Michigan State University
Michigan State University

Michigan State University

East Lansing, MI, USA
Public
4 Year

Overview

Founded in 1855, Michigan State University is a large public research institution in East Lansing, Michigan, with a multicultural student population representing more than 140 countries. MSU offers more than 200 areas of study through 17 degree-granting colleges, as well as thousands of unrivaled undergraduate research opportunities where students work alongside world-renowned faculty. The 5,300-acre campus is home to Big Ten sports, state-of-the-art academic facilities, museums, theaters, gardens and much more. Also, with more than 900 clubs and student organizations, there are a wealth of opportunities to network, develop friendships and enhance career prospects.

Acceptance Rate:
88%
Average Net Price:
$16,655
Campus Setting:
Small city
Average GPA
3.8
Average ACT Composite
27
Average SAT Composite
1223

Tuition, Cost & Aid

Affordability & Cost

Average Net Price
$16,655
Calculate your net cost
Tuition
In-State Tuition In-state tuition is the tuition charged by institutions to those students who meet the state's or institution's residency requirements. In-district tuition is the tuition charged by the institution to those students residing in the locality in which they attend school and may be a lower rate than in-state tuition if offered by the institution.
$17,270
Out-of-State Tuition Out-of-state tuition is the tuition charged by institutions to those students who do not meet the state’s or institution’s residency requirements. Out-of-district tuition is the tuition charged by the institution to those students not residing in the locality in which they attend school.
$44,040
Additional Costs
Room and Board The weighted average for room and board and other expenses is generated as follows:
  • (amount for on-campus room, board and other expenses * # of students living on-campus.
  • + amount for off-campus (with family) room, board and other expenses * # of students living off-campus with family
  • + amount for off-campus (not with family) room, board and other expenses * # of students living off-campus not with family)
divided by the total # of students. Students whose living arrangements are unknown are excluded from the calculation. For some institutions the # of students by living arrangement will be known, but dollar amounts will not be known. In this case the # of students with no corresponding dollar amount will be excluded from the denominator.
$11,754
Books and Supplies
$1334
Average Net Price By Family Income
Income
Average Amount
< $30k
$7,087
$30k - $48k
$13,687
$48k - $75k
$19,682
$75k - $110k
$25,247
$110k+
$27,297
Financial Aid: visit page
Financial Aid Email: [email protected]

Aid & Grants

0
100
61%
Need Met
Students Receiving Gift Aid Percent of undergraduate students awarded federal gift aid. Federal gift aid includes any grant or scholarship aid awarded, from the federal government, a state or local government, the institution, and other sources known by the institution.
22%
Average Aid Per Year
$8,684
Students Receiving Grants Percent of undergraduate students awarded grant aid. Grant aid includes any grant or scholarship aid awarded, from the federal government, a state or local government, the institution, and other sources known by the institution.
22%
Average Federal Grant Aid Per Year
$4,744
Average Institution Grant Aid Per Year
$6,731

 

Students receiving state aid
5%
Average State Grant Aid Per Year
$1294
Students receiving federal aid
38%
Average Federal Grant Aid Per Year
$4,744
Total Needs Based Scholarships/Grants Total amount of grant or scholarship aid awarded to all undergraduates from the federal government, state/local government, the institution, and other sources known to the institution.
$169,712,896
Total Non-Need-Based Scholarships/Grants
$147,004,591

Student Loans

Students Borrowing Loans Loans to students - Any monies that must be repaid to the lending institution for which the student is the designated borrower. Includes all Title IV subsidized and unsubsidized loans and all institutionally- and privately-sponsored loans. Does not include PLUS and other loans made directly to parents.
37%
Average Loan Amount Per Year
$8,138
Average Debt at Graduation The median federal debt of undergraduate borrowers who graduated. This figure includes only federal loans; it excludes private student loans and Parent PLUS loans.
$20,500
Median Monthly Loan Payment The median monthly loan payment for student borrowers who completed, if it were repaid over 10 years at a 5.05% interest rate.
$231
Students receiving federal loans
35%
Average Federal Loans Per Year
$5,114
Average Other Loans Per Year
$19,704

 

Admissions

Key Admissions Stats

Institution Type
Public
  • Not for Profit
  • Coed

Need Blind

This school does not consider an applicant’s financial situation when deciding admission

Level of Institution
4 Year
Campus Setting
Small city
0
100
88%
Acceptance Rate
53341
Students Applied
59%
Transfer Acceptance Rate
1546
Transfer Students Admitted

Admissions Requirements

SAT
SAT is not checked
No
ACT
ACT is not checked
No
Transcript
Transcript is not checked
No
Test Optional
Item is checked
Yes
SAT Subject Tests
Item is checked
Yes
AP Course Credit
Item is checked
Yes
Dual Enrollment
Item is checked
Yes

Important Deadlines

Application TypeApplication DeadlineReply Deadline
Early Action Acceptance is not binding, but student will receive admissions decision earlier.November 1January 15
Fall Regular DecisionApril 1March 31

Rolling Admissions

The college has rolling admissions, which means applications are accepted any time throughout the year.

Application Fee
$65
Fee waivers available
Applications Accepted
Common Application
Common Application
Coalition Application
Coalition Application
Online Application
Online Application

Admitted Student Stats

In-State Students
71%
Out-Of-State Students
16%
11%
Submitting ACT
39%
Submitting SAT
Average ACT Composite: 27
0
36
Average SAT Composite: 1223
0
1600
SAT Percentiles

Math
25th
580
75th
690
Reading
25th
580
75th
670
3.8
Average GPA
Students Enrolled By GPA

3.75+
52%
3.50 - 3.74
23%
3.25 - 3.49
14%
3.00 - 3.24
7%
2.50 - 2.99
2%
Students Enrolled By Class Rank

Top 10%
20
Top 25%
42
Top 50%
68
Students Enrolled By Household Income

< $30k
796
$30k - $48k
447
$48k - $75k
508
$75k - $110k
482
$110k+
1211

Admissions Resources

Admissions: visit page
Admissions Email: [email protected]
Admissions Telephone: 517-355-8332
For Students with Disabilities: visit page
For Veteran Services: visit page

Academics

Key Academic Stats

Highest Degree Offered
Doctorate
Total Number of Students
50,023
Total Number of Undergrads
39,201
0
100
58%
Graduate in 4 Years US National: 28%
0
100
82%
Graduate in 6 Years US National: 52%
Student:Faculty Ratio
17:1
US National: 21:1
Academic Calendar

Semester

Non Traditional Learning
  • Online Classes
  • Online Undergrad Degrees
  • Summer Sessions
  • Combined Institution Double Degree Programs
  • Some Programs Requires Co-Op/Internship
Learning Options
  • ROTC Army
  • ROTC Air Force
  • Study Abroad
  • Honors Program
Classroom Sizes

2-19 Students
24%
20-39 Students
40%
40-99 Students
21%
100+ Students
13%
 

Degrees and Majors

MAJORS
203

Faculty Overview

0
100
85%
Faculty With Terminal Degree US National: 36%
Gender
Male
Female
Ethnicity

African American
Asian/Pacific Islander
White
Hispanic

Campus Life

Key Campus Stats

Student Gender
Male
Female
48%
52%
Residency
In-State Students
71%
Out-Of-State Students
16%
Size of Town
Small city
US States Represented
55
Countries Represented
132
Ethnicity
African American
7%
Asian/Pacific Islander
8%
Hispanic
6%
White
67%
Multiracial
4%
Unknown
2%
Percent of First Generation Students
21%
Student Organizations
700
LGBTQIA Student Resource Groups
Item is checked
Yes
On Campus Women's Center
Item is checked
Yes
Cultural Student Resource Groups
Item is checked
Yes

Housing

0
100
39%
Undergrads Living on Campus
On-campus living required of freshman
No
Disability Housing Available
Yes
0
100
43%
Freshman Living on Campus

Athletics

Divisional Sports Nickname
Spartans
School Colors
green and white
Varsity Athletics Association
NCAA
Varsity Athletics Conference Primary
Big Ten Conference
Total Male Athletes
371
Total Female Athletes
342
Intramural Sports
21
Sports Club
4
Sports Team (Men)
  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Cross Country
  • Football
  • Golf
  • Ice Hockey
  • Soccer
  • Swimming
  • Tennis
  • Track and Field
  • Wrestling
Sports Team (Women)
  • Basketball
  • Cross Country
  • Crew-Rowing
  • Field Hockey
  • Golf
  • Gymnastics
  • Soccer
  • Softball
  • Swimming
  • Tennis
  • Track and Field
  • Volleyball
Michigan State University Athletics: visit page

Campus Safety

24-HR security patrol
24-HR security patrol is checked
Yes
Campus emergency phones
Campus emergency phones is checked
Yes
24-HR escort safety rides
Item is checked
Yes
Mobile campus emergency alert
Item is checked
Yes

After Graduation

Post Grad Stats

Average Salary
6 years after graduation
$63,200
Top 5 Cities
Detroit
East Lansing
Chicago
Grand Rapids
New York
Top 5 Employers
Michigan State University
General Motors
State of Michigan
United States Federal Government
Beaumont Health
Top 5 Sectors
Business Development
Education
Operations
Sales
Engineering
Average Debt at Graduation The median federal debt of undergraduate borrowers who graduated. This figure includes only federal loans; it excludes private student loans and Parent PLUS loans.
$20,500
Loan Default Rate
5%
National: 8%
Median Monthly Loan Payment The median monthly loan payment for student borrowers who completed, if it were repaid over 10 years at a 5.05% interest rate.
$231
As one of the eleven Big Ten schools, Michigan State's prestige includes it's wonderful learning opportunities. We have amazing professors that push academic limits beyond the class room. Although Michigan State is one of the largest universities, there are various residential colleges (James Madison and Lyman Briggs to name a couple) that allow smaller classrooms and provide students with a greater opportunity to establish relationships with professors. Here, at Michigan State, you can get the best of both worlds. Like every college, there are difficult classes with difficult professors. But, there are many resources to avoid such cases; like professor ratings on allMSU.com or tutoring options.
Paulina from zeeland, MI
The classes here are extremely informative. The information provided can sometimes be overwhelming, but I enjoy it because it gives me a chance to branch out into subjects I would never have considered. The course list is extremely expansive, allowing you to delve into nearly any topic you can think of.
As with any other university there are good and bad professors. So far I have been lucky and have had mostly good professors that enjoy teaching, which in turn makes it easier to pay attention and learn.
Tyler from Toledo, OH
Michigan State is a great university to attend! The professors really care about you and how well you're doing. Don't be afraid to go visit them during their open hours; they love to talk and get to know their students! The professors don't drone on and on about the subject they're teaching, but they use many tactics to get the students to understand. Some use humor, some use hands-on activities, some use fun discussions! My chemistry professor loves to make us laugh and do fun experiments such as making things blow up! (; Whichever way your professor presents the information, you're sure to learn a lot, while having fun too! Not only have I learned a lot academically, but I've learned a lot culturally. I was really scared to start college, because I thought I wasn't ready to be on my own. But there are many people here to help you through the way--while experiencing different cultures too! Each floor has a mentor and a cultural aide to help different cultures interact. The people here are uuuuuber friendly, and there's a large array of activities and clubs to join! I joined MRULE, or Multi-Racial Unity Living Experience. We have soo much fun discussing issues in our society, and we volunteer to help others, and we participate in different bonding activities, such as going to the cider mill or dodgeball tournaments! The club is filled with many people of many cultures and identities, and it gives me a chance to learn more about people that I never thought I'd learn! I wouldn't give up this opportunity for the world.
Titi from Canton, MI
The campus, food, organizations, people, academics, and nightlife of Michigan State University are unlike any other. MSU is full of down-to-earth, nice people who want to have fun but also focus on their academics. Though it is a big campus, it is not hard to find where you are going and you get used to it.
Lauren from Westland, MI
currently i am enrolled for 14 credits. Monday and Wednesday and Friday i have college algebra from 10:20-11:10 and then on Monday and Wednesday i have Cse101(computer class) from 12:40 to 2:30. my math class is only challenging because i cant understand my teacher, thankfully the book text is really helpful and the online homework, extra practice and so on, really helps me understand the material i don't get in class, and there are reviews for every test. Cse101 is challenging, but I'm glad that it's giving me a broad understanding of Word, Excel, Access, And web design. Then on Tuesdays and Thursdays i have Com225 (intro to interpersonal communication) i really like this class, i have it from 10:20 to 11:40 and its taught by 2 professors that are married, steve and kelly. they are so engaging and are really cool and interesting people. then from 12:40 to 2:30 i have ISS210 (society and the individual) i really like the professor in this class too, he's very versed on the information he teaches, but you really have to pay attention to catch everything he says. its not like in highschool where you can just do the work and in the process you'll get the material, you have to be the one to motivate yourself to go to class and listen and thats how you'll understand the material. then i have Yoga from 4:10 to 5:00. 14 credits isn't too overwhelming i would say, its keeps me busy for the first half of the day, then i really have the rest of the day to do all my work and other extra-curricular activities.
christy from Plymouth, MI
Being a student at Michigan State allows one to receive a well rounded education while still focusing on specific areas of study and allowing students to still have a bit of fun while doing it. All undergraduate students are required to take introductory courses in things such as: the arts and humanities, social sciences, science classes (for those who aren't science majors), and very interesting literature classes.
Keshia from Hollywood, FL
michigan state had everything i was looking for in a university-challenging classes, all types of students, and a beautiful location to call home. as an undecided freshman, i appreciated the wide variety of available classes and majors. the 500+ student organizations offer opportunities for everyone to make friends and get involved in campus life.
Rachel from Ann Arbor, MI
Michigan State University has a program for just about everyone. It is one of the largest schools in the country. The student population is very diverse.
Nicholas from White Pigeon, MI
The sectioned off campus is amazing since you don't have to interact with any non-students or faculty. There are plenty of activities on campus through our University Activities Board, which is a great experience for all incoming students. And It is a well renowned school throughout the country that lives up to its name.
Evan from East Lansing, MI
I don't need three sentences, I just need three words. Study, Party, Succeed. Those are the three things you will accomplish at this school. By far the most well rounded school in the Big 10.
Nick from Troy, MI