Public · City: Small
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan
Detailed ICP profile · Partial Common Data Set research. Each figure has its own reporting year. This is a research snapshot, not a live update.
At a glance
- 2026–27 published cost
- $38,346
- In-state (Michigan) · On campus · before aid · estimate
- Details about 2026–27 published cost ↓
- Avg. cost after grants
- $21,322
- 2024–25 · federal-aid recipients, in-state
- Details about avg. cost after grants ↓
Admissions
Historical admissions describe the reported applicant pool, not your chances. Early-plan applicants form different pools.
Applicants admitted
83.2%
Fall 2025
Historical first-year applicant pool; not your admission chances.
About this number: Applicants admitted
Admission offers divided by applications for the reported pool. Applicant characteristics and campus scope vary; this does not predict an individual decision.
Michigan State University Common Data Set · Fall 2025
Who or what this describes: First-time, first-year degree-seeking students
First-year applications
62,965
Fall 2025
Historical applications in the source-defined pool and year.
About this number: First-year applications
This is an application count, not the size of the entering class. Campus/program reporting scope matters.
Michigan State University Common Data Set · Fall 2025
Who or what this describes: First-time, first-year degree-seeking students
More admissions statistics (7)
First-year admission offers
52,411
Fall 2025
Historical offers of admission, not students who enrolled.
About this number: First-year admission offers
Admitted and enrolled populations differ. This count is separate from acceptance rate or yield.
Michigan State University Common Data Set · Fall 2025
Who or what this describes: First-time, first-year degree-seeking students
New first-year students
9,355
Fall 2025
Historical entering class under the source definition.
About this number: New first-year students
This is neither all undergraduates nor all students who received an admission offer.
Michigan State University Common Data Set · Fall 2025
Who or what this describes: First-time, first-year degree-seeking students
Admitted students who enrolled
17.8%
Fall 2025
Historical first-year yield for the reported cohort; not selectivity or your chances.
About this number: Admitted students who enrolled
New first-year enrollees divided by admission offers in the same source cohort. It reflects past students’ choices, not admissions difficulty or an individual decision.
Michigan State University Common Data Set · Fall 2025
Who or what this describes: First-time, first-year degree-seeking students
Applicants admitted · federal
84.8%
Fall 2024
Fall 2024 first-time applicant pool reported to IPEDS; not your admission chances.
About this number: Applicants admitted · federal
Admission offers divided by applications, both as reported to the U.S. Department of Education. It is a separate source and year from any institution Common Data Set rate and does not predict an individual decision.
U.S. Department of Education · Fall 2024
Who or what this describes: First-time, degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate applicants (includes early decision and early action)
First-year applications · federal
62,138
Fall 2024
Fall 2024 first-time, degree/certificate-seeking applicants reported to IPEDS.
About this number: First-year applications · federal
An application count, including early plans; not the size of the entering class.
U.S. Department of Education · Fall 2024
Who or what this describes: First-time, degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate applicants (includes early decision and early action)
First-year admission offers · federal
52,690
Fall 2024
Fall 2024 offers reported to IPEDS, not enrolled students.
About this number: First-year admission offers · federal
Admitted and enrolled populations differ.
U.S. Department of Education · Fall 2024
Who or what this describes: First-time, degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate applicants (includes early decision and early action)
New first-year students · federal
9,652
Fall 2024
Fall 2024 admitted first-time students who enrolled, full or part time.
About this number: New first-year students · federal
This is neither all undergraduates nor all admitted students.
U.S. Department of Education · Fall 2024
Who or what this describes: Admitted first-time, degree/certificate-seeking students who enrolled (full or part time)
Academic profile of entering students
Scores and GPA describe past students, not current requirements. Reporting methods and populations differ.
SAT middle 50%
1,100–1,310
Fall 2025
Enrolled students who submitted SAT scores. Not a required range or personal admission prediction.
About the 25th percentile: SAT 25th percentile
The 25th and 75th percentiles bound the middle 50% of the reported score-submitting group. They are not minimum requirements or averages; no composite is inferred by adding component percentiles.
Michigan State University Common Data Set · Fall 2025
Who or what this describes: first time first year degree seeking sat submitters
About the 75th percentile: SAT 75th percentile
The 25th and 75th percentiles bound the middle 50% of the reported score-submitting group. They are not minimum requirements or averages; no composite is inferred by adding component percentiles.
Michigan State University Common Data Set · Fall 2025
Who or what this describes: first time first year degree seeking sat submitters
ACT middle 50%
25–31
Fall 2025
Enrolled students who submitted ACT scores. Not a required range or personal admission prediction.
About the 25th percentile: ACT 25th percentile
The 25th and 75th percentiles bound the middle 50% of the reported score-submitting group. They are not minimum requirements or averages; no composite is inferred by adding component percentiles.
Michigan State University Common Data Set · Fall 2025
Who or what this describes: first time first year degree seeking act submitters
About the 75th percentile: ACT 75th percentile
The 25th and 75th percentiles bound the middle 50% of the reported score-submitting group. They are not minimum requirements or averages; no composite is inferred by adding component percentiles.
Michigan State University Common Data Set · Fall 2025
Who or what this describes: first time first year degree seeking act submitters
Average reported high-school GPA
3.74
Fall 2025
Among GPA reporters. Weighting and scale may vary; not a required or verified unweighted GPA.
About this number: Average reported high-school GPA
Schools report GPA differently. This mean cannot be compared as a universal scale or used as an admission cutoff.
Michigan State University Common Data Set · Fall 2025
Who or what this describes: Enrolled first-year students who reported high-school GPA
More academics statistics (19)
SAT reading/writing · 25th percentile
550
Fall 2025
Enrolled score submitters, not all students or a required score.
About this number: SAT reading/writing · 25th percentile
The 25th and 75th percentiles bound the middle 50% of the reported score-submitting group. They are not minimum requirements or averages; no composite is inferred by adding component percentiles.
Michigan State University Common Data Set · Fall 2025
Who or what this describes: first time first year degree seeking sat submitters
SAT reading/writing · 75th percentile
660
Fall 2025
Enrolled score submitters, not all students or a required score.
About this number: SAT reading/writing · 75th percentile
The 25th and 75th percentiles bound the middle 50% of the reported score-submitting group. They are not minimum requirements or averages; no composite is inferred by adding component percentiles.
Michigan State University Common Data Set · Fall 2025
Who or what this describes: first time first year degree seeking sat submitters
SAT math · 25th percentile
530
Fall 2025
Enrolled score submitters, not all students or a required score.
About this number: SAT math · 25th percentile
The 25th and 75th percentiles bound the middle 50% of the reported score-submitting group. They are not minimum requirements or averages; no composite is inferred by adding component percentiles.
Michigan State University Common Data Set · Fall 2025
Who or what this describes: first time first year degree seeking sat submitters
SAT math · 75th percentile
660
Fall 2025
Enrolled score submitters, not all students or a required score.
About this number: SAT math · 75th percentile
The 25th and 75th percentiles bound the middle 50% of the reported score-submitting group. They are not minimum requirements or averages; no composite is inferred by adding component percentiles.
Michigan State University Common Data Set · Fall 2025
Who or what this describes: first time first year degree seeking sat submitters
Federal ACT composite · 25th percentile
25
Fall 2024
Enrolled score submitters, not all students or a required score.
About this number: Federal ACT composite · 25th percentile
The 25th and 75th percentiles bound the middle 50% of the reported score-submitting group. They are not minimum requirements or averages; no composite is inferred by adding component percentiles.
U.S. Department of Education · Fall 2024
Who or what this describes: Enrolled first-time, degree/certificate-seeking students who submitted scores
Federal ACT composite · 75th percentile
31
Fall 2024
Enrolled score submitters, not all students or a required score.
About this number: Federal ACT composite · 75th percentile
The 25th and 75th percentiles bound the middle 50% of the reported score-submitting group. They are not minimum requirements or averages; no composite is inferred by adding component percentiles.
U.S. Department of Education · Fall 2024
Who or what this describes: Enrolled first-time, degree/certificate-seeking students who submitted scores
Federal SAT reading/writing · 25th percentile
590
Fall 2024
Enrolled score submitters, not all students or a required score.
About this number: Federal SAT reading/writing · 25th percentile
The 25th and 75th percentiles bound the middle 50% of the reported score-submitting group. They are not minimum requirements or averages; no composite is inferred by adding component percentiles.
U.S. Department of Education · Fall 2024
Who or what this describes: Enrolled first-time, degree/certificate-seeking students who submitted scores
Federal SAT reading/writing · 75th percentile
680
Fall 2024
Enrolled score submitters, not all students or a required score.
About this number: Federal SAT reading/writing · 75th percentile
The 25th and 75th percentiles bound the middle 50% of the reported score-submitting group. They are not minimum requirements or averages; no composite is inferred by adding component percentiles.
U.S. Department of Education · Fall 2024
Who or what this describes: Enrolled first-time, degree/certificate-seeking students who submitted scores
Federal SAT math · 25th percentile
590
Fall 2024
Enrolled score submitters, not all students or a required score.
About this number: Federal SAT math · 25th percentile
The 25th and 75th percentiles bound the middle 50% of the reported score-submitting group. They are not minimum requirements or averages; no composite is inferred by adding component percentiles.
U.S. Department of Education · Fall 2024
Who or what this describes: Enrolled first-time, degree/certificate-seeking students who submitted scores
Federal SAT math · 75th percentile
680
Fall 2024
Enrolled score submitters, not all students or a required score.
About this number: Federal SAT math · 75th percentile
The 25th and 75th percentiles bound the middle 50% of the reported score-submitting group. They are not minimum requirements or averages; no composite is inferred by adding component percentiles.
U.S. Department of Education · Fall 2024
Who or what this describes: Enrolled first-time, degree/certificate-seeking students who submitted scores
SAT submitter share
51.5%
Fall 2025
Share of the source-defined enrolled group submitting this test.
About this number: SAT submitter share
Submission rates depend on the reported population and policy at that time, not today’s testing requirement.
Michigan State University Common Data Set · Fall 2025
Who or what this describes: First-time, first-year degree-seeking students
ACT submitter share
6.8%
Fall 2025
Share of the source-defined enrolled group submitting this test.
About this number: ACT submitter share
Submission rates depend on the reported population and policy at that time, not today’s testing requirement.
Michigan State University Common Data Set · Fall 2025
Who or what this describes: First-time, first-year degree-seeking students
Federal SAT submitter share
39.0%
Fall 2024
Share of the source-defined enrolled group submitting this test.
About this number: Federal SAT submitter share
Submission rates depend on the reported population and policy at that time, not today’s testing requirement.
U.S. Department of Education · Fall 2024
Who or what this describes: Enrolled first-time, degree/certificate-seeking students
Federal ACT submitter share
7.0%
Fall 2024
Share of the source-defined enrolled group submitting this test.
About this number: Federal ACT submitter share
Submission rates depend on the reported population and policy at that time, not today’s testing requirement.
U.S. Department of Education · Fall 2024
Who or what this describes: Enrolled first-time, degree/certificate-seeking students
Share reporting GPA
92.0%
Fall 2025
Share of the entering group with reported GPA.
About this number: Share reporting GPA
The average reported GPA may describe only this subset; weighting and scale are source-specific.
Michigan State University Common Data Set · Fall 2025
Who or what this describes: First-time, first-year degree-seeking students
Share reporting class rank
31.5%
Fall 2025
Among students reporting class rank; nonreporters are not assumed to have a rank.
About this number: Share reporting class rank
Schools use different ranking systems. Check the reported population rather than treating this as an admission threshold.
Michigan State University Common Data Set · Fall 2025
Who or what this describes: First-time, first-year degree-seeking students
Top tenth of high-school class
20.2%
Fall 2025
Among students reporting class rank; nonreporters are not assumed to have a rank.
About this number: Top tenth of high-school class
Schools use different ranking systems. Check the reported population rather than treating this as an admission threshold.
Michigan State University Common Data Set · Fall 2025
Who or what this describes: first year enrollees reporting class rank
Top quarter of high-school class
52.8%
Fall 2025
Among students reporting class rank; nonreporters are not assumed to have a rank.
About this number: Top quarter of high-school class
Schools use different ranking systems. Check the reported population rather than treating this as an admission threshold.
Michigan State University Common Data Set · Fall 2025
Who or what this describes: first year enrollees reporting class rank
Top half of high-school class
90.2%
Fall 2025
Among students reporting class rank; nonreporters are not assumed to have a rank.
About this number: Top half of high-school class
Schools use different ranking systems. Check the reported population rather than treating this as an admission threshold.
Michigan State University Common Data Set · Fall 2025
Who or what this describes: first year enrollees reporting class rank
Costs & financial aid
Compare the year and population before comparing prices. Published budgets, group averages and your actual aid offer are different.
2026–27 cost of attendance
Published by Michigan State University$38,346
Published cost of attendance · per year, before financial aid
- 2026–27
- School estimate
This budget assumes
- In-state (Michigan)
- On campus
- First-year students
What the school includes
- Tuition
- $17,656
- Fees and taxes
- $466
- Food and housing
- $13,574
- Books and supplies
- $1,420
- Personal/misc.
- $3,930
- Travel
- $1,300
- Published total
- $38,346
This is the school’s budget before financial aid. It is not a bill, the federal average net price, or your own aid offer.
About this budget
- The school calls these 2026–27 figures estimates. They can change when the school finalizes them.
- Source: Undergraduate cost of attendance, academic year 2026-27 (estimated) - MSU Admissions (Michigan State University Admissions). Researched October 22, 2026; independently audited October 22, 2026.
Research notes: "The costs above for tuition, fees and taxes and food and housing reflect the current rates for the 2026-27 academic year. Every July, MSU finalizes these costs." Total marked (est.)*.
Understand the five kinds of college costs
- Tuition & fees
- Instruction and required college fees; living costs are additional unless explicitly included.
- Attendance budget
- College charges plus estimated living, books, travel and other included expenses, before aid.
- Average annual cost after grants & scholarships
- A historical average after federal, state/local and college grant aid for a specified federal-aid population. Outside private scholarships are not automatically deducted; loans and work-study are not discounts.
- Your net cost
- Your entered attendance cost minus selected grants and scholarships. Loans and work-study remain funding sources.
- Borrowing
- Debt to repay, not a discount. Work-study is earned over time, not an upfront bill reduction.
Average annual cost after grants & scholarships · in-state
$21,322
2024–25
Includes applicable federal, state/local and college grants and scholarships. First-time, full-time in-state students receiving federal financial aid form the reporting population. The attendance budget includes estimated living expenses. Your actual cost may differ.
About this number: Average annual cost after grants & scholarships · in-state
Federal average net price subtracts qualifying federal, state/local and institutional grants and scholarships from the source-defined attendance budget. Federal aid defines the reporting population, not the only aid deducted; some included students receive federal loans or work-study but no grants. This is a historical average, not a personalized award. Outside private scholarships are not automatically deducted. The public-college population pays in-state tuition. It is not a personal offer; loans and work-study are not discounts.
U.S. Department of Education · 2024–25
Who or what this describes: First-time, full-time in-state students receiving federal financial aid at public institutions
More costs statistics (4)
Tuition & fees · in-state
$17,256
2025–26
Historical federal amount, before aid and living expenses.
About this number: Tuition & fees · in-state
Tuition and required fees are combined here. Do not add the institution’s separate fees again or confuse this with total attendance cost.
U.S. Department of Education · 2025–26
Who or what this describes: In-state tuition and fees
Tuition & fees · out-of-state
$44,640
2025–26
Historical federal amount, before aid and living expenses.
About this number: Tuition & fees · out-of-state
This combines tuition and fees for the reported residency. It is separate from a differently dated institutional tuition figure.
U.S. Department of Education · 2025–26
Who or what this describes: Out-of-state tuition and fees
Undergraduates receiving Pell Grants
23.7%
2024–25
Source-defined undergraduate recipients; not an eligibility prediction.
About this number: Undergraduates receiving Pell Grants
This describes reported recipients, not whether your family qualifies.
U.S. Department of Education · 2024–25
Who or what this describes: Percentage of undergraduates who receive a Pell Grant
Undergraduates receiving federal loans
37.1%
2024–25
Borrowing participation; loans are debt, not grants.
About this number: Undergraduates receiving federal loans
A loan must generally be repaid and does not reduce net price. This is not a measure of the amount each student borrows.
U.S. Department of Education · 2024–25
Who or what this describes: Percent of all undergraduate students receiving a federal student loan
Campus & student outcomes
Enrollment, return rates and completion rates describe different source populations. They are not a measure of every student’s experience.
Undergraduate students · federal
41,234
Fall 2024
Fall 2024 undergraduate headcount, including full-time and part-time students.
About this number: Undergraduate students · federal
This is the source-defined institutional reporting unit, not a count of majors, degrees awarded or all graduate and undergraduate students.
U.S. Department of Education · Fall 2024
Who or what this describes: Grand total
Students per faculty member · federal
17
Fall 2024
A reporting ratio, not average class size.
About this number: Students per faculty member · federal
This federal measure uses its own student and instructional-staff definitions. It is separate from class size.
U.S. Department of Education · Fall 2024
Who or what this describes: Student-to-faculty ratio
Returned after the first year · federal
90.0%
Fall 2023 bachelor’s-seeking cohort, reported in IPEDS DCY2024–25
First-time, full-time bachelor’s-seeking students in the reported cohort.
About this number: Returned after the first year · federal
Federal retention follows a specific entering group. It is not a measure of all students or eventual graduation.
U.S. Department of Education · Fall 2023 bachelor’s-seeking cohort, reported in IPEDS DCY2024–25
Who or what this describes: Full-time, first-time bachelor’s-seeking undergraduates (the IPEDS four-year retention cohort) enrolled at the institution in the fall one year after starting
Completed within 150% of program time
80.3%
Fall 2019 or AcadYr 2019–20 cohort (differs by institutional calendar), reported in IPEDS DCY2025–26
Source-defined first-time, full-time entry cohort; not all enrolled students.
About this number: Completed within 150% of program time
For a four-year bachelor program, 150% of normal time is generally six years. Use the precise entry cohort and measurement definition in the research record.
U.S. Department of Education · Fall 2019 or AcadYr 2019–20 cohort (differs by institutional calendar), reported in IPEDS DCY2025–26
Who or what this describes: Full-time, first-time, degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates (total cohort, not only bachelor’s-seeking) who completed any degree or certificate at the institution within 150% of normal time
More campus and outcome statistics (5)
Reported academic calendar
Semester
2025–26
Reported population and year apply; missing is not zero.
About this number: Reported academic calendar
Read the source-defined population and conditions before comparing this figure with another institution.
U.S. Department of Education · 2025–26
Who or what this describes: Institution-level service or characteristic, rather than a student cohort
Undergraduate research in federal reporting
Yes
2025–26
Historical service reporting; an unmarked option is not proof that research is unavailable.
About this number: Undergraduate research in federal reporting
The source describes a reported co-curricular option, not the full current research opportunities available to students. Verify current offerings directly.
U.S. Department of Education · 2025–26
Who or what this describes: Institution-level service or characteristic, rather than a student cohort
Study abroad reported
Yes
2025–26
Reported population and year apply; missing is not zero.
About this number: Study abroad reported
Read the source-defined population and conditions before comparing this figure with another institution.
U.S. Department of Education · 2025–26
Who or what this describes: Institution-level service or characteristic, rather than a student cohort
Academic & career counseling reported
Yes
2025–26
Reported population and year apply; missing is not zero.
About this number: Academic & career counseling reported
Read the source-defined population and conditions before comparing this figure with another institution.
U.S. Department of Education · 2025–26
Who or what this describes: Institution-level service or characteristic, rather than a student cohort
AP credit reported
Yes
2025–26
Reported population and year apply; missing is not zero.
About this number: AP credit reported
Read the source-defined population and conditions before comparing this figure with another institution.
U.S. Department of Education · 2025–26
Who or what this describes: Institution-level service or characteristic, rather than a student cohort
What could you study?
These examples come from historical bachelor’s degrees awarded, not a verified current-major catalog. Confirm current programs, campus and entry conditions with the college.
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General
- Advertising
- Psychology, General
- Computer and Information Sciences, General
- Finance, General
- Exercise Science and Kinesiology
Historical degree records & sources
Reported first-major bachelor’s credentials, not necessarily distinct graduates. Examples with the largest reported counts, including ties; no campus or classification totals are added together.
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General
586 degrees awarded · 2024-25
- Advertising
553 degrees awarded · 2024-25
- Psychology, General
502 degrees awarded · 2024-25
- Computer and Information Sciences, General
472 degrees awarded · 2024-25
- Finance, General
390 degrees awarded · 2024-25
- Exercise Science and Kinesiology
345 degrees awarded · 2024-25
- Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management
340 degrees awarded · 2024-25
- Mechanical Engineering
240 degrees awarded · 2024-25
- Marketing/Marketing Management, General
237 degrees awarded · 2024-25
- Speech Communication and Rhetoric
232 degrees awarded · 2024-25
Plan your application
Check current official instructions for testing, essays, recommendations and dates. Historical admissions outcomes are not application requirements. Early Decision can be binding; review the institution’s conditions before choosing it.
Michigan State University — SAT/ACT policy
Test-optional
Verified for fall 2027 · college page
MSU is test-optional for first-year applicants; students indicate whether scores are considered.
Fall 2027 · first-year domestic applicant. The college's page names this entry year. Confirm your program and circumstances.
Common App requirements grid · 2026–27
Listed as: Test-flexible for first-year U.S. applicants.
This is the Common App’s own category. “Tests never required” does not say whether a college is test-optional or test-free, and “always required” does not say which tests count. Read the college’s page for details.
Conditions to check
- Tests the page names: SAT, ACT.
If you submit scores
- Self-reported scores accepted; official scores due July 31 if self-reported (admitted-student page)
Official source checked 2026-10-28. Policies can change.
Different applicant situation?
SAT/ACT and English proficiency are different requirements. Program, recruitment and scholarship rules may need separate confirmation.
Sources & research
Institutional Common Data Sets and federal statistics have different reporting periods and populations. Research snapshot: October 16–19, 2026. Missing values can reflect nonreporting, conflict, ambiguity or incomplete review; they are never zero. Four-year earnings for colleges are withheld because of a documented October 15, 2026 correction to the federal source.
How ICP selects and explains data →