Michigan State acceptance rate, cost and outcomes
Michigan State University · Public · East Lansing, MI · 40,483 undergraduates (IPEDS fall 2023)
Michigan State admitted 83.9% of applicants for fall 2023, up from 68.6% in 2013. Michigan residents pay $17,256 in tuition and fees for 2025-26; out-of-state students pay $44,640.
Admit rate, 2013 to 2023
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| Fall | Admit rate | Applicants | Admitted |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 68.6% | 31,479 | 21,610 |
| 2014 | 66.1% | 33,211 | 21,950 |
| 2015 | 66.3% | 35,300 | 23,397 |
| 2016 | 65.7% | 37,480 | 24,641 |
| 2017 | 71.5% | 36,143 | 25,860 |
| 2018 | 77.7% | 33,129 | 25,733 |
| 2019 | 71.1% | 44,322 | 31,522 |
| 2020 | 76.3% | 45,426 | 34,663 |
| 2021 | 83.3% | 50,630 | 42,150 |
| 2022 | 88.0% | 53,341 | 46,914 |
| 2023 | 83.9% | 58,879 | 49,414 |
Applications went from 31,479 in fall 2013 to 58,879 in fall 2023. Admit rate = admitted ÷ applicants. Source: IPEDS fall admissions.1
What families actually pay
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| Family income | Net price / year, 2024-25 |
|---|---|
| $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 |
| Tuition and fees, in-state (2025-26) | $17,256 |
| Tuition and fees, out-of-state (2025-26) | $44,640 |
| Cost of attendance (2024-25) | $33,710 |
| Average net price, students with federal aid (2024-25) | $21,322 |
Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants, for first-time full-time students with federal aid paying the in-state rate, 2024-25. Tuition is 2025-26. Source: College Scorecard.2
SAT and ACT
Middle 50% (25th to 75th percentile) of enrolled first-year students who submitted scores: 39% submitted the SAT, 7% the ACT. Source: IPEDS fall 2023.1
Similar public colleges
| College | Admit rate | Tuition and fees |
|---|---|---|
| Western Michigan MI | 84.7% | $15,954 in-state |
| Wayne State MI | 82.0% | $15,862 in-state |
| Eastern Michigan MI | 81.3% | $17,004 same for all |
Same state and type first, then the nearest admit rate. Fall 2023 and 2025-26 figures.
What the numbers say
Michigan State accepted 49,414 of 58,879 applicants in fall 2023, giving it an admit rate of 83.9%.1 Unlike many large universities, its rate has climbed: it was 68.6% in fall 2013, a rise of 15.3 percentage points.1 The rate declined in only 4 of the 10 yearly changes, and its highest point was 88.0% in 2022.1 Applications grew 87% while admitted students grew 129%, which explains the higher rate.1
Test scores are optional for applicants.1
Michigan residents pay $17,256 in tuition and fees for 2025-26, and out-of-state students pay $44,640.2 The resident price is above the $15,872 median of the 15 public bachelor's colleges in Michigan.2 Net price after grants climbs with income at Michigan State, starting at $11,741 for the $0 to $30,000 band and reaching $30,356 above $110,000 for 2024-25.2 The middle band of $48,001 to $75,000 paid $14,300.2
Of the 2019 entering class, 80% graduated within 6 years, compared with a state median of 59%.2 Retention was 90% and Pell grants reached 24% of undergraduates.2 Earnings 10 years after entry had a median of $74,168 against $59,874 for the state, and graduates who borrowed owed a median of $20,000.2
Every number on this page, with its source field
| Figure | Value | File, field, year |
|---|---|---|
| Applicants | 58,879 | IPEDS ADM2023, APPLCN, fall 20231 |
| Admitted | 49,414 | IPEDS ADM2023, ADMSSN, fall 20231 |
| Enrolled first-years | 9,533 | IPEDS ADM2023, ENRLT, fall 20231 |
| Undergraduates | 40,483 | IPEDS DRVEF2023, EFUG, fall 20234 |
| Admission policy | Selective (not open admission) | IPEDS IC2023, OPENADMP, 2023-243 |
| Test policy | Test-optional | IPEDS ADM2023, ADMCON7, fall 20231 |
| SAT reading/writing, 25th percentile | 580 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATVR25, fall 20231 |
| SAT reading/writing, 75th percentile | 670 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATVR75, fall 20231 |
| SAT math, 25th percentile | 570 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATMT25, fall 20231 |
| SAT math, 75th percentile | 680 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATMT75, fall 20231 |
| ACT composite, 25th percentile | 26 | IPEDS ADM2023, ACTCM25, fall 20231 |
| ACT composite, 75th percentile | 31 | IPEDS ADM2023, ACTCM75, fall 20231 |
| Enrolled students submitting SAT | 39% | IPEDS ADM2023, SATPCT, fall 20231 |
| Enrolled students submitting ACT | 7% | IPEDS ADM2023, ACTPCT, fall 20231 |
| Tuition and fees, in-state | $17,256 | College Scorecard, TUITIONFEE_IN, 2025-262 |
| Tuition and fees, out-of-state | $44,640 | College Scorecard, TUITIONFEE_OUT, 2025-262 |
| Cost of attendance | $33,710 | College Scorecard, COSTT4_A, 2024-252 |
| Average net price, students with federal aid | $21,322 | College Scorecard, NPT4_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $0 to $30,000 | $11,741 | College Scorecard, NPT41_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $30,001 to $48,000 | $11,883 | College Scorecard, NPT42_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $48,001 to $75,000 | $14,300 | College Scorecard, NPT43_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $75,001 to $110,000 | $22,082 | College Scorecard, NPT44_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income over $110,000 | $30,356 | College Scorecard, NPT45_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Graduation rate within 6 years | 80% | College Scorecard, C150_4, 2019 entrants2 |
| First-year retention | 90% | College Scorecard, RET_FT4, fall 2023 entrants2 |
| Undergraduates with a Pell grant | 24% | College Scorecard, PCTPELL, 2024-252 |
| Median earnings 10 years after entry | $74,168 | College Scorecard, MD_EARN_WNE_P10, 2022-232 |
| Median federal debt of graduates | $20,000 | College Scorecard, GRAD_DEBT_MDN, FY2024-252 |
| Median in-state tuition and fees, public colleges, Michigan (N = 15) | $15,872 | College Scorecard, median TUITIONFEE_IN, public bachelor's institutions, 2025-262 |
| Median graduation rate within 6 years, Michigan (N = 42) | 59% | College Scorecard, median C150_4, bachelor's institutions, 2019 entrants2 |
| Median earnings 10 years after entry, Michigan (N = 43) | $59,874 | College Scorecard, median MD_EARN_WNE_P10, bachelor's institutions, 2022-232 |
Sources
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): IPEDS admissions files, fall 2013 to fall 2023 (IC2013, ADM2014, ADM2015, ADM2016, ADM2017, ADM2018, ADM2019, ADM2020, ADM2021, ADM2022, ADM2023). Checked 26 Oct 2026.
- U.S. Department of Education: College Scorecard, Most Recent Institution-Level Data (Most-Recent-Cohorts-Institution (release of 15 Oct 2026)). Data years: 2019 entrants, 2022-23, 2024-25, 2025-26, FY2024-25, fall 2023 entrants. Checked 25 Oct 2026.
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): IPEDS Institutional Characteristics 2023-24 (IC2023.zip). Data years: 2023-24. Checked 26 Oct 2026.
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): IPEDS Fall Enrollment, derived variables, fall 2023 (DRVEF2023.zip). Data years: 2023. Checked 26 Oct 2026.
AdmitFacts is not affiliated with Michigan State, the U.S. Department of Education or NCES. Missing values are shown as Not reported, never estimated. The file field behind each figure is listed under "Every number on this page". How we build each page