| Updated On - Sep 11, 2025
Michigan State University (MSU) is a public research institution in East Lansing, Michigan, with a suburban/rural-fringe location. It is a large university with 39,201 undergraduates (Fall 2023). Admissions are moderately competitive with an acceptance rate of 83.9%. Major offerings include Business, Communication, Social Sciences, and Biological Sciences. The six-year graduation rate is ~82%, and MSU graduates have median salaries of approximately $50,898 one year post-graduation and $71,282 five years post-graduation (U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard; Niche).
The Ohio State University (OSU) is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio, in a large urban environment. It is a large institution with 46,123 undergraduate students on the Columbus campus (Autumn 2022). Admissions is more competitive with an acceptance rate of ~57% (College Scorecard, 2023). Popular majors are Business, Engineering, Social Sciences, Health Professions, and Psychology. The six-year graduation rate is ~88%, and median earnings for OSU graduates are about $52,800 one year after graduation and $74,400 five years after graduation.
| Michigan State University | Ohio State University | |
|---|---|---|
| Collegedunia Score | 6.1 Out of 10 | 6.1 Out of 10 |
| ranking (overall) | # 105 Times Higher Education 2026 # 161 QS World University 2026 # 122 Times Higher Education 2025 | # 108 Times Higher Education 2026 # 190 QS World University 2026 # 55 Center for World University Rankings 2025 |
| Subject Strength | # 137 for Engineering by QS World University 2025 # 51 for Data Science and Analytics by QS World University 2025 # 201 for Medicine by QS World University 2025 | # 27 for Engineering by US News 2025 # 84 for Medicine by QS World University 2025 # 28 for Law by US News 2025 |
| Programs | UG Programs -144 PG Programs -88 Doctorate Programs -8 | UG Programs -146 PG Programs -75 Doctorate Programs -100 |
| Acceptance Rate | 84.0 % | 57.2 % |
| Exam Score | Duolingo-110 GMAT-600 IELTS-6.5 PTE-53 SAT-1100 TOEFL-79 | Duolingo-120 IELTS-7 SAT-1260 TOEFL-79 |
| Cost to Study | Average Tuition Fees 41492 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 28280 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 12564 Per Year | Average Tuition Fees 36430 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 40507 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 14738 Per Year |
| placement (average package) | Average annual salary: 70,455 USD; Top recruiters: General Motors Corporation, Michigan State University, University of Michigan, Ford Motor Company, FCA Corp; Highest paid degrees: MBA (111,000 USD), Masters in Science (102,000 USD), Masters (90,000 USD), Masters of Arts (84,000 USD), Doctorate (81,000 USD), PhD (72,000 USD). | Average Salaries are listed below:
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| application requirements | Academic transcripts; 2-3 Essays; 2-3 LORs; Resume; Standardized tests; Proof of English language proficiency; Additional requirements (Research proposals, interview, etc.) | Academic transcripts; Academic recommendation; Standardized test scores; 2-3 LORs; Resume; SOPs/ Essays; Proof of English language proficiency; Additional Requirements (video interview, work experience, research papers, etc.). |
| Campuses and B-Schools | Eli Broad College of Business | Fisher College of Business |
| CollegeDunia Reviews | 7.5/10 Read 14 reviews | 8.5/10 Read 6 reviews |
Top Courses Comparison
| ranking | # 35 for Business by US News 2025 # 53 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025 # 78 for Business by QS World University 2025 | # 24 for Business by US News 2025 # 101 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025 # 119 for Business by QS World University 2025 |
| exam scores | Duolingo - 110/160IELTS - 7/9PTE - 70/90TOEFL - 100/120 | Duolingo - 120/160IELTS - 7/9TOEFL - 100/120 |
| documents required | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose |
| application dates | Oct 7, 2025 (Round 1 Application Deadline For 2026 Intake) Nov 11, 2025 (Round 1 Decision Deadline For 2026 Intake) Nov 25, 2025 (Round 2 Application Deadline For 2026 Intake) Jan 31, 2026 (Round 2 Decision Deadline For 2026 Intake) Feb 17, 2026 (Round 3 Application Deadline For 2026 Intake) | Apr 25, 2025 (Final Application Deadline For Autumn 2025 Intake) May 30, 2025 (Final Application Decision For Autumn 2025 Intake) |
Other Popular Comparisons
| General Facts | Michigan State University | Ohio State University |
|---|---|---|
| Type of University | University | University |
| Established | 1855 | 1922 |
| Student:Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 13:1 |
| Male:Female | 49% Male, 51% Female | 51% Male, 49% Female |
| Location Facts | located in East Lansing, Michigan; perched on the banks of Red Cedar River; spread over 5,300 acres with 563 buildings on-campus. | main campus in Columbus & regional campuses in Lima, Mansfield, Marion, Newark, & Wooster; 1,764-acre main campus, about 2.5 miles north of the city's downtown |
| Library | 29th largest academic library system in North America; over 7 million volumes & 6.7 million microforms; In 2018, Digital Scholarship Lab opened (built in partnership with the College of Arts and Letters) | 18th largest university research library in North America; 21 libraries on Columbus campus, 8 branches at off-campus research facilities & regional campuses, 1 book storage depository near campus; 5.8 million volumes in total. |
| Campus Life | university campus houses: National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory, W. J. Beal Botanical Garden, Abrams Planetarium, Wharton Center for Performing Arts, Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum, Facility for Rare Isotope Beams, country's largest residence hall system; Neighborhood Health and Wellness Program, Live On and Be Fit | 90-acre recreational space; 6 Rec Sports facilities; 8 health & student wellness centers; 1000+ student organizations; 3 Arts and Culture centers; 30+ food outlets across different campuses; Ohio Union (One of area's most comprehensive event centers); The Lantern (official daily student published newspaper, one of the largest campus newspaper in USA). |
| Hostel | #Food and housing - $12564 | #Food and housing - $14738 |
| Famous Alumni | 634,300 living alumni; Magic Johnson (American basketball player); Eli Broad (American entrepreneur); Sam Raimi (American filmmaker); Draymond Green (American basketball player); Tyler Oakley (America Youtuber); Richa Langella (Indian film actress); Timothy Granaderos (American actor); Verghese Kurien (Father of White Revolution in India); Peter Schmidt (American economist & econometrician). | 570,000 living alumni; Larry Sanger (one of the founders of Wikipedia); Steve May (chief technology officer at Pixar); James S. Albus (Roboticist); Jesse Owens (American athlete); R. L. Stine (American novelist); Roy Lichtenstein (American artist); Patricia Heaton (American actress); Woody Hayes (American football player); James Thurber (American cartoonist); Ross Butler (American actor). |
| City Life | East Lansing- city in Michigan, USA located directly east of Lansing (the state capital); Famous tourist attractions: Spartan Stadium, Wharton Center, Jack Breslin Student Events Center, MSU Horticulture Garden, Abrams Planetarium; Unemployment rate- 2.7% (Dec 2019) | Columbus- the capital & largest city in Ohio; distinctive neighborhoods, dynamic nightlife & music, creative arts scene, original culinary experiences, wide array of festivals; famous attractions: Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, Columbus Museum of Art, Center of Science and Industry (COSI), Huntington Park, Topiary Park; Unemployment Rate: 3.5% (Dec 2019) |
| Weather |
Michigan State University vs The Ohio State University
Subject Strength & Global Rankings (2025/2026)
Comparing Michigan State University and The Ohio State University, there are some differences and similarities. As far as international subject rankings go, Ohio State tends to rank slightly higher overall. In the QS World University Rankings 2026, OSU is ranked #190 and MSU is ranked #159, while in Times Higher Education 2025 OSU ranks #112 with MSU ranking in the 120–130 band. OSU has an especially strong reputation for engineering, business, and medicine, while MSU has a strong global reputation in agriculture, education, and social sciences.
General Information
Considering overall institutional facts, Ohio State is larger with an approximate total enrollment of 66,901 students as opposed to 51,316 at Michigan State. OSU has over 200 undergraduate and 240 graduate programs, while MSU has around 140 undergraduate and 90 graduate programs. Ohio State's Columbus campus is all urban and embedded in the capital city of Ohio, while Michigan State's East Lansing campus offers a more classic and collegiate experience. They are both in the Big Ten Conference and have a strong athletic tradition.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Admissions selectivity is the other distinguishing factor. Ohio State has an acceptance rate of approximately 57%, far more selective than Michigan State at 83.9%. OSU's accepted students also have higher test scores, with SATs of 1310–1470 and ACTs of 29–32, vs. MSU's SAT 1150–1350 and ACT 26–31. Both schools are test-optional, and accepted students' GPAs remain high at 3.76 at OSU and 3.72 at MSU.
Research Impact & Facilities
Both universities are ranked as R1 research universities, indicating very high research activity, but with different focus areas. Ohio State has special strengths in STEM, medicine, and business, complemented by massive facilities like the Wexner Medical Center, and generates more overall research output. Michigan State has special strengths in agriculture, education, and physics, with signature facilities like the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory, and is noted for involving undergraduates in research more directly.
Cost & Financial Aid
As for expenses, Michigan State in 2023–24 charged out-of-state students $43,842 in tuition, with room and board costing an average of $11,754. Ohio State charged out-of-state students $36,722, with room and board approximately $13,966. Ohio State is slightly cheaper for Ohio residents, but Michigan State has more comprehensive financial aid, with around 96% of its students receiving aid, as opposed to 89% for Ohio State.
Career Outcomes & Alumni Success
Career prospects are good at both universities. Michigan State graduates have median incomes of approximately $71,282 five years after graduation, while Ohio State graduates earn slightly more at $74,400. Ohio State has a huge and engaged alumni base of around 600,000 graduates globally, excelling in engineering, business, and health sciences, with the urban location of the university adding extra networks. Michigan State graduates total approximately 500,000 and are particularly successful in agriculture, business, and communications, with close connections to Michigan's industries and an exemplary record of regional employability.
