Wayne State vs Michigan State University (MSU)
Wayne State University and Michigan State University, both esteemed institutions in Michigan, offer distinct educational experiences. Wayne State, located in the heart of Detroit, boasts a diverse student body and a strong focus on urban studies, while Michigan State, situated in East Lansing, excels in agriculture, engineering, and veterinary medicine. With acceptance rates of 79% and 70%, respectively, both universities welcome a substantial number of applicants. While Wayne State's student body is predominantly undergraduate, Michigan State has a larger graduate population. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to delve into further details, including popular majors, graduation rates, and additional factors that may influence your decision in choosing the university that best aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() Michigan State University |
![]() Wayne State University |
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Overview |
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Location | East Lansing, Michigan | Detroit, Michigan |
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% | 81.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 83.3% | 63.3% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$65
Graduate:
$65
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Undergraduate:
$25
Graduate:
$50
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SAT range | 1100 - 1320 | 1030 - 1260 |
ACT range | 23 - 29 | 22 - 28 |
Students submitting SAT score | 48.0% | 48.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 16.0% | 7.0% |
Total number of applicants | 50,630 | 15,181 |
Total number of admissions given out | 42,150 | 9,603 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 9,225 | 2,732 |
Yield rate | 21.9% | 28.4% |
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 |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price |
In state:
$29,734
Out of state:
$55,546
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In state:
$32,193
Out of state:
$48,163
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Average net price | $8,738 | $15,710 |
Tuition |
In state:
$14,750
Out of state:
$40,562
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In state:
$12,376
Out of state:
$28,346
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Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$4,408
Meal plan:
$6,268
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Room/dormitory:
$7,463
Meal plan:
$4,280
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
58.0%
Average amount $12,822 |
98.0%
Average amount $10,091 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
34.0%
Average amount $4,999 |
38.0%
Average amount $4,807 |
Students taking out private loans |
6.0%
Average amount $18,093 |
3.0%
Average amount $11,147 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
38,574
Men 48.4% Women 51.6% |
16,839
Men 40.6% Women 59.4% |
Graduate students |
11,085
Men 42.4% Women 57.6% |
8,080
Men 40.0% Women 60.0% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
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Moderate
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Out-of-state students | 18.7% | 1.8% |
International students | 8.3% | 4.4% |
Campus local/setting | City: Small | City: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 17,463 | 3,192 |
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 | Michigan Ohio Illinois New York Washington |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 16:1 | 14:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 82.1% | 55.8% |
Dropout rate | 7.8% | 38.5% |
Transferred out | 9.8% | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Business/Commerce, General (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Human Resources Management and Services (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (First Professional Degrees)
Veterinary Medicine (First Professional Degrees)
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Master's Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
Food Science and Technology (Master's Degrees)
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctoral Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Civil Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
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