Location
- Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
- University Park, PA
- Michigan State University
- East Lansing, MI
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus vs Michigan State University
University Park, PA · East Lansing, MI · largest Scorecard gap: avg net price
Scorecard match plate
Pair PA:MI
PUBLIC-PAIR · CROSS-STATE · ACCEPT-OPEN · NET-SPLIT · EARN-PAR · DEBT-PAR · COMPLETE-HIGH · GAP-NET
- PUBLIC-PAIR Public pair
- CROSS-STATE PA × MI
- ACCEPT-OPEN Open admission
- NET-SPLIT Net-price split
- EARN-PAR Earnings near-par
- DEBT-PAR Debt near-par
- COMPLETE-HIGH High completion
- GAP-NET Largest gap · Avg Net Price
Instrument codes from this pair's College Scorecard ownership, geography, acceptance, net price, earnings, debt, and completion, plus the NET-SPLIT · 2013–2023 decade-path stamp below, not a ranking or recommendation.
Decade path · College Scorecard
Net-price paths do not share a shape
NET-SPLIT · 2013–2023
One school has a directional average-net-price path over 2013–2023; the other sits in a measured range (or the two move opposite ways). Cost gaps on this board are moving targets.
- Michigan State University: net price ranged $10,925–$20,751 across 11 years (2013–2023); endpoint change +25.7% is not a trend (r² 0.05).
- Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus: average net price rose +20.6% from $27,032 (2013) to $32,606 (2023), r² 0.60.
- Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus: acceptance-rate path 2013–2023 stays non-directional here (r² 0.07).
- Michigan State University: acceptance rate eased +22.2% across 2013–2023 (r² 0.80).
College Scorecard institution series; dollars are nominal. Direction claims require r² ≥ 0.40 on the fitted annual slope, otherwise the page reports the observed range. Descriptive history, not a recommendation.
Scorecard metrics
Undergraduate Enrollment
- Michigan State University
- 40,922
Avg Net Price
- Michigan State University
- $19,680
Acceptance Rate
In-State Tuition
- Michigan State University
- $16,458
Median Debt at Graduation
- Michigan State University
- $23,250
Loan Repayment Rate (Completers)
Median Earnings (10 yr)
- Michigan State University
- $67,253
150%-Time Completion
SAT Average
Cards ordered by relative gap on this pair. Teal = better side.
| Metric | Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus University Park, PA | Michigan State University East Lansing, MI |
|---|---|---|
| Location | University Park, PA | East Lansing, MI |
| Undergraduate Enrollment | 42,284 | 40,922 |
| Avg Net Price | $32,875 | $19,680 |
| Acceptance Rate | 60.6% | 84.8% |
| In-State Tuition | $20,644 | $16,458 |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $25,000 | $23,250 |
| Loan Repayment Rate (Completers) | 79.3% | 74.5% |
| Median Earnings (10 yr) | $63,435 | $67,253 |
| 150%-Time Completion | 85.9% | 81.4% |
| SAT Average | 1,337 | 1,269 |
Largest gaps: Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus vs Michigan State University
- AVG-NET-PRICE Michigan State University leads on avg net price ($19,680 vs $32,875 at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus)
- ACCEPTANCE-RATE Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus leads on acceptance rate (60.6% vs 84.8% at Michigan State University)
- IN-STATE-TUITION Michigan State University leads on in-state tuition ($16,458 vs $20,644 at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus)
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus profile · Michigan State University profile · Compare other colleges
Avg Net Price and other Scorecard questions
On avg net price, who leads between Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus and Michigan State University?▼
Michigan State University leads on avg net price at $19,680 versus $32,875 at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
On acceptance rate, who leads between Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus and Michigan State University?▼
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus leads on acceptance rate at 60.6% versus 84.8% at Michigan State University. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
On in-state tuition, who leads between Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus and Michigan State University?▼
Michigan State University leads on in-state tuition at $16,458 versus $20,644 at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard College Scorecard institution outcomes (earnings, completion, debt); avg net price focus for this pair · 2025