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Michigan State University (MSU) vs CU-Boulder

Envision yourself immersed in the vibrant college towns of East Lansing, Michigan, and Boulder, Colorado, home to Michigan State University (MSU) and University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder), respectively. While both universities share a commitment to academic excellence and offer a diverse range of programs, they possess distinct characteristics that may influence your college experience. MSU boasts a higher acceptance rate, making it a more accessible option, while CU Boulder's lower acceptance rate indicates a more selective admissions process. Explore the comparison table to delve into further details, including popular majors, student body demographics, graduation rates, and more, to determine which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
Michigan State University logo

Michigan State University

 		University of Colorado Boulder logo

University of Colorado Boulder

Overview

Location East Lansing, Michigan Boulder, Colorado
Campus setting City: Small City: Midsize
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% 87.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 83.3% 79.6%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $65
Graduate: $65
Undergraduate: $50
Graduate: $60
SAT range 1100 - 1320 1170 - 1390
ACT range 23 - 29 25 - 31
Students submitting SAT score 48.0% 32.0%
Students submitting ACT score 16.0% 16.0%
Total number of applicants 50,630 54,756
Total number of admissions given out 42,150 43,576
Admitted students who chose to enroll 9,225 6,785
Yield rate 21.9% 15.6%
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: $29,725
Out of state: $55,543
Average net price $8,738 $22,532
Tuition
In state: $14,750
Out of state: $40,562
In state: $10,728
Out of state: $36,546
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $4,408
Meal plan: $6,268
$15,220
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 		53.0%
Average amount $9,214
Students receiving federal student loan 34.0%
Average amount $4,999 		27.0%
Average amount $4,986
Students taking out private loans 6.0%
Average amount $18,093 		6.0%
Average amount $24,094

Students and Campus
Undergraduate students 38,574
Men 48.4% Women 51.6% 		30,886
Men 54.8% Women 45.2%
Graduate students 11,085
Men 42.4% Women 57.6% 		8,114
Men 57.8% Women 42.2%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Low
Out-of-state students 18.7% 48.8%
International students 8.3% 7.1%
Campus local/setting City: Small City: Midsize
Dormitory capacity 17,463 7,500
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 Colorado California Texas Illinois New York

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Business
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Communication and Journalism
  • Health Professions
  • Engineering
  • Business
  • Engineering
  • Communication and Journalism
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Legal Profession
Students to faculty ratio 16:1 18:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 82.1% 74.0%
Dropout rate 7.8% 8.6%
Transferred out 9.8% 15.9%
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: $105,752
  • Year 2: $116,679
  • Year 3: $121,033
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $97,071
  • Year 3: $118,373
Computer Science (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $93,907
  • Year 2: $94,408
  • Year 3: $108,458
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $85,254
  • Year 2: $89,641
  • Year 3: $97,860
Mechanical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $76,200
  • Year 2: $75,706
  • Year 3: $92,272
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $87,191
  • Year 2: $80,503
  • Year 3: $87,258
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $74,023
  • Year 2: $75,204
  • Year 3: $86,676
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $69,804
  • Year 2: $75,921
  • Year 3: $85,563
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $75,633
  • Year 2: $83,177
  • Year 3: $85,039
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $68,440
  • Year 2: $71,957
  • Year 3: $83,132

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