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College Comparison

Michigan State vs Florida State University: Which is Better?

Side-by-side comparison of acceptance rates, SAT scores, tuition, earnings, and more, updated with the latest College Scorecard data.

School

Michigan State

East Lansing, MI

School

Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL

Head-to-Head Stats

MetricMichigan StateFlorida State
Acceptance Rate83.9%25.4%wins
SAT Range (25th–75th)1150–13501240–1390wins
ACT Range (25th–75th)26–3127–31wins
Tuition (Out-of-State)$43,372$18,786wins
Avg Net Price$20,751$10,997wins
Median Earnings (10 yr)$67,253wins$61,675
Graduation Rate82.2%83.0%wins
Retention Rate91.4%95.6%wins
Student–Faculty Ratio17:117:1
Total Enrollment40,243wins31,812

Verdict

Based on the data above, Florida State edges out Michigan State on 7 of 9 measurable categories, including key factors like acceptance rate, earnings, and graduation rate. That said, the right choice depends heavily on your major, financial situation, and campus culture fit.

Michigan State Strengths

  • Median Earnings (10 yr): $67,253
  • Total Enrollment: 40,243

Florida State Strengths

  • Acceptance Rate: 25.4%
  • SAT Range (25th–75th): 1240–1390
  • ACT Range (25th–75th): 27–31
  • Tuition (Out-of-State): $18,786

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