Michigan State University (MSU) vs Stanford

Envision yourself as a student, standing at the crossroads of two prestigious universities: Michigan State University (MSU) and Stanford University. While both institutions offer world-class education, they possess distinct characteristics that may influence your academic journey. MSU, rooted in the heart of East Lansing, Michigan, welcomes a diverse student body, boasting a higher acceptance rate compared to Stanford's highly selective admissions process. Immerse yourself in MSU's vibrant campus, where popular majors like business, engineering, and social sciences thrive. On the other hand, Stanford, nestled in the heart of Silicon Valley, California, attracts students seeking excellence in fields such as computer science, engineering, and business. Its rigorous academic standards are reflected in its lower acceptance rate. Explore the comparison table below to delve deeper into the unique offerings, student demographics, and graduation rates of these esteemed universities, and make an informed decision that aligns with your aspirations and goals.
Michigan State University logo

Michigan State University

Stanford University logo

Stanford University

Overview

Location East Lansing, Michigan Stanford, California
Campus setting City: Small Suburb: Large
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system Semester Quarter
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 92.0% 98.0%
Common app member Yes No
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 83.3% 3.9%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $65

Graduate: $65
Undergraduate: $90

Graduate: $125
SAT range 1100 - 1320 1470 - 1570
ACT range 23 - 29 34 - 35
Students submitting SAT score 48.0% 15.0%
Students submitting ACT score 16.0% 11.0%
Total number of applicants 50,630 55,471
Total number of admissions given out 42,150 2,190
Admitted students who chose to enroll 9,225 1,757
Yield rate 21.9% 80.2%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Not required
Recommendation letters Not required 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
$78,898
Average net price $8,738 $14,402
Tuition
In state: $14,750

Out of state: $40,562
$55,473
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $4,408

Meal plan: $6,268
Room/dormitory: $11,166

Meal plan: $6,694
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

58.0%
Average amount $12,822
61.0%
Average amount $56,211
Students receiving federal student loan 34.0%
Average amount $4,999
5.0%
Average amount $5,151
Students taking out private loans 6.0%
Average amount $18,093
1.0%
Average amount $17,186

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 38,574
Men 48.4% Women 51.6%
7,645
Men 49.4% Women 50.6%
Graduate students 11,085
Men 42.4% Women 57.6%
10,035
Men 56.5% Women 43.5%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Moderate
Out-of-state students 18.7% 58.5%
International students 8.3% 24.4%
Campus local/setting City: Small Suburb: Large
Dormitory capacity 17,463 14,621
First year students are required to live on campus? No Yes
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from Michigan Illinois California Ohio New York California Texas Washington New York Illinois

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Business
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Communication and Journalism
  • Health Professions
  • Engineering
  • Engineering
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Business
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Physical Science
Students to faculty ratio 16:1 5:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 82.1% 95.5%
Dropout rate 7.8% 1.7%
Transferred out 9.8% 0.6%
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
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $151,574
  • Year 2: $170,457
  • Year 3: $210,837
Computer Science (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $159,729
  • Year 2: $168,942
  • Year 3: $203,193
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $164,734
  • Year 2: $163,337
  • Year 3: $187,054
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $137,457
  • Year 2: $150,874
  • Year 3: $173,548
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $136,126
  • Year 2: $136,499
  • Year 3: $165,375
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $128,556
  • Year 2: $135,709
  • Year 3: $157,500
Engineering-Related Fields (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $123,354
  • Year 2: $106,421
  • Year 3: $139,234
Mechanical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $105,326
  • Year 2: $111,435
  • Year 3: $126,185
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $108,457
  • Year 2: $90,856
  • Year 3: $107,477
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $60,475
  • Year 2: $85,391
  • Year 3: $104,592

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