At a glance
Average net price
$19,680
In-state, after aid
6-year graduation rate
80.7%
Admission rate
85%
Undergrad size
40,922
In-state tuition
$16,458
Out-of-state tuition
$43,842
Cost of attendance
$32,198
Median earnings (10y)
$67,253
Admissions
- SAT average
- 1,269
- ACT midpoint
- 26
- Retention
- 90.0%
- Locale
- City
Programs breakdown
29 program areas reported · Academic mix is led by stem (34%), humanities & arts (18%), social sciences (18%).
- STEM34%
- Health4%
- Business17%
- Humanities & arts18%
- Social sciences18%
- Trades & services10%
- Business16.6%~6,781 students/yr · BusinessCompare schools
- Biological sciences14.0%~5,725 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- Communication9.6%~3,933 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- Engineering8.5%~3,482 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- Social sciences7.7%~3,151 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- Psychology5.5%~2,243 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- Computer science4.5%~1,854 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- Agriculture4.2%~1,711 students/yr · Trades & servicesCompare schools
- ~1,608 students/yr · HealthCompare schools
- ~1,436 students/yr · Trades & servicesCompare schools
- ~1,383 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- ~1,097 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- ~900 students/yr · Trades & servicesCompare schools
- Engineering tech2.1%~855 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- ~851 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- Education1.8%~724 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- ~528 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- Legal1.3%~512 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- Mathematics1.1%~430 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- English0.9%~372 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- ~331 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- ~303 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- ~254 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- History0.5%~192 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- Liberal arts0.3%~135 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- ~82 students/yr · Trades & servicesCompare schools
- ~29 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- ~8 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- ~4 students/yr · Trades & servicesCompare schools
Share of all degrees and certificates awarded in each broad CIP-2 program area (U.S. Department of Education, latest reporting year). Estimated students/yr = share × undergrad size.
Specific majors offered
40 specific majors with reported completions. Earnings shown are median annual earnings 1 year after graduation; debt is median student-loan debt at graduation.
| Major | Credential | Grads | Median earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biology, General. | Bachelor's | 1,037 | $23,885 | $26,849 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication. | Bachelor's | 996 | $38,973 | $23,899 |
| Psychology, General. | Bachelor's | 972 | $27,682 | $25,250 |
| Medicine. | First professional | 930 | $56,501 | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Bachelor's | 873 | $61,667 | $23,250 |
| Communication and Media Studies. | Bachelor's | 789 | $37,107 | $26,750 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services. | Bachelor's | 711 | $61,907 | $23,250 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | Bachelor's | 662 | $76,292 | $24,022 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness. | Bachelor's | 610 | $28,154 | $26,000 |
| Mechanical Engineering. | Bachelor's | 556 | $71,321 | $24,000 |
| Economics. | Bachelor's | 549 | $48,199 | $24,250 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Master's | 511 | $101,863 | — |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences. | Bachelor's | 502 | $21,663 | $25,020 |
| Law. | First professional | 482 | $54,010 | — |
| Marketing. | Bachelor's | 440 | $58,064 | $23,896 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections. | Bachelor's | 434 | $37,461 | $26,000 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods. | Master's | 386 | $84,609 | — |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Bachelor's | 372 | $62,282 | $28,500 |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions. | Master's | 342 | $45,273 | — |
| Engineering-Related Fields. | Bachelor's | 332 | $66,715 | $23,756 |
| Accounting and Related Services. | Bachelor's | 312 | $58,100 | $23,250 |
| Education, General. | Bachelor's | 287 | $40,045 | $27,000 |
| Sociology. | Bachelor's | 270 | $31,092 | $26,985 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management. | Bachelor's | 268 | $45,050 | $22,625 |
| Animal Sciences. | Bachelor's | 266 | $34,232 | $26,000 |
| Political Science and Government. | Bachelor's | 263 | $32,000 | $22,576 |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences. | Bachelor's | 252 | $21,826 | $23,384 |
| Human Resources Management and Services. | Bachelor's | 251 | $49,074 | $23,475 |
| Zoology/Animal Biology. | Bachelor's | 229 | $24,435 | $27,000 |
| Veterinary Medicine. | First professional | 226 | — | — |
| Non-Professional Legal Studies. | Bachelor's | 224 | $20,423 | $24,753 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering. | Bachelor's | 221 | $71,673 | $22,500 |
| Business/Commerce, General. | Master's | 220 | $126,500 | — |
| Journalism. | Bachelor's | 215 | $32,480 | $24,985 |
| Design and Applied Arts. | Bachelor's | 208 | $37,306 | $28,175 |
| Chemical Engineering. | Bachelor's | 206 | $70,092 | $26,573 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies. | Bachelor's | 197 | $42,937 | $24,766 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services. | Bachelor's | 193 | $32,168 | $29,750 |
| Engineering, General. | Bachelor's | 186 | $66,191 | $22,500 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology. | Bachelor's | 185 | $36,979 | $22,774 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Field of Study. Earnings cover graduates who received federal financial aid and are working / not enrolled. Cells marked "—" are not reported or were suppressed for privacy.
About Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a very large institution located in East Lansing, Michigan, primarily awarding the bachelor's degree. It enrolls roughly 40,922 undergraduate students in a city setting. The most popular fields of study include Business, Biological sciences, Communication.
Cost & tuition
The average net price at Michigan State University — what a typical student actually pays after grants and scholarships — is $19,680 per year, which is moderately priced compared to other U.S. institutions. Sticker tuition runs $16,458 for in-state students and $43,842 for out-of-state students before aid. Total cost of attendance, including housing, books, and living expenses, comes to about $32,198 annually.
Graduation & earnings outcomes
The 6-year graduation rate is 80.7%, a strong completion outcome. 90.0% of first-time students return for a second year, a useful proxy for student satisfaction and academic fit. Ten years after enrolling, the median graduate earns $67,253 per year according to U.S. Department of Education earnings tracking.
Programs & majors
Michigan State University confers degrees and certificates across 29 broad program areas, with the largest concentrations of completions in Business, Biological sciences, Communication. Grouped into wider academic categories, the mix is led by stem (34% of credentials), humanities & arts (18% of credentials), social sciences (18% of credentials), which gives a quick read on the school's overall academic profile. Use the programs breakdown below to see every reported area, an estimated number of students per program per year, and links to compare other U.S. colleges in the same field.
Admissions
Michigan State University accepts 85% of applicants, making it open or near-open admission. Admitted students have an average SAT score around 1,269. The ACT midpoint for admitted students is roughly 26.
Location & campus
Set in East Lansing, Michigan (city), Michigan State University draws students from across Michigan and beyond. Prospective students often weigh proximity, cost of living, and local industry demand when choosing between schools in this area.
Frequently asked questions about Michigan State University
Q.How much does Michigan State University cost?
The average net price at Michigan State University is $19,680 per year after grants and scholarships, with total cost of attendance around $32,198.
Q.What is the graduation rate at Michigan State University?
Michigan State University has a 6-year graduation rate of 80.7% according to the latest U.S. Department of Education data.
Q.How hard is it to get into Michigan State University?
Michigan State University admits 85% of applicants, which is considered open or near-open admission.
Q.How much do Michigan State University graduates earn?
Ten years after enrolling, the median Michigan State University graduate earns $67,253 per year.
Q.What is tuition at Michigan State University?
Published tuition is $16,458 in-state and $43,842 out-of-state. Most students pay less than the sticker price after financial aid.
Q.Where is Michigan State University located?
Michigan State University is located in East Lansing, Michigan (ZIP 48824).
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS, the federal sources colleges are required to report to. Net price, graduation rate, and earnings figures reflect the latest available federal release. Always verify current tuition and program availability directly with Michigan State University at their official website.