Quad

Michigan State University

East Lansing, MIQuad's selectivitySelective
Known forBig campusBig endowment per studentTest-optional heavy
WebsiteAdmissionsApplyVisitFinancial aid

Admissions · Fall 2025

8 in 10 applicants admitted

Michigan State admits about 8 in 10 applicants (83%). That puts it in the "Selective" tier, more selective than 38% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

83%

83%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivitySelective

Applied

62,965

Admitted

52,411

Yield

18%

of admits enroll

SAT middle 50%

1180–1360

10001600
ACT middle 50%

25–31

1836
Applications +87% since fall 2014 · admit rate 66% → 85%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A very large campus of 40,922 undergrads, where 20% receive Pell Grants, a low share compared to other colleges.

40.9K

undergrads · larger than 99% of colleges

Diversity index

0.53

Pell Grant

20%

below the median

First generation

21%

below the median

Small cityNCAA D-I FBS · Big Ten ConferenceROTCStudy abroadUndergrad research
Steady · index 0.51 → 0.53 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Biology/Biological Sciences, General (6% of graduates). 17 students for every faculty member, more than at 78% of colleges. 86% of faculty are full-time. Spends $19,397 a year on instruction per student.

17 to 1

students per faculty member · more than at 78% of colleges

Most popular major

Biology/Biological Sciences, General

6% of 2024–25 graduates

Top-earning major

Computer and Information Sciences, General

$116.9K four years after completion

Full-time faculty

86%

of faculty

Instruction spending

$19.4K

per student a year

All majors with search, earnings by major, and faculty

Cost & aid · 2023–24

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $30,087 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $5.8K more than the national median. The 88% who received grants paid $23,657 on average; the other 12% paid the full sticker price of $32,668 in-state / $60,052 out-of-state.

22%

$30.1K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $5.8K above the national median

$0$110K$400K+
Full price, in-state
$32,668 a year
tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid
Little need-based aid above $110K
aid thins out for families above that income
Merit aid
8.2% · avg $11K
of first-years without need got merit aid
Aid generosity

Limited

grants cover 22% of full price

Federal loans

34%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits
Cost falling · −10% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $67,253 ten years after enrolling, more than at 80% of colleges; 82% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 1.8 years of that salary.

82%

82%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$67.3K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$23.3K

≈ $246/month for 10 years

Retention

91%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 79% → 81% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price fell 3% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid fell 10%, because grants grew faster. Applications rose 87% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 66% to 85%.

  • Cost

    Falling

    −10% after inflation

  • Applications

    Growing

    +87%

  • Selectivity

    Less selective

    admit rate 66% → 85% (to fall 2024)

  • Diversity

    Steady

    index 0.51 → 0.53

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

Schools like this one

University of Utah

86% admit · SAT 1285 · 27.3K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size
Compare side-by-side

University of Cincinnati-Main Campus

88% admit · SAT 1260 · 29.9K undergrads

Similar scoresSimilar sizeAlso Midwest
Compare side-by-side

Indiana University-Bloomington

78% admit · SAT 1285 · 37.8K undergrads

Similar scoresSimilar sizeAlso Midwest
Compare side-by-side

Oregon State University

79% admit · SAT 1270 · 31.1K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size
Compare side-by-side
Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

  1. 1
    IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  2. 2
    College Scorecard

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  3. 3
    Michigan State University Common Data Set 2025–26

    Michigan State University · Fall 2025; Fall 2027 applicants; Entered fall 2024; 2025–26 (estimated); 2025–26; Fall 2026 entrants; Class of 2025 · retrieved 2026-10-04

  4. 4
    IPEDS Admissions survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  5. 5
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  6. 6
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  7. 7
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  8. 8
    IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12

  9. 9
    College Scorecard Field of Study data

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  10. 10
    IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  11. 11
    IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  12. 12
    Common Data Set

    Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  13. 13
    IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  14. 14
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  15. 15
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  16. 16
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  17. 17
    IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  18. 18
    IPEDS Outcome Measures survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  19. 19
    Michigan State University (2026)

    Michigan State University · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 171100 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything