Is the University of Richmond or Michigan State more fun for undergrads?

The biggest practical tradeoff is scale: Michigan State has the high-energy feel of a very large Big Ten campus with constant activity, while the University of Richmond offers a smaller, more contained social environment where it is easier to recognize people and settle into close-knit circles. That difference shapes almost everything about “fun,” from weekend options to campus spirit to how social life forms. MSU tends to feel busier and louder; Richmond tends to feel calmer and more curated.

At Michigan State, there is usually more visible campus energy on any given day. You get major athletics, big student crowds, a huge student organization scene, and a college-town atmosphere in East Lansing that gives students plenty to do off campus as well as on campus. It is easier to find lots of different scenes, whether that means sports, concerts, club events, late-night food runs, or larger parties.

Richmond is more intimate and polished. Students often talk about the campus being beautiful and the social scene being more relationship-driven, meaning your experience depends a lot on the friends, clubs, and communities you build early. There are still events and access to the city of Richmond, but the energy is less constant and less public than at MSU. For some students that feels more comfortable and less overwhelming; for others it can feel quieter.

For ease of finding people and things to do, MSU has an advantage simply because of size and volume. There are more built-in options and more chances to keep trying different groups until something clicks. Richmond can be very social too, but it often takes more intentionality, and the social world can feel smaller.

If your version of fun is big-school spirit, lots happening every weekend, and a broader range of social options, Michigan State is more likely to deliver that. If your version of fun is a smaller community, prettier surroundings, and a social life centered on tighter friendships rather than nonstop campus buzz, Richmond may fit better, but on pure energy and activity, MSU is the livelier place.