Michigan State University Tuition and Fees

By Kelly Boyer Sagert

(Last Updated – 08/2025)

Michigan State University is a four-year public university located in East Lansing, Michigan. The university offers certificates, as well as degrees ranging from bachelors to doctorates.

Here’s what you need to know about MSU, including admission requirements, Michigan State acceptance rate, MSU tuition, financial aid stats, popular majors, and more.

Total Cost of Attendance

Michigan State University is a top-ranking research institution with a diverse student body and a strong athletics program. With more than 52,000 students from all 50 states and over 130 countries, MSU offers more than 200 programs of study.

Costs for 2024-25

Expenses	In-State	Out-of-State
Tuition & Fees	$16,458	$43,842
Books & Supplies	$1,380	$1,380
Room & Board	$12,564	$12,564
Other Expenses	$3,838	$3,838
Total Cost of Attendance	$34,240	$61,624

In the United States, public four-year in-state cost of attendance was $28,840 on average, while public four-year out-of-state cost of attendance was $46,730.

Financial Aid

In 2022-23, 97% of first-time, full-time undergraduates received some kind of financial aid, and the university is generous with institutional funding. These are the types of financial aid students received:

•  Grants or scholarships: 96% received them with an average award of $8,147

•  Federal grants: 18% received them with an average award of $5,578

•  Pell grants: 18% received them with an average award of $5,379

•  Student loan aid: 35% received them with an average award of $9,086

•  Federal student loans: 32% received them with an average award of $5,355

•  Other student loans: 7% received them with an average award of $20,049

Explore financial aid options: Michigan Student Loan & Scholarships

Generally, financial aid is monetary assistance awarded to students based on personal need or merit. Students that qualify for financial aid can use it to pay for college costs like tuition, books, and living expenses.

The federal government is the largest provider of student financial aid. However, aid can also be given by state governments, colleges and universities, private companies, or nonprofits. The different types include:

•  Scholarships: These can be awarded by schools and other organizations based on students’ academic excellence, athletic achievement, community involvement, job experience, field of study, or financial need.

•  Grants: Generally based on financial need, these can come from federal, state, private, and non-profit organizations.

•  Work-study: This federal program provides qualifying students with part-time employment to earn money for expenses while in school.

•  Federal student loans: This is money borrowed directly from the U.S. Department of Education. It comes with fixed interest rates that are typically lower than private loans.

Colleges, universities, and state agencies use the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine financial aid eligibility. The FAFSA can be completed online, but note that state and federal and school deadlines may differ.

You can find other financial aid opportunities on databases such as:

•  US Department of Education – Search for grants from colleges and universities by state

•  College Scholarship Service Profile (CSS) – A global college scholarship application used by select institutions to award financial aid

•  SoFi Scholarship Finder

Recommended: The Differences Between Grants, Scholarships, and Loans

Private Student Loans

In 2022-23, 7% of incoming students at MSU received private student loans.

Private student loans are funded by private organizations such as banks, online lenders, credit unions, some schools, and state-based or -affiliated organizations. While federal student loans have interest rates that are regulated by Congress, private lenders follow a different set of regulations, so their qualifications and interest rates can vary widely.

What’s more, private loans have variable or fixed interest rates that may be higher than federal loan interest rates, which are always fixed. Private lenders may (but don’t always) require you to make payments on your loans while you are still in school. Federal student loans don’t have to be paid back until after you graduate, leave school, or change your enrollment status to less than half-time.

Private loans don’t have a specific application window and can be applied for on an as-needed basis. However, if you think you may need to take out a private loan, it’s a good idea to submit your FAFSA first to see what federal aid you may qualify for, because it generally has better rates and terms.

If you’ve missed the FAFSA deadline or you’re struggling to pay for school throughout the year, private loans can potentially help you make your tuition payments. Just keep in mind that you will need enough lead time for your loan to process and for your lender to send money to your school.

Recommended: Guide to Private Student Loans

Projected 4-Year-Degree Price

The 2024-25 Michigan State University cost of attendance, including tuition, fees, room and board, books, and other expenses was:

•  In-state: Four years at MSU (based on 2024-25 total costs) is $137,280 total, not accounting for any Michigan State tuition increases.

•  Out-of-state: Four years at MSU (based on 2024-25 total costs) equals $246,496, not accounting for any increases.

How does that amount compare to other schools across the country? For the 2023-24 academic year, the average price of tuition and fees among colleges and universities was as follows:

•  In-state: Cost of attendance for four years at a public in-state college averages $115,360.

•  Out-of-state: Cost of attendance for four years at a public out-of-state college averages $186,920.

Undergraduate Tuition and Fees

Costs for 2024-25

Expenses	In-State	Out-of-State
Tuition & Fees	$16,458	$43,842
Books	$1,380	$1,380
Total Undergraduate Costs	$17,838	$45,222

The combined cost of MSU tuition, fees, and books in 2024-25 was $17,838 for Michigan residents and $45,222 for non-residents.

Graduate Tuition and Fees

Costs for 2024-25

Expenses	In-State	Out-of-State
Tuition	$21,432	$41,508
Fees	$340	$340
Total Graduate Costs	$21,772	$44,848

Assuming a two-year program, a master’s degree from Michigan State would cost $43,544 for in-state students and $89,696 for out-of-state students.

Students can obtain graduate loans to help with the costs.

Cost per Credit Hour

For the Fall 2025 semester for freshman, the cost per credit hour was $563.75 for 1-11 credits. For 12-18 credits, the cost was a flat-rate fee of $8,458.00.

Campus Housing Expenses

Costs for 2024-25

Expenses	On-Campus Costs	Off-Campus Costs
Room & Board	$12,564	$439+/month*
Other Expenses	$3,838	$3,838
Total Expenses	$21,044	Variable

*Monthly rent is variable, as it will depend on your location, unit, and whether or not you split the cost with roommates.

MSU offers information about on-campus housing with students wishing to live in a one-bedroom or studio apartment with a full bathroom and a kitchen. MSU has 27 residence halls, and for the first two years, students are required to live on campus.

Off campus apartments are also available near the campus, ranging from one to four bedrooms. Apartments start at $439 per month, but can vary substantially based on the location, apartment style, and number of roommates you wish to have. For housing not associated with the university, leases may be for a full year rather than the academic year.

Michigan State University Acceptance Rate

Fall 2023

Number of Applicants	Number Accepted	Percentage Accepted
58,879	49,458	84%

Admission Requirements

Besides the application, admission requirements include:

Required:

•  High school transcripts

•  Personal statement or essay

Items considered:

•  Work experience

•  Letters of recommendation

•  SAT/ACT test scores

Application due dates:

•  Early action, non-binding: November 1

•  Regular: April 1 (priority: February 1)

SAT and ACT Scores

Michigan State University is test-optional, meaning that students are not required to submit SAT and ACT test scores. If you choose to submit them, send them with your application. In Fall 2023, 39% of applicants submitted SAT scores while 7% submitted ACT scores. These were the 25th and 75th percentiles:

Test	25th Percentile	75th Percentile
SAT Reading/Writing	580	670
SAT Math	570	680
ACT Composite	26	31
ACT English	26	33
ACT Math	24	30

Popular Majors at Michigan State

In 2023-24, close to 9,000 bachelor’s degrees were awarded by MSU. Popular majors include the following:

1. Biology

In this program, students gain strong competencies in core biological disciplines, including anatomy, biochemistry, cell biology, genetics, and physiology.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023-24: 497

2. Psychology

Students study human behaviors and the mental processes underlying them in this diverse discipline. Students may develop interests in neuroscience, behavioral science, and more from this foundational degree.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023-24: 425

3. Advertising

MSU’s advertising program is consistently ranked as one of the three best in the nation. Undergraduates learn how to develop strategic thinking, researching, analytical skills, and more.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023-24: 413

4. Computer Science

From computer science theory to new technologies and approaches, students learn computing principles, software development, communication skills, and more.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023-24: 372

5. Supply Chain Management

Students in this program study to become supply chain leaders and learn to nimbly adapt to changes as they source and deliver products and services. They also discover how to use innovative technologies to effectively manage supply chains.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023-24: 364

6. Finance

Finance majors study financial concepts and instruments to learn crucial decision-making skills for future employment in financial institutions, corporations, and more. Classes focus on ethics and a global approach.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023-24: 350

7. Exercise Science & Kinesiology

Those who choose this major focus on physical activity and movement and how it impacts someone’s health and quality of life. Classes range from sports business management to athletic training, community education, and more.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023-24: 298

8. Mechanical Engineering

About 33% of all MSU engineering students choose this specialty, and they can benefit by participating in leading edge research alongside professors involved in pioneering work.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023-24: 279

9. Economics

Students receive education in domestic and international economies, learning about concepts, policies, analyses, and more. This degree prepares students for a broad range of business careers.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023-24: 192

10. Mass Communication

This program prepares undergraduates for a wide range of workplaces (profit, nonprofit, startups, and more) with a focus on persuasive leadership. This goal: to influence society in a positive way.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023-24: 147

Graduation Rate

MSU graduation rate for students who began in Fall 2017 was:

•  4-year: 65%

•  6-year: 83%

Post-Graduation Median Earnings

Median salary for MSU graduates is $67,253. This is slightly lower compared to the median of $80,236 for four-year public universities across the United States.