Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan · Public · 40,922 undergraduates · msu.edu
Test policy (fall 2027)
Test optional
Sending scores is your choice
Admit rate
83%
of 62,965 applicants
SAT (middle 50%)
1100 to 1310
of enrolled freshmen
Annual cost (2027-28)
$39,010Est.Estimate
$68,460 out of state
Your chances and merit aid at Michigan State University
See where you stand for admission, how much merit aid you could get, and what you'd pay after it.
We started you at a typical enrolled freshman here. Move the sliders to match you.
Your admission chances
83% of applicants admitted
Target
Your SAT is inside the range where the middle half of enrolled freshmen scored, and your GPA is in the middle half of freshmen's.
Estimated merit aid
a year
Your cost after merit aid
$59,460
a year in 2027-28, from a $68,460 sticker price (out of state)
What to do with your 1210
Send your score
About 43% of freshmen here didn't send a score. We estimate their typical SAT at about 1070, and yours is above it.
Named scholarships you may qualify for (10)
Honors College Excellence Scholarship
$13,000 a year
You meet the GPA and score minimums. Also needs admission to the honors program, an application, essay or interview.
Honors College Distinction Scholarship
$5,000 a year
You meet the GPA and score minimums. Also needs admission to the honors program, an application, essay or interview.
Alumni Distinguished Scholarship Commended Finalist
$2,500 a year
You meet the GPA and score minimums. Also needs an application, essay or interview. · Application required
Alumni Distinguished Scholarship Commended Semifinalist
$1,500 a year
You meet the GPA and score minimums. Also needs an application, essay or interview. · Application required
Alumni Distinguished Scholarship
Full cost of attendance
You meet the GPA and score minimums. Also needs an application, essay or interview. · Application required
Distinguished First-year Scholarship
Full tuition
You meet the GPA and score minimums. Also needs an application, essay or interview. · Application required
Joseph R. and Sarah L. Williams Scholarship
Full cost of attendance
You meet the GPA and score minimums. Also needs an application, essay or interview, other requirements.
You meet the GPA and score minimums. Also needs National Merit Finalist standing.
MSU National Merit Scholarship
$1,000 a year
You meet the GPA and score minimums. Also needs National Merit Finalist standing.
Reach, target and likely are a rough guide from your test score and how selective the college is. Admissions also weigh your courses, grades, essays and activities. Merit aid figures are estimates, before any need-based aid.
Admissions
Test policy for fall 2027
Test optional
You choose whether to send an SAT or ACT score. If you send one, it's considered.
- Doesn't superscore: it uses the scores from one test date.
- You can type your scores into the application; official reports come later.
Source: ACT/SAT optional | First-year applicants | Michigan State University · Checked October 16, 2026
Application deadlines
- Nov1Early Action · November 1, 2026Apply early and hear early. Not binding.
- Feb1Priority deadline · February 1, 2027Apply by this date for the best chance at admission and scholarships.
- Apr1Regular Decision · April 1, 2027The standard deadline.
Who gets in
83%
of applicants were admitted: 52,411 of 62,965 for fall 2025.
Early Action
Not binding. Apply by 11/1, hear by 1/15.
Wait list
4,241 students were offered a spot; 2,254 were later admitted.
Test scores of enrolled freshmen (fall 2025)
The shaded part shows the middle half of enrolled freshmen who sent scores: a quarter scored below it and a quarter above. 52% of them sent SAT scores and 6.8% sent ACT scores.
SAT total 1100 to 1310
Reading and Writing 550 to 660
Math 530 to 660
ACT composite 25 to 31
How enrolled freshmen scored on the SAT
- 1400 to 160011%
- 1200 to 139942%
- 1000 to 119936%
- 800 to 99910%
- 600 to 7990.4%
- 400 to 5990%
Source: Common Data Set 2025-26
High school GPA of enrolled freshmen
Average GPA: 3.74
- 4.024%
- 3.75 to 3.9928%
- 3.50 to 3.7424%
- 3.25 to 3.4915%
- 3.00 to 3.247%
- 2.50 to 2.991.5%
- Below 2.500%
Cost and financial aid
The sticker price is what a year costs before any aid. Most students pay less after grants and scholarships.
Sticker price for 2027-28Estimate
$39,010
a year, in state
$68,460
a year, out of state (tuition $47,360)
- Tuition (in state)$17,910
- Fees$360
- Food and housing$13,690
- Books and supplies$1,500
- Transportation and other$5,550
Michigan State University published $36,844 in state for 2025-26. Its 2027-28 prices aren't out yet.
Source: Common Data Set 2025-26
What families actually pay
What a year cost on average after grants and scholarships, for freshmen who got federal aid in 2023-24 (in-state students), by family income.
- $0 to $30,000$11,741
- $30,001 to $48,000$11,883
- $48,001 to $75,000$14,300
- $75,001 to $110,000$22,082
- Over $110,000$30,356
Financial aid
61%
of a student's financial need is covered, on average
$13,950
average need-based grant to freshmen, money you don't repay
8.2%
of freshmen got merit aid without financial need, $11,014 on average
- FAFSA
- Required for need-based aid. It's the free federal aid form.
- CSS Profile
- Not required. Only the FAFSA is needed.
Source: Common Data Set 2025-26
Merit scholarships
Awards for grades and scores, on top of need-based aid. You don't repay them.
MSU Non-resident Scholarship
$9,000 to $18,000 a year
Automatic · Out-of-state students · No separate application
- 3.40+ GPA, guaranteed minimum (1855 Scholarship level); MSU reviews 9th-11th grade GPA, weighted if available$9,000
To keep it: keep your out-of-state residency status (under the college's out-of-state scholarship rules).
DetailsHonors College Excellence Scholarship
$13,000 a year
Competitive · Out-of-state students · No separate application
- Honors College invitee (by invitation), an application, essay or interview
Honors College Distinction Scholarship
$5,000 a year
Competitive · Out-of-state students · No separate application
- Honors College invitee (by invitation), an application, essay or interview
Honors College STATE Scholarship
$5,000 a year
Competitive · In-state students · No separate application
- Honors College invitee (by invitation), an application, essay or interview
Show 8 more scholarships
Alumni Distinguished Scholarship Commended Finalist
$2,500 a year
Competitive · Application required
- ADS competition finalist
Deadline: Apply for admission by November 1.
DetailsAlumni Distinguished Scholarship Commended Semifinalist
$1,500 a year
Competitive · Application required
- ADS competition semifinalist
Deadline: Apply for admission by November 1.
DetailsAlumni Distinguished Scholarship
Full cost of attendance
Competitive · Application required
- invitation to ADS competition; apply for admission by November 1, an application, essay or interview
Deadline: Apply for admission by November 1.
DetailsDistinguished First-year Scholarship
Full tuition
Competitive · Application required
- ADS competition runner-up, an application, essay or interview
Deadline: Apply for admission by November 1.
DetailsJoseph R. and Sarah L. Williams Scholarship
Full cost of attendance
Competitive · No separate application
- selected candidates; automatic consideration
Merit Recognition Scholarship
National Merit · Out-of-state students · No separate application
$4,000 annually plus food and housing (double room, silver meal plan); limited number of non-Michigan National Merit Finalists naming MSU first choice
- non-Michigan National Merit Finalist, MSU first choice
MSU Special Merit Scholarship
$4,000 a year
National Merit · In-state students · No separate application
- Michigan-resident National Merit Finalist, MSU first choice
MSU National Merit Scholarship
$1,000 a year
National Merit · No separate application
- National Merit Finalist, MSU first choice
Compare awards across colleges with the merit aid calculator.
AP credit
AP exams that earn credit can replace college courses, so you pay for fewer of them and may graduate sooner.
AP exams that earn credit
38 of 38
Earn credit with a score of 3
16 exams
A 3-credit course is worth
about $1,790Est.Estimate
at 2027-28 tuition for in-state students
Credit for each AP exam
| Exam | Score needed | Credits | Counts as |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-D Art and Design | 4 | 3 | STA 113 |
| 3-D Art and Design | 4 | 3 | STA 114 |
| African American Studies | 4 | 3 | AAAS 100 |
| Art History | 4 | 8 | HA 101, 102, GCU |
| Biology | 4 | 8 | BS 161, 162 & Waive BS 171, 172, GCU |
| Calculus AB | 4 | 3 | MTH 132 |
| Calculus BC | 3 | 7 | MTH 132, 133 |
| Chemistry | 3 | 5 | CEM 141, 161 |
| Chemistry | 4 | 8 | CEM 151, 152, 161 |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 3 | 5 | CHS 102 |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 4 | 10 | CHS 102, 201 |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 5 | 15 | CHS 102, 201, 202 |
| Comparative Government and Politics | 3 | 0 | Waive PLS 140 |
| Comparative Government and Politics | 4 | 3 | PLS 140 |
| Computer Science A | 4 | 4 | CSE 231 |
| Computer Science Principles | 1 | 3 | CSE GCU |
| Drawing | 4 | 3 | STA 110 |
| English Language and Composition | 3 | 0 | Waive WRA 101 |
| English Language and Composition | 4 | 4 | WRA 101 |
| English Literature and Composition | 3 | 0 | Waive WRA 101 |
| English Literature and Composition | 4 | 4 | WRA 101 |
| Environmental Science | 4 | 4 | ISB 202, LAB |
| European History | 2 | 0 | Waive HST 205, 206 |
| European History | 3 | 8 | HST 205, 206 |
| European History | 3 | 8 | IAH 202 + HST 205 |
| French Language and Culture | 2 | 0 | Waive FRN 101, 102 |
| French Language and Culture | 3 | 4 | FRN 202 |
| French Language and Culture | 4 | 8 | FRN 201, 202 |
| French Language and Culture | 5 | 11 | FRN 201, 202, 310 |
| German Language and Culture | 1 | 0 | Waive GRM 101 |
| German Language and Culture | 2 | 0 | Waive GRM 101, 102 |
| German Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | GRM 201 |
| German Language and Culture | 4 | 6 | GRM 201, 202 |
| German Language and Culture | 5 | 12 | GRM 101, 102, 201, 202 |
| Human Geography | 3 | 0 | Waive GEO 151 |
| Human Geography | 4 | 3 | GEO 151 |
| Italian Language and Culture | 2 | 0 | Waive ITL 101, 102 |
| Italian Language and Culture | 3 | 4 | ITL 201 |
| Italian Language and Culture | 4 | 8 | ITL 201, 202 |
| Italian Language and Culture | 5 | 12 | ITL 102, 201, 202 |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 3 | 5 | JPN 102 |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 4 | 10 | JPN 102, 201 |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 5 | 15 | JPN 102, 201, 202 |
| Latin | 3 | 4 | LTN 102 |
| Latin | 4 | 7 | LTN 102, 206 |
| Latin | 5 | 11 | LTN 101, 102, 206 |
| Macroeconomics | 3 | 0 | Waive EC 202 |
| Macroeconomics | 4 | 3 | EC 202 |
| Microeconomics | 3 | 0 | Waive EC 201 |
| Microeconomics | 4 | 3 | EC 201 |
| Physics 1 | 4 | 3 | PHY 231 |
| Physics 2 | 4 | 3 | PHY 232 |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 4 | 4 | PHY 184 |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 4 | 4 | PHY 183 |
| Pre-Calculus | 4 | 5 | MTH 116 |
| Psychology | 4 | 4 | PSY 101 |
| Research | 3 | 0 | Waive WRA 101 |
| Research | 4 | 4 | WRA 101 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 2 | 0 | Waive SPN 101, 102 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 3 | 4 | SPN 202 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 4 | 8 | SPN 201, 202 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 5 | 11 | SPN 201, 202, 310 |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 2 | 0 | Waive SPN 101, 102 |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 3 | 4 | SPN 202 |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 4 | 8 | SPN 201, 202 |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 5 | 11 | SPN 201, 202, 310 |
| Statistics | 4 | 3 | STT 200 |
| United States Government and Politics | 3 | 0 | Waive PLS 100 |
| United States Government and Politics | 4 | 3 | PLS 100 |
| United States History | 2 | 0 | Waive HST 202, 203 |
| United States History | 3 | 8 | HST 202, 203 |
| World History: Modern | 2 | 0 | Waive HST 140, 150 |
| World History: Modern | 3 | 8 | HST 140, 150 |
Source: AP credit policy
After college
Graduate within 6 years
80%
Come back for a second year
90%
Typical earnings
$74,168
a year, 10 years after starting here
- Michigan State University$65,754
- All colleges$60,083
Median yearly earnings of graduates five years after finishing a bachelor's in this major. 82 majors here have earnings data.
Keep exploring
Figures marked Estimate are our estimates, not numbers the college published. Check each college's own site before you apply. SAT is a trademark of College Board, and ACT is a trademark of ACT, Inc. Sharp is not affiliated with either, or with Michigan State University. The Michigan State University logo is a trademark of the college.