Michigan State University (MSU) vs University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC)

Envision yourself as a student, standing at the crossroads of two esteemed universities: Michigan State University (MSU) and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC). Both institutions offer a world-class education, yet they possess distinct characteristics that may sway your decision. MSU, rooted in the heart of East Lansing, Michigan, boasts a larger student body and a higher acceptance rate, welcoming a diverse mix of learners from various backgrounds. UNC, nestled in the vibrant town of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, presents a more selective admissions process and a smaller student population, fostering a close-knit community. Delve into our comprehensive comparison table to uncover further disparities in acceptance rates, popular majors, student demographics, and graduation outcomes. Discover which university aligns seamlessly with your academic aspirations and personal preferences, setting the stage for an exceptional collegiate experience.
Michigan State University logo

Michigan State University

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill logo

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Overview

Location East Lansing, Michigan Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Campus setting City: Small City: Small
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% 97.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 83.3% 20.4%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $65

Graduate: $65
Undergraduate: $85

Graduate: $95
SAT range 1100 - 1320 1140 - 1380
ACT range 23 - 29 22 - 27
Students submitting SAT score 48.0% 2.0%
Students submitting ACT score 16.0% 12.0%
Total number of applicants 50,630 50,729
Total number of admissions given out 42,150 10,348
Admitted students who chose to enroll 9,225 4,690
Yield rate 21.9% 45.3%
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

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $29,734

Out of state: $55,546
In state: $24,770

Out of state: $52,633
Average net price $8,738 $11,508
Tuition
In state: $14,750

Out of state: $40,562
In state: $7,019

Out of state: $34,882
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $4,408

Meal plan: $6,268
Room/dormitory: $6,878

Meal plan: $5,004
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
42.0%
Average amount $16,076
Students receiving federal student loan 34.0%
Average amount $4,999
17.0%
Average amount $4,244
Students taking out private loans 6.0%
Average amount $18,093
3.0%
Average amount $14,032

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 38,574
Men 48.4% Women 51.6%
19,845
Men 39.6% Women 60.4%
Graduate students 11,085
Men 42.4% Women 57.6%
11,796
Men 41.4% Women 58.6%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Low
Out-of-state students 18.7% 16.2%
International students 8.3% 6.8%
Campus local/setting City: Small City: Small
Dormitory capacity 17,463 9,984
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 North Carolina Georgia Maryland New York Pennsylvania

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Business
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Communication and Journalism
  • Health Professions
  • Engineering
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Social Sciences
  • Public Administration and Social Service
  • Multidisciplinary Studies
Students to faculty ratio 16:1 15:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Outcome

Graduation rate 82.1% 90.5%
Dropout rate 7.8% 3.7%
Transferred out 9.8% 5.4%
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
Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $168,979
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: $238,213
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $135,965
  • Year 2: $127,836
  • Year 3: $150,089
Dentistry (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $116,248
  • Year 2: $82,440
  • Year 3: $128,102
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $67,961
  • Year 2: $103,078
  • Year 3: $117,488
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $89,271
  • Year 2: $86,036
  • Year 3: $96,602
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $74,162
  • Year 2: $72,083
  • Year 3: $95,204
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $74,938
  • Year 2: $73,823
  • Year 3: $89,917
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $71,557
  • Year 2: $57,770
  • Year 3: $87,057
Applied Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $64,899
  • Year 2: $67,660
  • Year 3: $86,155
Health and Medical Administrative Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $68,205
  • Year 2: $68,666
  • Year 3: $82,520

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.
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