Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College vs Michigan State University (MSU)

Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College and Michigan State University, two distinct institutions of higher learning, offer unique educational experiences to students with diverse aspirations. Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, a private Catholic college, stands out with its small, close-knit community, boasting an acceptance rate of 98% and a focus on liberal arts education. In contrast, Michigan State, a large public research university, offers a wider range of academic programs, including specialized fields like engineering and agriculture, and has a more selective admissions process with an acceptance rate of 70%. While both institutions provide quality education, their contrasting acceptance rates, academic offerings, and student body demographics may influence your college choice. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to delve into specific details and discover which institution aligns best with your academic goals and personal preferences.
Michigan State University logo

Michigan State University

Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College logo

Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College

Overview

Location East Lansing, Michigan Saint Mary of the Woods, Indiana
Campus setting City: Small Rural: Fringe
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 92.0% 74.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation Catholic

Admission

Acceptance rate 83.3% 70.3%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $65

Graduate: $65
SAT range 1100 - 1320 975 - 1120
ACT range 23 - 29 17 - 23
Students submitting SAT score 48.0% 35.0%
Students submitting ACT score 16.0% 6.0%
Total number of applicants 50,630 812
Total number of admissions given out 42,150 571
Admitted students who chose to enroll 9,225 194
Yield rate 21.9% 34.0%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $29,734

Out of state: $55,546
$42,084
Average net price $8,738 $15,694
Tuition
In state: $14,750

Out of state: $40,562
$29,950
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $4,408

Meal plan: $6,268
Room/dormitory: $4,440

Meal plan: $6,800
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Guaranteed tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

58.0%
Average amount $12,822
99.0%
Average amount $27,800
Students receiving federal student loan 34.0%
Average amount $4,999
72.0%
Average amount $6,600
Students taking out private loans 6.0%
Average amount $18,093
4.0%
Average amount $9,478

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 38,574
Men 48.4% Women 51.6%
793
Men 17.4% Women 82.6%
Graduate students 11,085
Men 42.4% Women 57.6%
334
Men 10.5% Women 89.5%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Very Low
Out-of-state students 18.7% N/A
International students 8.3% 0.9%
Campus local/setting City: Small Rural: Fringe
Dormitory capacity 17,463 392
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from Michigan Illinois California Ohio New York N/A

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Business
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Communication and Journalism
  • Health Professions
  • Engineering
  • Health Professions
  • Education
  • Business
  • Public Administration and Social Service
  • English Language and Literature
Students to faculty ratio 16:1 10:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 82.1% 62.3%
Dropout rate 7.8% 36.2%
Transferred out 9.8% N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Business/Commerce, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $126,500
  • Year 2: $123,886
  • Year 3: $132,790
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $101,863
  • Year 2: $98,481
  • Year 3: $108,546
Human Resources Management and Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $90,313
  • Year 2: $89,435
  • Year 3: $101,511
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $92,361
  • Year 2: $96,183
  • Year 3: $100,492
Educational Administration and Supervision (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $101,072
  • Year 3: $97,714
Veterinary Medicine (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $79,294
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: $93,263
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $84,609
  • Year 2: $83,915
  • Year 3: $92,316
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $83,457
  • Year 2: $86,129
  • Year 3: $91,721
Food Science and Technology (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $81,178
  • Year 2: $83,915
  • Year 3: $89,761
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $75,462
  • Year 2: $80,133
  • Year 3: $84,869
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $54,684
  • Year 2: $52,107
  • Year 3: $52,940
Special Education and Teaching (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $34,325
  • Year 2: $32,925
  • Year 3: $38,543
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $36,626
  • Year 2: $38,018
  • Year 3: $38,098
Theological and Ministerial Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $38,829
  • Year 3: $37,269
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $33,993
  • Year 3: $36,170
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $22,351
  • Year 2: $30,771
  • Year 3: $31,650
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $61,173
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $39,336
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A

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