Michigan State: the complete school report for parents
Michigan State puts the most weight on GPA. A second tier of course rigor, the essay and extracurricular activities carries real weight too. It does not consider legacy and class rank, so family connections carry no weight. With an 83.2% admit rate and 53% of enrolled students at a 3.75 GPA or above, the transcript is the entry ticket and scores are optional but help when they are strong. Major matters more than the name on the diploma here: five years out, Computer and Information Sciences, General graduates earn a median $105,539 against $34,587 for Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft.
Michigan State is officially Michigan State University, also known as Mi State U or Mi State University. Admissions figures below come from its 2025-2026 Common Data Set (see the source), with the admission-factor grid re-read from that file on 2026-09-20.
What does Michigan State actually weigh in admissions?
Michigan State rates 1 of the 18 factors "Very Important": GPA. It does not consider 6 of them at all. Every college reports these weights in section C7 of its Common Data Set; below is Michigan State's 2025-2026 answer, read from the grid in its own file.
| Factor | How Michigan State rates it |
|---|---|
| course rigor | Important |
| GPA | Very Important |
| test scores | Considered |
| the essay | Important |
| extracurricular activities | Important |
| recommendations | Not Considered |
| personal qualities | Considered |
| talent | Considered |
| class rank | Not Considered |
| demonstrated interest | Considered |
| the interview | Considered |
| legacy | Not Considered |
| first-generation status | Considered |
| geography | Not Considered |
| state residency | Not Considered |
| volunteer work | Considered |
| work experience | Considered |
| religious affiliation | Not Considered |
Does Michigan State consider how hard my child’s courses were?
Yes. It is an important factor.
Does Michigan State consider GPA?
Yes. It is one of the most important factors.
Does Michigan State consider SAT or ACT scores?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does Michigan State consider the application essay?
Yes. It is an important factor.
Does Michigan State consider extracurricular activities?
Yes. It is an important factor.
Does Michigan State consider recommendation letters?
No. Michigan State does not consider it.
Does Michigan State consider character and personal qualities?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does Michigan State consider a special talent or ability?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does Michigan State consider class rank?
No. Michigan State does not consider it. A school that does not rank its students is not a disadvantage.
Does Michigan State consider demonstrated interest?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does Michigan State consider an interview?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does Michigan State consider legacy status?
No. Michigan State does not consider it. A parent or grandparent who attended gives no advantage.
Does Michigan State consider being first-generation?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor. Say so on the application; it is read as context.
Does Michigan State consider where we live?
No. Michigan State does not consider it.
Does Michigan State consider state residency?
No. Michigan State does not consider it.
Does Michigan State consider volunteer work?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does Michigan State consider work experience?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does Michigan State consider religious affiliation?
No. Michigan State does not consider it.
What GPA do admitted students actually have?
53% of enrolled students had a 3.75 GPA or above. The average was 3.74 on a 4 scale, reported for 92% of the entering class. This is the school’s own distribution, not an estimate from its admit rate.
| High school GPA | Share of enrolled students |
|---|---|
| 4.0 | 24.41% |
| 3.75–3.99 | 28.1% |
| 3.50–3.74 | 23.8% |
| 3.25–3.49 | 15.14% |
| 3.00–3.24 | 7.04% |
| 2.50–2.99 | 1.5% |
| 2.00–2.49 | 0.01% |
What is the Michigan State waitlist really like?
Michigan State offered a place on its waiting list to 4,241 applicants and 2,254 accepted one. were ultimately admitted. That is 0.0% of those who waited.
Is transferring in easier than applying as a freshman?
Michigan State admitted 79.0% of 3,315 transfer applicants, against 83.2% of first-year applicants. The two routes are similarly competitive here. The minimum college GPA considered is 2.5.
When do we apply, and does timing change the odds?
Michigan State reports its early rounds below.
| Regular application deadline | April 1 |
|---|---|
| Decisions released | Rolling, beginning 10/15 |
| Reply / deposit deadline | May 1 |
| Early Decision offered | No |
| Early Action offered | Yes |
| Early Action deadline | November 1 |
| Application fee | $75 |
| Fee waiver available | Yes |
| Deferred admission offered | Yes |
What does my child need to take in high school?
Michigan State requires 15 academic units. A college-preparatory program is recommended. A GED is accepted.
| Subject | Required | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| English | 4 years | Not stated |
| Mathematics | 3 years | Not stated |
| Science | 3 years | Not stated |
| of which lab science | 1 year | Not stated |
| Foreign language | 1 year | Not stated |
What will Michigan State actually cost us?
Families pay an average of $19,680 a year at Michigan State after grants and scholarships, against a published in-state tuition of $16,916. The published price is not what most families pay. The university reports meeting 61% of demonstrated need on average. It also gave 764 merit awards averaging $11,014 to first-years with no demonstrated need.
What families at each income level actually paid:
| Family income | Average net price per year |
|---|---|
| Under $30,000 | $7,068 |
| $30,000–$48,000 | $10,830 |
| $48,000–$75,000 | $16,521 |
| $75,000–$110,000 | $22,703 |
| Over $110,000 | $28,546 |
45% of Michigan State graduates borrow, leaving with an average of $31,468 in debt, which the federal data puts at about $246 a month in repayment. Michigan State’s net price calculator gives your own figure.
Does a degree from Michigan State pay off?
Graduates earn a median $67,253 ten years after entering, and $55,084 at six years. 85% out-earn a typical high school graduate within six years. 67% are actively paying down their loans three years in.
Four-year net cost against that earnings premium:
| Family income | Four-year net cost | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|
| Under $30,000 | $28,272 | 1.2 |
| $30,000–$48,000 | $43,320 | 1.9 |
| $48,000–$75,000 | $66,084 | 2.8 |
| $75,000–$110,000 | $90,812 | 3.9 |
| Over $110,000 | $114,184 | 4.9 |
A scale, not a forecast: it assumes aid and earnings hold steady.
$105,539 to $34,587, depending on the major. Median earnings five years out at Michigan State:
| Major | Median earnings, 5 years | Graduates a year |
|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $105,539 | 290 |
| Construction Engineering Technology/Technician | $103,264 | 41 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $99,381 | 277 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $99,263 | 361 |
| Engineering-Related Fields | $96,014 | 172 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $91,024 | 164 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $90,299 | 425 |
| Marketing | $88,000 | 185 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | $86,826 | 147 |
| Psychology, General | $56,392 | 476 |
| Music | $40,644 | 56 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $34,587 | 31 |
College Scorecard, by field of study; highest and lowest shown.
Will my child actually graduate?
91% of first-years return for a second year. 81% within six (Fall 2019 cohort). The rate holds up across income: 71.6% of Pell-grant recipients graduate within six years against 83.0% of everyone else, a gap of 11.4 points.
How big are the classes?
The student-faculty ratio is 17:1, and 86% of faculty are full-time. Accredited by Higher Learning Commission.
What is life at Michigan State like?
41,415 undergraduates, 18.9% of first-years from out of state. 95% of freshmen live in university housing, falling to 40% across all undergraduates. Greek life is small: 12% of men join a fraternity and 13% of women a sorority. 21% of students are the first in their family to attend college, and the median family income is $72,140.
What this means for your student
- 53% of enrolled students are at a 3.75 GPA or above, averaging 3.74. Below that line the rest of the application has to carry real weight.
- Its highest-earning major returns $105,539 five years out against $34,587 at the other end, a gap wider than the one between most schools.
- See where your student actually stands: calculate their GPA and compare it against the distribution above.
Common questions about Michigan State
What GPA do you need for Michigan State?
53% of enrolled students at Michigan State 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 do Michigan State graduates earn?
Michigan State graduates earn a median $67,253 ten years after entering, and 85% out-earn a typical high school graduate within six years.
Other schools families compare with Michigan State
- WSUAdmissions report · 83.6% admit rate
- WMUAdmissions report · 85.3% admit rate
- Grand Valley|GVSU|Grand Valley State|Admissions report · 92.7% admit rate
- University of Cincinnati-Main CampusAdmissions report · 88.0% admit rate
- UIC|U of I-Chicago|Illinois-Chicago|U of I-Medical Center|University of Illinois-Medical Center|Admissions report · 75.8% admit rate
- Southern Illinois University-CarbondaleAdmissions report · 94.4% admit rate
Where these numbers come from
Admissions figures: Michigan State’s 2025-2026 Common Data Set, published here, factor grid re-read from it on 2026-09-20. Earnings, debt, net price and graduation rates: College Scorecard (2022-2023). Unreported values show as “Not reported”.
How to read these numbers · Back to the Michigan State profile