average net price $8,738 $20,496
Tuition
In state: $14,750

Out of state: $40,562
In state: $12,840

Out of state: $22,810
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $4,408

Meal plan: $6,268
Room/dormitory: $7,308

Meal plan: $6,918
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Guaranteed tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

58.0%
Average amount $12,822
99.0%
Average amount $8,756
Students receiving federal student loan 34.0%
Average amount $4,999
49.0%
Average amount $4,890
Students taking out private loans 6.0%
Average amount $18,093
8.0%
Average amount $10,581

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 38,574
Men 48.4% Women 51.6%
18,399
Men 39.6% Women 60.4%
Graduate students 11,085
Men 42.4% Women 57.6%
6,398
Men 42.2% Women 57.8%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Very Low
Out-of-state students 18.7% 15.7%
International students 8.3% 3.9%
Campus local/setting City: Small Town: Distant
Dormitory capacity 17,463 7,173
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 Ohio Pennsylvania Illinois New York West Virginia

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Business
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Communication and Journalism
  • Health Professions
  • Engineering
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Education
  • Communication and Journalism
  • Engineering
Students to faculty ratio 16:1 17:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 82.1% 66.9%
Dropout rate 7.8% 4.1%
Transferred out 9.8% 27.6%
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
Engineering, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $94,330
  • Year 2: $100,690
  • Year 3: $103,464
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $90,459
  • Year 2: $97,959
  • Year 3: $101,078
Health and Medical Administrative Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $90,050
  • Year 2: $87,051
  • Year 3: $94,807
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $90,017
  • Year 2: $90,283
  • Year 3: $94,522
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $73,933
  • Year 2: $82,440
  • Year 3: $84,182
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $69,081
  • Year 2: $70,719
  • Year 3: $74,325
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $64,115
  • Year 2: $67,202
  • Year 3: $72,469
Osteopathic Medicine/Osteopathy (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $55,332
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: $70,864
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $74,736
  • Year 2: $68,219
  • Year 3: $70,825
Air Transportation (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $48,402
  • Year 2: $50,465
  • Year 3: $69,646

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