Michigan State University vs Rutgers University, Newark: Acceptance Rate, SAT & Net Price

Rutgers University, Newark is the more selective of the two, admitting 71.4% of applicants versus 84.8% at Michigan State University. For a family earning $48,001–$75,000, the average net price is about $16,521 per year at Michigan State University versus $17,806 at Rutgers University, Newark. Michigan State University's yield rate is 21.0%, versus 7.0% at Rutgers University, Newark.

Michigan State University vs Rutgers University, Newark: admissions and cost statistics from the most recent Common Data Set, IPEDS, and College Scorecard
MetricMichigan State UniversityRutgers University, Newark
Overall acceptance rate84.8%71.4%
SAT middle 50%1100–13101030–1270
Avg unweighted GPA3.73.7
Yield rate21.0%7.0%
Class size9,8291,857
Net price, $48,001–$75,000 income$16,521$17,806
Net price, over $110,000 income$28,546$33,018

Admissions and cost data as of July 3, 2026 (CDS 2024–25 cycle), from the most recent Common Data Set, IPEDS, and College Scorecard. Rows appear only where both colleges report the statistic.

Frequently asked questions

Is Michigan State University harder to get into than Rutgers University, Newark?

No. Rutgers University, Newark is more selective: it admits 71.4% of applicants, versus 84.8% at Michigan State University, based on the most recent Common Data Set.

Which is cheaper for a middle-income family, Michigan State University or Rutgers University, Newark?

For a family earning $48,001–$75,000, the average net price is about $16,521 per year at Michigan State University and $17,806 at Rutgers University, Newark, so Michigan State University is the lower-cost option at that income level (source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard/IPEDS data).

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