Michigan State University (MSU) vs UIdaho
Envision yourself immersed in the vibrant college towns of East Lansing, Michigan, and Moscow, Idaho, home to Michigan State University (MSU) and University of Idaho (U of I), respectively. While both institutions offer a wealth of opportunities, they possess distinct characteristics that may influence your academic journey. MSU boasts a larger student body, a higher acceptance rate, and a more diverse range of undergraduate programs, including highly ranked offerings in engineering, business, and agriculture. U of I, on the other hand, prides itself on its smaller class sizes, lower student-to-faculty ratio, and strengths in forestry, natural resources, and life sciences. Explore our comprehensive comparison table to delve into further details and discover which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
|
![]() Michigan State University |
![]() University of Idaho |
---|---|---|
Overview |
||
Location | East Lansing, Michigan | Moscow, Idaho |
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% | 75.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
|
||
Admission |
||
Acceptance rate | 83.3% | 81.4% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$65
Graduate:
$65
|
Undergraduate:
$60
Graduate:
$60
|
SAT range | 1100 - 1320 | 990 - 1220 |
ACT range | 23 - 29 | 20 - 28 |
Students submitting SAT score | 48.0% | 65.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 16.0% | 14.0% |
Total number of applicants | 50,630 | 9,814 |
Total number of admissions given out | 42,150 | 7,987 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 9,225 | 1,656 |
Yield rate | 21.9% | 20.7% |
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:
$22,254
Out of state:
$41,490
|
Average net price | $8,738 | $15,435 |
Tuition |
In state:
$14,750
Out of state:
$40,562
|
In state:
$6,182
Out of state:
$25,418
|
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$4,408
Meal plan:
$6,268
|
$9,610 |
Available payment plans |
|
|
|
||
Financial Aid |
||
Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
58.0%
Average amount $12,822 |
97.0%
Average amount $12,208 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
34.0%
Average amount $4,999 |
42.0%
Average amount $4,946 |
Students taking out private loans |
6.0%
Average amount $18,093 |
3.0%
Average amount $12,339 |
|
||
Students and Campus |
||
Undergraduate students |
38,574
Men 48.4% Women 51.6% |
8,631
Men 47.7% Women 52.3% |
Graduate students |
11,085
Men 42.4% Women 57.6% |
2,672
Men 49.6% Women 50.4% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
|
Very Low
|
Out-of-state students | 18.7% | 33.2% |
International students | 8.3% | 4.7% |
Campus local/setting | City: Small | Town: Distant |
Dormitory capacity | 17,463 | 2,310 |
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 | Idaho Washington California Oregon Nevada |
|
||
Academics |
||
Popular study areas |
|
|
Students to faculty ratio | 16:1 | 16:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities |
|
||
Outcome |
||
Graduation rate | 82.1% | 59.2% |
Dropout rate | 7.8% | 17.6% |
Transferred out | 9.8% | 21.7% |
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)
|
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Civil Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
Law (First Professional Degrees)
Applied Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
|
Compare Similar Colleges
The list of suggested college comparisons provided below is generated automatically by our system, utilizing
statistics gathered from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and various online sources. If you
don't find the colleges you wish to compare, please visit our comparison page.
There, you can search for the
specific colleges and initiate your comparison.






















































































































































































