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Michigan State University

Michigan State University

East Lansing, MI · City · 40,922 students
WebsiteCommon AppForbes rankingScorecard
Nov 1 · Early Action · in 30 days
Checked Sep 2026 · admissions.msu.edu
$19,680
Average net priceYour net price
In-state · 2023-24
<30
30–48
48–75
75–110
110+
By household income — tap a bar
81%
Graduation rate
Entered fall 2017 & 2018
70% typical
$67,253
Earnings 10 years on
Measured 2020 & 2021
$63,395 typical
85%
Acceptance rate
Applied for fall 2024
73% typical · not scored
Accredited by Higher Learning Commission
About

Founded as the nation’s pioneer land-grant institution, Michigan State University is a powerhouse Big Ten research university renowned for top-ranked programs in supply chain management, education, veterinary medicine, and agricultural science. Undergraduates benefit from a uniquely personalized education through specialized living-learning environments like the James Madison and Lyman Briggs residential colleges, as well as hands-on research opportunities at cutting-edge facilities like the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB). Campus culture is vibrant and spirited, centered around passionate Spartan athletics, over 1,000 student organizations, and a picturesque, sprawling park-like campus along the Red Cedar River.

Wikipedia:Michigan State University is a public land-grant research university in East Lansing, Michigan, United States. It was founded in 1855 as the Agricultural College of the State of Michigan, the first of its kind in the country. After the introduction of the Morrill Act in 1862, the state designated the college a land-grant institution in 1863, making it the first of the land-grant colleges in the United States. The college became coeducational in 1870. Michigan State has facilities across the state, and over 550,500 alumni.

Location
East Lansing, MI, 48824-1046 · City campus
✈
Nearest airport from college
DTW · Detroit
68 mi away
Open in Google MapsView official campus map
Cost & aid
Cost of attendance
These figures are federal data and may be out of date.
In-stateOut-of-state
Tuition & fees$16,458$43,842
Housing & food (on campus)$12,564$12,564
Books & supplies$1,380$1,380
Cost of attendance$32,198$59,582 est.
Average net price$19,680Not published
Out-of-state prices
Tuition & fees$43,842
In-state: $16,458
Housing & food (on campus)$12,564
Books & supplies$1,380
Cost of attendance$59,582 est.
In-state: $32,198
Average net priceNot published
In-state: $19,680
est. = the in-state cost of attendance with out-of-state tuition swapped in; no out-of-state figure is published.
Net price by family income · in-state students, 2023-24
$0–30k
$7,068
$30–48k
$10,830
$48–75k
$16,521
$75–110k
$22,703
$110k+
$28,546
Merit aid · 2025-26
Awarded without financial need. Students with financial need can get merit awards too; they're counted as need-based aid.
Average award$11,014
Share of first-years who get one8%
Source: Michigan State University's Common Data Set — the school's own yearly report of its admissions and aid figures (PDF).
Outcomes
Completion
Within 6 yrs
81%
Entered 2017–18
Within 4 yrs
63%
Back for yr 2
90%
Transferred
10%
8 yrs after starting · first-time, full-time students
83% graduated · 11% transferred · 6% left or unknown · none still enrolled
Earnings · measured 2020 & 2021
6 yrs after entry$55,084
10 yrs after entry$67,253
Debt
Median at graduation$23,250
Monthly payment$246
Middle 50% owe$10.8k–$30.8k
90th percentile$38,960
Green marks a figure above the typical Doctoral University: 70% graduate within 6 yrs, $63,395 earned 10 yrs after entry.
Admissions
Getting in · applied for fall 2024
Admit rate
85%
Test policy
Test optional
Checked Sep 2026
SAT average
1269
R 590–680 · M 590–680
ACT midpoint
26
Comp 25–31 · E 24–32 · M 24–29
SAT middle 50%: 1180–1360
40080012001600
Application deadlines · first-year, fall 2027 entry
Early Action
Nov 1 2026
in 30 days · Apply by Nov. 1 for and…
Not binding: apply early, hear early, and you can still apply elsewhere.
Checked Sep 2026 · admissions.msu.edu · Confirm on the school's site before you apply.

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Essay prompts
How much essays count at Michigan State University: Important (one of four levels: very important · important · considered · not considered)
Source: Michigan State University's Common Data Set for 2025-26 — the school's own yearly report of its admissions and aid figures (PDF).

If Michigan State University asks for supplemental essays, the prompts are in the Common App.

The personal essay is separate: see the Common App essay prompts.

Student Body
Gender
Men 48%Women 52%
Who enrolls
Faculty ratio
17 : 1
Pell grant
20%
First-gen
21%
Family income
$70,982
Independent
6%
Veterans
0%
Age at entry
19.0
Part-time
6%
Race & ethnicity
White
67%
Hispanic
7%
Black
7%
Asian
8%
Two or more
4%
Non-resident
5%
Unknown
2%
Varsity sports
NCAA Division I-FBS · EADA 2024-25
  • Baseball
    Men's
  • Basketball
    Men's · Women's
  • Field Hockey
    Women's
  • Football
    Men's
  • Golf
    Men's · Women's
  • Gymnastics
    Women's
  • Ice Hockey
    Men's
  • Rowing
    Women's
  • Soccer
    Men's · Women's
  • Softball
    Women's
  • Tennis
    Men's · Women's
  • Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)
    Men's · Women's
  • Volleyball
    Women's
  • Wrestling
    Men's
Programs & Earnings
Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings
Median earnings, all programs · measured 2020 & 2021
After 6 yrs
$55,084
After 10 yrs
$67,253
Biology, General516
Psychology, General496
Business Administration, Management and Operations448
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication444
Computer and Information Sciences, General372
Finance and Financial Management Services350
Communication and Media Studies348
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness298
Mechanical Engineering279
Economics274
Marketing255
Neurobiology and Neurosciences247
Criminal Justice and Corrections232
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing189
Engineering-Related Fields160
Education, General156
Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.
Institutional
Resources
Endowment
$5.0B
Full-time faculty
86%
Faculty salary
$13,468/mo
Teaching spend
$19,397
per student
Federal loans
34%
Classification
Carnegie type
Doctoral University
Research activity
R1 — very high research
$932M research spending · 563 research doctorates a year
Undergraduate profile
Four-year, selective admissions

Wondering if Michigan State University is the right fit for you?

SchoolScout builds a personalized college list — reach, match, and safety schools — tailored to your profile, grades, and goals. Get financial aid estimates, scholarship guidance, and deep dives on every school.

Personalized reach / match / safety list
Financial aid & net cost estimates
Deep dives on any school
Scholarship search