University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) vs Michigan State University (MSU)

Nestled in the heartland of America, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) and Michigan State University (MSU) stand as two prominent beacons of higher education. While both institutions share a commitment to academic excellence and student success, they offer distinct experiences shaped by their unique identities. UNL boasts a higher acceptance rate, making it a more accessible option for aspiring students. MSU, on the other hand, attracts a more diverse student body, fostering a vibrant and inclusive campus community. Explore our comprehensive comparison table to delve into the details of these two esteemed universities, contrasting their acceptance rates, popular majors, student demographics, graduation rates, and more. Discover which institution aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences, setting the stage for a transformative educational journey.
Michigan State University logo

Michigan State University

University of Nebraska-Lincoln logo

University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Overview

Location East Lansing, Michigan Lincoln, Nebraska
Campus setting City: Small City: Large
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% 80.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 83.3% 81.1%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $65

Graduate: $65
Undergraduate: $45

Graduate: $50
SAT range 1100 - 1320 1090 - 1320
ACT range 23 - 29 22 - 28
Students submitting SAT score 48.0% 8.0%
Students submitting ACT score 16.0% 85.0%
Total number of applicants 50,630 17,775
Total number of admissions given out 42,150 14,411
Admitted students who chose to enroll 9,225 4,736
Yield rate 21.9% 32.9%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Not required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Not required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $29,734

Out of state: $55,546
In state: $26,316

Out of state: $43,446
Average net price $8,738 $18,403
Tuition
In state: $14,750

Out of state: $40,562
In state: $7,770

Out of state: $24,900
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $4,408

Meal plan: $6,268
Room/dormitory: $7,485

Meal plan: $4,653
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

58.0%
Average amount $12,822
96.0%
Average amount $8,608
Students receiving federal student loan 34.0%
Average amount $4,999
34.0%
Average amount $4,691
Students taking out private loans 6.0%
Average amount $18,093
5.0%
Average amount $13,909

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 38,574
Men 48.4% Women 51.6%
19,552
Men 50.5% Women 49.5%
Graduate students 11,085
Men 42.4% Women 57.6%
4,879
Men 49.2% Women 50.8%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Very Low
Out-of-state students 18.7% 25.7%
International students 8.3% 7.4%
Campus local/setting City: Small City: Large
Dormitory capacity 17,463 6,936
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 Nebraska Illinois Minnesota Kansas Iowa

Academics

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

Outcome

Graduation rate 82.1% 66.4%
Dropout rate 7.8% 10.7%
Transferred out 9.8% 21.4%
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: $91,695
  • Year 2: $91,017
  • Year 3: $102,607
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $74,888
  • Year 2: $78,134
  • Year 3: $86,893
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $63,533
  • Year 2: $64,493
  • Year 3: $86,584
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $69,494
  • Year 2: $68,918
  • Year 3: $78,265
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $67,969
  • Year 2: $70,680
  • Year 3: $75,873
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $76,040
  • Year 2: $71,015
  • Year 3: $74,823
Education, Other (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $72,325
  • Year 3: $73,798
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $61,124
  • Year 2: $58,402
  • Year 3: $73,111
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $63,572
  • Year 2: $66,168
  • Year 3: $72,183
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $63,299
  • Year 2: $66,821
  • Year 3: $71,063

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