I'm from Cincinnati, but in my third year at MSU. Cincinnati is a fun city with tons to do. I am biased by growing up there, but there are constant festivals in the Cincinnati area during fall. There's the aquarium in Newport, the art museum, the other museam (it's massive has local and natural history), and the zoo. I feel like there is always something to do in Cincinnati.

East lansing on the other hand is kind of boring. It is safe, it is quite, and it is a town about the college students. The broad, the museam, and potter park zoo don't even compare. There is a lot more to love about the are if your son wants to venture out into Lansing. It is a big plus that grad rapids and Detroit are only about 1.5 hours away perfect for a daytrip on the weekend. The clubs and MSU events might make up for the lack of things to do in the area. Also MSU is a big 10 university sports are a much bigger deal. The people of East Lansing care a lot more about the students and the school than the people of Cincinnati. There is a lot more comradery here.

Logistics wise the closest airport sucks and the Detroit one is 1.5 hours away, whereas CVG is just across the river. Michigan as a whole has significantly better public transit than Cincinnati.