East Lansing, MI · 40.9k students
Trajecta score
+0.9 since '20Ranked #193 of 2,375
5-year trend
60.0 · #186
2020
63.6 · #168
2021
60.7 · #256
2022
60.9 · #256
2023
60.9 · #268
2024
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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See how your profile stacks up at Michigan State University — predicted chances, program fit, and a personalized application strategy.
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Cost / Net Price
$32k / $20k
SAT Avg
1,269
Retention
90%
Grad Rate
81%
Admissions
Test Scores
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
Admissions Factors
Self-reported by the school in its Common Data Set (section C7) — the school's own statement of which application factors matter in its admissions decisions.
3.74
average high school GPA of enrolled freshmen · 100% reporting
Source: Common Data Set 2024-2025, what Michigan State University reports weighing in admissions.
| Factor | Very Important | Important | Considered | Not Considered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rigor of secondary school record | Rigor of secondary school record: Important | |||
| Class rank | Class rank: Not Considered | |||
| Academic GPA | Academic GPA: Very Important | |||
| Standardized test scores | Standardized test scores: Considered | |||
| Application essay | Application essay: Important | |||
| Recommendation(s) | Recommendation(s): Not Considered | |||
| Interview | Interview: Considered | |||
| Extracurricular activities | Extracurricular activities: Important | |||
| Talent/ability | Talent/ability: Considered | |||
| Character/personal qualities | Character/personal qualities: Considered | |||
| First generation | First generation: Considered | |||
| Alumni/ae relation | Alumni/ae relation: Not Considered | |||
| Geographical residence | Geographical residence: Not Considered | |||
| State residency | State residency: Not Considered | |||
| Religious affiliation/commitment | Religious affiliation/commitment: Not Considered | |||
| Volunteer work | Volunteer work: Considered | |||
| Work experience | Work experience: Considered | |||
| Level of applicant's interest | Level of applicant's interest: Considered |
Supplemental Essays · 2025-26
school's admissions site ↗Meaningful interest or talent
RequiredChoose 1650 wordsSome students have an interest or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
Challenge, setback, or failure
RequiredChoose 1650 wordsThe lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
Questioning a belief
RequiredChoose 1650 wordsReflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
Gratitude
RequiredChoose 1650 wordsReflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?
Personal growth
RequiredChoose 1650 wordsDiscuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
Captivating topic
RequiredChoose 1650 wordsDescribe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?
Topic of your choice
RequiredChoose 1650 wordsShare an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.
Drafting these? Write them with AI feedback in Trajecta →
Methodology
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 methodologyMedian earnings 10 years out, earnings vs. a high-school grad, and loan repayment.
Admission selectivity and the incoming class’s SAT / ACT scores.
Average net price after aid and the typical debt of graduates.
Graduation rate and first-year retention.
Instructional spending and faculty salaries per student.
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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