Quad

Head-to-head

Key differences

The biggest gaps between these schools, largest first.

  1. 1

    Michigan State graduates 15 pts more of its students than Oregon State (82% vs. 67%)

    Graduation rate
  2. 2

    Oregon State has 10 pts more first-gen students than Michigan State (31% vs. 21%)

    First-generation students
  3. 3

    Oregon State is more diverse (index 0.57 vs. 0.53)

    Diversity index
  4. 4

    Michigan State is a bit larger (40,922 vs. 31,117)

    Undergrads
  5. 5

    Michigan State grads earn $3.2K more ten years out than Oregon State's ($67,253 vs. $64,010)

    Median earnings, 10 yrs
  6. 6

    Oregon State has 3 pts more Pell recipients than Michigan State (23% vs. 20%)

    Pell Grant recipients

The shape of each school

Each axis is a national rank among 4-year colleges; further out = more of it.

SelectivityTest scoresSizePell shareFirst-genDiversity

Who's hardest to get into

Oregon State admits 79%, Michigan State 83%; Oregon State's yield is higher, at 19%.

Acceptance rate
Oregon State79%
Michigan State83%
Quad's selectivity
  • Oregon StateSelective
  • Michigan StateSelective
SAT middle 50%Axis 1000–1600
Oregon State
1140–1400
Michigan State
1180–1360
How they read a recordfirst-years at 3.75+
  • Oregon StateRigor and GPA very important50%
  • Michigan StateGPA very important

Who's on each campus

Michigan State is a bit larger than Oregon State (40,922 vs. 31,117 undergrads); Oregon State has the larger Pell share.

Undergrads
Oregon State31.1K
Michigan State40.9K
Pell Grant share
Oregon State23%
Michigan State20%

Majors and faculty

Computer Science leads at Oregon State, and Biology/Biological Sciences at Michigan State; Michigan State has 17 students per faculty member to Oregon State's 18.

Students per faculty member
Oregon State18 to 1
Michigan State17 to 1
Most popular majorshare of graduates
  • Oregon StateComputer Science17%
  • Michigan StateBiology/Biological Sciences, General6%

What each costs

Michigan State costs about $1.1K less a year than Oregon State on average; Oregon State's grants cover the larger share of its price.

Average cost, all students
Oregon State$31.2K
Michigan State$30.1K
Aid generosity
Oregon State24%
Michigan State22%

What each pays off

Michigan State's former students earn more, a median $67.3K ten years after enrolling; both graduate more than 60% within six years.

Median earnings, 10 years
Oregon State$64K
Michigan State$67.3K
Graduation rate
Oregon State67%
Michigan State82%

How each has changed

Applications grew at both; Michigan State got less selective while Oregon State held steady.

Applications, 10-year change
  • Oregon StateGrowing+115%
  • Michigan StateGrowing+87%
All the numbersEvery figure for these colleges in one table, with differences highlighted.
Sources for this comparisonEvery dataset and year behind the numbers in this comparison; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Figures are the newest each college has published; years can differ between colleges. Each value's ⓘ shows its source and year. Why