Michigan State University: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes

Michigan State University is a public institution located in East Lansing, Michigan. For the most recent reporting cycle, Michigan State University admits the majority of qualified applicants, with an overall admission rate of 83%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT of 1210 and an ACT composite around 26. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $19,680 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.

What GPA does my child need for Michigan State University?

53% of enrolled students at Michigan State University had a high school GPA of 3.75 or above, and the average was 3.74, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.

What does Michigan State University weight in admissions?

Michigan State University reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). What the weights mean

SAT and ACT scores Michigan State University typically admits

The middle-50 SAT Math range is 590–680, with an EBRW midpoint near 600. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 25–31. Many applicants here submit scores; even slightly below the average can be competitive when combined with a strong GPA and curriculum.

Where admitted students ranked in their high school class

Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort — often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.

How much does Michigan State University actually cost?

Published tuition is $16,458 for in-state students and $43,842 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $12,564 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $19,680 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 20% of students receive Pell Grants.

Application deadlines and early decision data for Michigan State University

Will my child graduate from Michigan State University?

These predict outcomes at Michigan State University better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates

Most popular majors at Michigan State University

The most popular undergraduate programs at Michigan State University, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication, Biology, General and Psychology, General. Across all programs, Michigan State University confers roughly 3,378 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication program report a median income of about $71,448 five years after entering college. What these figures mean

Is Michigan State University safe? Campus crime & safety

In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Michigan State University disclosed 178 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 4.3 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 38 violent offenses and 53 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts

What is campus life like at Michigan State University?

About 40% of undergraduates at Michigan State University live in campus housing, so a meaningful share of students commute or live off campus. In Greek life, 12% of men join a fraternity and 13% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.

Other colleges in Michigan parents ask about

• Wayne State University
  81% acceptance
• Western Michigan University
  85% acceptance
• Grand Valley State University
  83% acceptance
• University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
  16% acceptance

Colleges that admit at a similar rate

• University of St Thomas
  85% acceptance · Minnesota
• Saint Michael's College
  85% acceptance · Vermont
• Hawaii Pacific University
  86% acceptance · Hawaii
• Truman State University
  84% acceptance · Missouri

Common questions parents ask about Michigan State University