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Michigan State University

Michigan State University

East Lansing, MI · 40.9k students

OpenPublicCityGraduateCampus-basedmsu.edu
59.6/100

Trajecta score

+0.9 since '20

Ranked #193 of 2,375

5-year trend

'20'24

60.0 · #186

2020

63.6 · #168

2021

60.7 · #256

2022

60.9 · #256

2023

60.9 · #268

2024

AcademicCareersSuccessAfford.Invest.Access

Academic Profile

35/ 100

Career Outcomes

73/ 100

Student Success

71/ 100

Affordability

61/ 100

Academic Investment

89/ 100

Access & Equity

31/ 100

Academic Profile

35

Career Outcomes

73

Student Success

71

Affordability

61

Academic Investment

89

Access & Equity

31

AI Fit Analysis

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Cost / Net Price

$32k / $20k

SAT Avg

1,269

Retention

90%

Grad Rate

81%

Admissions

85%admission rate
EliteH.SelSelectiveModerateOpen

Test Scores

SAT Range1,269
4001000120014001600
25th: 1,180Average: 1,26975th: 1,360
ACT Range26
118243036
25th: 25Midpoint: 2675th: 31

Scores represent the midpoint of enrolled students, not a cutoff.

Finances

Tuition

In-State Tuition

$16,458

per year

Out-of-State Tuition

$43,842

per year

Out-of-state premium: +$27,384/yr

Aid & Debt

Pell Grant Share

20%

undergraduates receiving Pell

Federal Loan Share

34%

students borrowing

Median Debt

among completers

$23,250

Methodology

How these rankings work

The Trajecta Score (0–100) blends six dimensions of public college data into one comparable number, then nudges it by how much data each school reports. Selectivity tiers are separate — they’re based purely on a school’s admission rate.

Read the full methodology

Selectivity tiers

EliteUnder 10% admit rate
Highly Selective10–20% admit rate
Selective20–40% admit rate
Moderate40–65% admit rate
Open65%+ admit rate

Score dimensions & weights

Career Outcomes25%

Median earnings 10 years out, earnings vs. a high-school grad, and loan repayment.

Academic Profile22%

Admission selectivity and the incoming class’s SAT / ACT scores.

Affordability15%

Average net price after aid and the typical debt of graduates.

Student Success13%

Graduation rate and first-year retention.

Academic Investment12%

Instructional spending and faculty salaries per student.

Access10%

Share of Pell-grant students and reliance on federal loans.

Data from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard and IPEDS. Figures are the most recent reported and may lag a year or two. This tool is read-only and not personalized — inside the Trajecta app, scores are tailored to your profile as a fit score.

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Download Michigan State University's Trajecta Score as an image.