10-yr median earnings
$67,253
Federal aid recipients only
Public · East Lansing, Michigan
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public institution in East Lansing, Michigan. as a public institution, published Scorecard outcomes are the federal Title-IV cohort view of former students — not every graduate and not a guarantee for any one enrollee.
- $19,680
- Avg net price / yr
- $67,253
- 10-yr median earnings
- 81.4%
- 150%-time completion
- 84.8%
- Acceptance rate
The verdict
Michigan State University pairs top-10% former-student earnings with open admission.
According to the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
- Top 9%
- former-student earnings, US
- 84.8%
- acceptance rate
- 81.4%
- 150%-time completion
- +22%
- earnings, 6→10 yrs
City: Small
Carnegie: R1
Institution data retrieved July 2026; field-of-study data retrieved March 2026.
How to read this Michigan State University profile
Figures above come from IPEDS institution records published through the College Scorecard (retrieved July 2026 for institution fields; March 2026 for field-of-study). Peer groups and cost cohorts follow IPEDS ownership sector, Carnegie class ("Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity"), and locale, not an editorial shortlist.
Average net price subtracts grant and scholarship aid from cost of attendance for full-time, first-time undergraduate Title IV recipients. It is a defined cohort average, not a personalized price; income-band fields add context but do not replace the school's current net-price calculator.
Earnings use Treasury-linked records for federally aided former students who were working and not enrolled in the measurement year (completers and noncompleters). IPEDS completion and retention use separate first-time, full-time cohorts, so those denominators are not the earnings cohort. Read cost, completion, and earnings as distinct historical measures, not a causal verdict or individual forecast.
College Value Score
B-
College Value Score
68/100
Michigan State University
A 6-metric composite of earnings, cost, and completion outcomes benchmarked against every reporting US college, not a ranking of teaching quality, campus life, or fit for any individual student. See the full methodology.
Earnings A+
$67,253
10-year median former-student earnings
Net Price D
$19,680
Average annual cost after grants and aid
Completion Rate A
81.4%
Completion within 150% of normal time
Debt F
$23,250
Median federal debt at graduation
Loan Repayment B+
74.5%
Borrowers repaying loans within 3 years
Retention A-
90.0%
First-year students returning for year two
Each axis is the percentile score shown in the breakdown at left; the shape shows this school's overall profile at a glance.
Avg net price
$19,680
After grants and scholarships
150%-time completion
81.4%
Full-time, first-time cohort
150%-time completion vs portal median (57.1%) 81.4%
Four-year-institution cohort
College ROI Quadrant - Michigan State University vs peers
Each dot is a college plotted by 10-year median earnings (x-axis) vs average net price (y-axis), colored by completion within 150% of normal time. Bottom-right = high earnings/lower price; top-left = lower earnings/higher price.
How Michigan State University ranks nationally
Where this school's former-student earnings fall within the full national distribution of every US college that reports to the College Scorecard, not just its peer set.
Michigan State University: former-student earnings vs. every US college
10-year median earnings, College Scorecard
$67,253 Top 9% higher than 91% of 5,103 US colleges
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US colleges. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard · Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals
| Metric | Michigan State University | National rank | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-yr median earnings | $67,253 | #455 of 5103 | 91st |
| Average net price | $19,680 | #3024 of 5020 | 40th (lower is better) |
| 150%-time completion | 81.4% | #632 of 4858 | 87th |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 40,922 | #23 of 5462 | 100th |
National ranks count every operating US college reporting each metric to the College Scorecard, separate from the earnings histogram above.
Quick Facts
40,922
Undergraduate enrollment
84.8%
Acceptance rate
1,269
SAT average
81.4%
150%-time completion
$67,253
10-yr median earnings
90.0%
First-year retention
How Michigan State University ranks in Michigan
State rank among 145 reporting Michigan colleges with College Scorecard data, a separate lens from the national distribution above.
| Metric | Michigan State University | State rank | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-yr median earnings | $67,253 | #8 of 145 | 94th |
| Average net price | $19,680 | #95 of 138 | 31st (lower is better) |
| 150%-time completion | 81.4% | #16 of 132 | 88th |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 40,922 | #1 of 149 | 99th |
Highest former-student earnings in Michigan
| # | School | 10-yr earnings | Net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kettering University | $94,823 | $34,660 |
| 2 | Chamberlain University-Michigan | $92,405 | $28,045 |
| 3 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | $83,648 | $13,138 |
| 4 | Michigan Technological University | $78,198 | $14,182 |
| 5 | Walsh College | $72,081 | - |
| 6 | University of Detroit Mercy | $71,030 | $15,232 |
| 7 | Lawrence Technological University | $69,151 | $32,918 |
| 8 | Michigan State UniversityThis school | $67,253 | $19,680 |
| 9 | Kalamazoo College | $65,590 | $19,072 |
| 10 | Thomas M Cooley Law School | $63,450 | - |
| 11 | Northwood University | $63,075 | $27,232 |
| 12 | Universal Technical Institute-Canton | $62,575 | $22,985 |
Admissions
| Admission Rate | 84.8% |
| SAT Average | 1,269 |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 590 – 680 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 590 – 680 |
| ACT Average | 26 |
| ACT (25th-75th) | 25 – 31 |
Costs & Financial Aid
Net price by family income at Michigan State University
Average annual net price after grants; Title IV recipient cohort by income bracket
- $0 – $30k $7,068
$0 – $30k
$7,068 net price / yr
- $30k – $48k $10,830
$30k – $48k
$10,830 net price / yr
- $48k – $75k
$48k – $75k
$16,521 net price / yr
- $110k+
$110k+
$28,546 net price / yr
What this shows Need-based aid pulls net price down at lower brackets at Michigan State University - compare the bar for your income band, not the overall average alone.
Tuition & Net Price
| In-State Tuition | $16,458 |
| Out-of-State Tuition | $43,842 |
| Average Net Price | $19,680 |
20.1%
Pell Grant Rate
33.6%
Federal Loan Rate
$23,250
Median Debt
$246/mo
Monthly Payment
Net price at Michigan State University swings rather than trends
Across 11 reported years between 2013 and 2023, the average net price here has ranged from $10,925 to $20,751 without settling into a rise or a fall. Comparing only the first and last years would read as +25.7%, but the years in between do not follow that line, so the honest summary is the range rather than a trend. Budget against the upper end, not the average.
Lowest year
$10,925
Highest year
$20,751
Most recent (2023)
$20,751
11 reported years. Nominal dollars, not adjusted for inflation.
2013 · $16,5072023 · $20,751
Over the same years, enrollment went +7.0% (37,622 → 40,243 students).
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, per-year fields (2013–2023). Net price is the average cost after grant and scholarship aid for federally-aided undergraduates.
Student Demographics
Race & ethnicity
Student body at a glance
55.3%
Female
21.0%
First Generation
Outcomes
90.0%
Retention Rate
$55,084
Median Earnings (6yr)
75.8%
Earning Over $25K
74.5%
Loan Repayment, Completers (3yr)
Outcomes & debt snapshot
| Measure | Cohort / horizon | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Completion within 150% of normal time | First-time, full-time | 81.4% |
| First-year retention | First-time, full-time freshmen | 90.0% |
| Median earnings | 6 years after entry | $55,084 |
| Median earnings | 10 years after entry | $67,253 |
| Share earning over $25,000 | Working, not enrolled | 75.8% |
| Loan repayment rate | Completers, 3 years after leaving | 74.5% |
| Median federal student debt | At completion | $23,250 |
| Estimated monthly payment | Standard 10-year plan | $246/mo |
Programs & Earnings
Field-of-study summary by credential
| Credential | Programs | Award count | Avg earnings | Top earnings | Avg debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 86 | 9,064 | $67,922 | $116,905 | $24,404 |
| Master's | 35 | 1,674 | $88,406 | $188,085 | $38,476 |
| Doctoral | 9 | 199 | $85,591 | $113,129 | - |
| First Professional | 4 | 832 | $118,155 | $130,503 | $177,663 |
| Certificate | 4 | 68 | $54,845 | $63,115 | $9,750 |
| Graduate Certificate | 3 | 55 | $68,031 | $71,324 | $32,079 |
Top programs at Michigan State University by completer earnings
Median earnings of program completers, College Scorecard field-of-study file
- Business/Commerce, General
Business/Commerce, General
$188,085 median earnings
- Business Administration, M…
Business Administration, Management and Operations
$142,927 median earnings
- Management Sciences and Qu…
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
$139,589 median earnings
- Medicine
Medicine
$130,503 median earnings
- Veterinary Medicine
Veterinary Medicine
$127,621 median earnings
- Human Resources Management…
Human Resources Management and Services
$127,481 median earnings
- Computer and Information S…
Computer and Information Sciences, General
$123,621 median earnings
- Registered Nursing, Nursin…
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
$118,130 median earnings
What this shows The highest-earning programs at a school are not necessarily its most popular ones - a small specialized program can post strong median earnings without reflecting the outcome most students here actually see.
| Program | Credential | Completers | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business/Commerce, General | Master's | 108 | $188,085 | $78,686 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | Master's | 297 | $142,927 | $51,250 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | Master's | 185 | $139,589 | $30,375 |
| Medicine | First Professional | 467 | $130,503 | $251,502 |
| Veterinary Medicine | First Professional | 114 | $127,621 | $177,857 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | Master's | 47 | $127,481 | $41,000 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | Master's | 21 | $123,621 | - |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Master's | 13 | $118,130 | $48,355 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | Bachelor's | 290 | $116,905 | $22,500 |
| Chemistry | Doctoral | 23 | $113,129 | - |
| Pharmacology and Toxicology | Master's | 32 | $110,091 | $40,900 |
| Food Science and Technology | Master's | 55 | $106,264 | $28,404 |
| Accounting and Related Services | Master's | 0 | $105,724 | $29,004 |
| Computer Engineering | Bachelor's | 56 | $104,627 | $23,000 |
| Engineering, General | Bachelor's | 85 | $102,301 | $22,250 |
Explore Data-Matched Colleges
Matches use Scorecard measures among reporting colleges — not state-system recommendations or geographic proximity.
Similar Enrollment and Sector
Other Public institutions closest in reported enrollment, preferring the same Carnegie classification.
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
University Park, PA
42,284 students · 1,362 apart
Florida International University
Miami, FL
39,508 students · 1,414 apart
University of Arizona
Tucson, AZ
42,537 students · 1,615 apart
The University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX
42,855 students · 1,933 apart
Similar Reported Net Price
Other Public institutions with the nearest reported average net price.
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Schuylkill
Schuylkill Haven, PA
$19,659 net price · $21 apart
Rutgers University-Newark
Newark, NJ
$19,703 net price · $23 apart
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
Slippery Rock, PA
$19,608 net price · $72 apart
Oregon State University
Corvallis, OR
$19,604 net price · $76 apart
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at Michigan State University? ▼
Michigan State University is a public institution in East Lansing, Michigan. The acceptance rate is 84.8%. The average SAT score is 1,269. Undergraduate enrollment is 40,922 students.
How much do Michigan State University former students earn? ▼
Federally aided former students at Michigan State University who were working and not enrolled had median earnings of $67,253 ten years after entry; the cohort is not limited to graduates. Six years after entry, the corresponding median is $55,084.
How much does Michigan State University cost? ▼
The average net price at Michigan State University is $19,680. In-state tuition is $16,458 and out-of-state tuition is $43,842. Median student debt at graduation is $23,250.
What is the graduation rate at Michigan State University? ▼
Michigan State University has a 81.4% completion rate within 150% of normal time at a four-year institution (typically six years for a bachelor’s program). The first-year retention rate is 90.0%.
Is Michigan State University worth the student debt? ▼
The median student debt at Michigan State University is $23,250, while former students earn a median of $67,253 ten years after enrollment. That debt represents about 35% of those annual earnings. Among borrowers who completed their program, 74.5% are repaying their loans within 3 years. Estimated monthly loan payment is $246.
Sources & methodology
Public-college profiles lean on IPEDS enrollment and Scorecard Title-IV outcomes. State appropriations are outside this page; the figures below are the federal cohort measures only.
Every number is read live from the Mar–Jul 2026 Scorecard/IPEDS retrievals. Public institutions often enroll large Title-IV cohorts, so medians can be stable — still cohort averages, never a personal forecast. Read the full methodology for how the data is sourced, computed, and verified.
- College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education - former-student earnings, cost & completion (collegescorecard.ed.gov).
- IPEDS, National Center for Education Statistics - enrollment, admissions, Carnegie class & demographics (nces.ed.gov/ipeds).
- U.S. Treasury / IRS earnings linkage - median earnings 6 & 10 years after enrollment for federal-aid recipients (irs.gov).
- College Scorecard, Field of Study - program-level (credential) earnings & debt (collegescorecard.ed.gov).
- Federal Student Aid (Title IV / NSLDS) - U.S. Department of Education - net price, student debt & aid-recipient repayment outcomes (studentaid.gov).
Where to go next from Michigan State University
- Compare Michigan State University against schools with similar outcomes at a lower average net price.Find similar schools that cost less
- Browse every reporting college in Michigan side by side.Browse Michigan
- See how fields of study differ on former-student earnings and debt.Explore programs
Public-college Scorecard figures are historical Title-IV cohort averages — confirm current tuition, aid, and admissions rules with the institution before deciding.
Every figure on PlainCollege is rendered directly from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard data, no number is typed in by an editor. Public-institution profiles compile Scorecard Title-IV earnings, IPEDS enrollment/admissions, and Treasury linkage fields — no editor-typed figures. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error on this page. Review the public data changelog. Data current as of Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals.