Ohio State vs Michigan State University (MSU)
Ohio State University-Main Campus and Michigan State University, two prominent public research universities in the Big Ten Conference, offer distinct educational experiences. Ohio State, located in Columbus, boasts a larger student body and a higher acceptance rate compared to Michigan State in East Lansing. While both universities excel in various academic disciplines, Ohio State is renowned for its engineering, business, and health sciences programs, while Michigan State is known for its agriculture, engineering, and social sciences offerings. Explore the detailed comparison table to delve into further differences, including student demographics, graduation rates, and additional program details, to determine which university best aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() Michigan State University |
![]() Ohio State University-Main Campus |
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Overview |
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Location | East Lansing, Michigan | Columbus, Ohio |
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% | 94.0% |
![]() |
Yes | No |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 83.3% | 57.2% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$65
Graduate:
$65
|
Undergraduate:
$60
Graduate:
$60
|
SAT range | 1100 - 1320 | 1250 - 1440 |
ACT range | 23 - 29 | 26 - 32 |
Students submitting SAT score | 48.0% | 21.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 16.0% | 64.0% |
Total number of applicants | 50,630 | 58,180 |
Total number of admissions given out | 42,150 | 33,269 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 9,225 | 8,423 |
Yield rate | 21.9% | 25.3% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | 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
|
In state:
$27,796
Out of state:
$50,879
|
Average net price | $8,738 | $19,474 |
Tuition |
In state:
$14,750
Out of state:
$40,562
|
In state:
$11,018
Out of state:
$34,101
|
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$4,408
Meal plan:
$6,268
|
$13,392 |
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 |
72.0%
Average amount $11,830 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
34.0%
Average amount $4,999 |
36.0%
Average amount $5,228 |
Students taking out private loans |
6.0%
Average amount $18,093 |
6.0%
Average amount $17,841 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
38,574
Men 48.4% Women 51.6% |
47,106
Men 50.3% Women 49.7% |
Graduate students |
11,085
Men 42.4% Women 57.6% |
14,571
Men 41.6% Women 58.4% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
|
Low
|
Out-of-state students | 18.7% | 25.1% |
International students | 8.3% | 9.1% |
Campus local/setting | City: Small | City: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 17,463 | 15,129 |
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 | Ohio New York Illinois New Jersey Pennsylvania |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 16:1 | 18:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 82.1% | 88.0% |
Dropout rate | 7.8% | 3.8% |
Transferred out | 9.8% | 7.1% |
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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Dentistry (Master's Degrees)
Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other (Master's Degrees)
Dentistry (First Professional Degrees)
Veterinary Medicine (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Physics (Doctoral Degrees)
Optometry (First Professional Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
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