In-state vs. out-of-state tuition at Michigan State
Michigan State charges $16,458 a year in published tuition and fees for Michigan residents, about $8,229 a semester, and $43,842 a year for students from other states, about $21,921 a semester, a difference of $27,384. About 23% of first-year students came from out of state. You may pay less if receiving grants or scholarships. Compare out-of-state tuition at 100 public universities →
What makes Michigan State different
- Residential colleges. Small programs such as James Madison College (public affairs) and Lyman Briggs College (sciences) let students live and take classes together.
- A land-grant pioneer. Founded in 1855, it was one of the first U.S. agricultural colleges, and agriculture and natural resources remain strengths.
- Practical business. Supply chain management and advertising are among its largest majors.
What Michigan State students study
The most common bachelor's degrees (class of 2024): biology (580), psychology (486), advertising (449), finance (398), computer science (369), supply chain management (342) and kinesiology (297). Source: IPEDS Completions, first majors only.
You may thrive at Michigan State if…
- You want a big campus but would like a smaller community inside it.
- You're interested in sciences, agriculture, communication or business.
- You'd enjoy a spirited college town.
Worth asking about
- How do you apply to the residential colleges?
- What scholarships are available to out-of-state students?
How Michigan State compares with the other Big Ten schools
Michigan State is one of the conference's largest and most accessible schools to get into. See how the 18 Big Ten schools differ.
FAQ
What is Michigan State's acceptance rate? 83.2% for fall 2025: 52,411 of 62,965 first-year applicants were admitted, according to its Common Data Set 2025–26. Source For fall 2024 it was 84.8%.
What is Michigan State's out-of-state acceptance rate? 81.5% for fall 2025, compared with 83.9% for Michigan residents. Michigan State admitted 25,087 of 30,768 out-of-state applicants and 21,067 of 25,102 Michigan residents, according to its Common Data Set 2025–26. Source International applicants are counted separately. Out-of-state tuition and fees are $43,842 a year before aid; you may pay less if receiving grants or scholarships. Compare out-of-state acceptance rates at public universities →
What is Michigan State known for? Its residential colleges, agriculture and sciences, supply chain management and advertising.
How much does Michigan State cost? Published tuition and fees are $16,458 a year in-state and $43,842 out-of-state, before any aid.
How much is MSU tuition per semester? About $8,229 a semester for Michigan residents and $21,921 for out-of-state students, based on published yearly tuition and fees of $16,458 and $43,842 before aid.
Is MSU an R1 university? Yes. In the 2025 Carnegie Classifications, Michigan State University is an R1 university, the group with the highest research spending and doctoral degrees. What R1 means →
How many students go to MSU? About 40,900 undergraduates (fall 2024).
Want a big school that feels smaller?
Lens's assessments show what kind of campus community fits you. Start with Lens →