Key differences on Outcomes
- 1
Michigan State graduates 9 pts more of its students than U. Colorado Boulder (82% vs. 74%)
Graduation rate - 2
U. Colorado Boulder grads earn $2.5K more ten years out than Michigan State's ($69,738 vs. $67,253)
Median earnings, 10 yrs
Outcomes
Outcomes
Earnings and finishing
Median earnings, 10 yrs
U. Colorado Boulder$69.7KHighest
Michigan State$67.3K
Graduation rate
U. Colorado Boulder74%
Michigan State82%Highest
Retention rate
U. Colorado Boulder90%
Michigan State91%Highest
Borrowing
Median debt
U. Colorado Boulder$19.5KLowest
Michigan State$23.3K
Undergrads with a federal loan
U. Colorado Boulder25%
Michigan State34%
Median debt, Pell Grant recipients
U. Colorado Boulder$14.4KLowest
Michigan State$20K
Eight-year outcomes
Credential within 4 years, all students
U. Colorado Boulder57%
Michigan State65%
Credential within 8 years, all students
U. Colorado Boulder74%
Michigan State82%
Enrolled at another college, 8 years on
U. Colorado Boulder15%
Michigan State12%
Graduation by group
Graduated in 6 years, Pell Grant recipients
U. Colorado Boulder67%
Michigan State71%
Graduated in 6 years, neither Pell nor subsidized loan
U. Colorado Boulder76%
Michigan State83%
Pell graduation gap
U. Colorado Boulder9 pts lower
Michigan State12 pts lower
Graduated in 6 years, by race and ethnicity
| Group | U. Colorado Boulder | Michigan State |
|---|---|---|
| White | 75% | 84% |
| Asian | 80% | 83% |
| Hispanic/Latino | 69% | 72% |
| Black | 63% | 68% |
| Two or more races | 68% | 72% |
| International | 79% | 77% |
Sources:College Scorecard, most recent release;College Scorecard, Entered fall 2023;College Scorecard, 2023–24;IPEDS Outcome Measures survey, Students entering fall 2016;IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients), Entered fall 2018;Michigan State University Common Data Set 2025–26, Entered fall 2024About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)
Figures are the newest each college has published; years can differ between colleges. Each value's ⓘ shows its source and year. Why