Michigan State University vs Clemson University

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In this article, we will be comparing two well-known universities in the United States: Michigan State University (School 1) and Clemson University (School 2). We will be analyzing various aspects of each institution, including costs and tuition, admissions, degrees offered, academics, diversity, students, campus life, alumni, rankings, and outcomes.

CollegeRanker is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.

Michigan State University Overview

Michigan State University (MSU) is a public research university located in East Lansing, Michigan. It was founded in 1855 and is the state’s oldest land-grant university. MSU has a large and diverse student body and offers a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree programs.

Michigan State University Costs & Tuition

For the 2020-2021 academic year, the estimated cost of attendance for full-time undergraduate students at Michigan State University is $27,230 for Michigan residents and $54,460 for out-of-state residents. This includes tuition, fees, housing, and meals. Graduate tuition varies by program, but the average cost per credit hour is approximately $755 for Michigan residents and $1,485 for out-of-state residents.

Michigan State University Admissions

Admission to Michigan State University is moderately competitive, with an acceptance rate of around 71%. The middle 50% of admitted students have an SAT score between 1100 and 1320 and an ACT score between 23 and 29. In addition to test scores, MSU considers factors such as high school GPA, class rank, and extracurricular activities.

Michigan State University Degrees Offered

Michigan State University offers more than 200 undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree programs. Some popular majors include business, engineering, social sciences, biological sciences, and communication.

Michigan State University Academics

MSU has a student-to-faculty ratio of 16:1, which allows for smaller class sizes and more personalized attention from faculty members. The university is also well-known for its research opportunities, with over $700 million in annual research expenditures.

Michigan State University Diversity

Michigan State University has a diverse student population, with students from all 50 states and over 130 countries. Approximately 22% of the student body identifies as a racial or ethnic minority.

Michigan State University Students

MSU has a total enrollment of approximately 49,000 students, including about 39,000 undergraduate students and 10,000 graduate students. The university offers a wide range of student organizations, clubs, and activities to help students become engaged in campus life.

Michigan State University Campus

The Michigan State University campus spans over 5,200 acres, making it one of the largest university campuses in the United States. The campus features numerous academic and research buildings, residence halls, athletic facilities, and recreational areas.

Michigan State University Alumni

Michigan State University has a strong alumni network, with over 540,000 living alumni worldwide. Notable alumni include former Michigan Governor Rick Snyder, basketball player Earvin “Magic” Johnson, and journalist Susan Spencer.

Michigan State University Rankings

Michigan State University is ranked #84 in National Universities by U.S. News & World Report. The university is also ranked #34 in Top Public Schools and #90 in Best Value Schools.

Michigan State University Outcomes

According to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard, the median salary for Michigan State University graduates ten years after entering school is $58,200.

Clemson University Overview

Clemson University is a public research university located in Clemson, South Carolina. Founded in 1889, Clemson is known for its emphasis on science, engineering, and agriculture, as well as its strong athletic program.

Clemson University Costs & Tuition

For the 2020-2021 academic year, the estimated cost of attendance for full-time undergraduate students at Clemson University is $30,488 for South Carolina residents and $50,612 for out-of-state residents. This includes tuition, fees, housing, and meals. Graduate tuition varies by program, but the average cost per credit hour is approximately $675 for South Carolina residents and $1,351 for out-of-state residents.

Clemson University Admissions

Admission to Clemson University is moderately competitive, with an acceptance rate of around 47%. The middle 50% of admitted students have an SAT score between 1230 and 1390 and an ACT score between 27 and 32. In addition to test scores, Clemson considers factors such as high school GPA, class rank, and extracurricular activities.

Clemson University Degrees Offered

Clemson University offers over 80 undergraduate degree programs and more than 110 graduate degree programs. Some popular majors include engineering, business, agriculture, and health professions.

Clemson University Academics

Clemson has a student-to-faculty ratio of 16:1, which allows for smaller class sizes and more personalized attention from faculty members. The university is also well-known for its research opportunities, with over $150 million in annual research expenditures.

Clemson University Diversity

Clemson University has a diverse student population, with students from all 50 states and over 80 countries. Approximately 17% of the student body identifies as a racial or ethnic minority.

Clemson University Students

Clemson has a total enrollment of approximately 25,000 students, including about 20,000 undergraduate students and 5,000 graduate students. The university offers a wide range of student organizations, clubs, and activities to help students become engaged in campus life.

Clemson University Campus

The Clemson University campus spans over 1,400 acres and features a mix of academic and research buildings, residence halls, athletic facilities, and recreational areas. The campus is also home to the Clemson Experimental Forest, which offers additional outdoor recreation opportunities.

Clemson University Alumni

Clemson University has a strong alumni network, with over 150,000 living alumni worldwide. Notable alumni include former U.S. Senator and Governor of South Carolina, Fritz Hollings, professional football player Brian Dawkins, and astronaut Charles Duke.

Clemson University Rankings

Clemson University is ranked #74 in National Universities by U.S. News & World Report. The university is also ranked #24 in Top Public Schools and #57 in Best Value Schools.

Clemson University Outcome

According to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard, the median salary for Clemson University graduates ten years after entering school is $60,800.

Michigan State University vs Clemson University Cost Comparison

Both Michigan State University and Clemson University have relatively similar costs for in-state and out-of-state students. The cost of attendance for in-state students is slightly lower at Michigan State, at $27,230 compared to $30,488 at Clemson. Out-of-state students will find a slightly lower cost at Clemson, with an estimated cost of $50,612 compared to $54,460 at MSU.

Michigan State University vs Clemson University Admissions Difficulty

Clemson University is slightly more difficult to gain admission to than Michigan State University, with an acceptance rate of 47% compared to MSU’s 71%. The middle 50% of admitted students at Clemson also have slightly higher SAT and ACT scores than those at MSU.

Michigan State University vs Clemson University Academic Difficulty

Both universities have a student-to-faculty ratio of 16:1, which suggests that class sizes and academic difficulty may be similar at both institutions. However, Michigan State University has a higher annual research expenditure than Clemson University, which could indicate a higher level of academic rigor in certain programs.

Michigan State University vs Clemson University Outcome Comparison

The median salary for Clemson University graduates ten years after entering school is $60,800, while the median salary for Michigan State University graduates is $58,200. This suggests that graduates of Clemson University may have slightly better outcomes in terms of salary, although the difference is not significant.