Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan · Public · 84.8% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 79/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Michigan State University scores 79 (Strong Value) on the CampusROI scale, anchored by an 80.7% completion rate, $45,200 average 6-year earnings, a 6.8-year payback period, and an overall earnings premium of 0.41. With 40,922 undergraduates, MSU gives students access to a broad program portfolio. Computer and Information Sciences leads the portfolio at 372 graduates, $86,192 year-one, $116,905 year-four, and a B+ ROI grade. The engineering cluster (Electrical, Mechanical, Computer, Chemical) all carry B+ grades with year-one earnings of $79,000-$84,000. Business Administration (448 graduates, $71,253 year-one) and Finance (350 graduates, $68,103 year-one) are strong-performing, high-volume programs. The aggregate $45,200 average earnings reflect the drag from large lower-earning populations in biology (516 graduates, F-grade ROI), psychology (496 graduates, D-grade), neuroscience (247 graduates, D-grade), and theatre (D-grade). The in-state tuition of $16,458 makes MSU a compelling value for Michigan residents who enter high-earning fields.
Michigan State University scores in the top 14% of the schools we score, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
Michigan State University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $16,458/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $43,842/yr |
| Average net price | $19,680/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $78,720 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $67,253 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $45,200 |
| Median debt at graduation | $23,250 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $246 |
| Estimated payback period | 6.8 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 80.7% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 40,922 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $16,458/year ($43,842/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $19,680/year, or roughly $78,720 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $7,068/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $28,546/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $23,250, which works out to about $246 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($45,200) and comes to 0.51, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $7,068 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $10,830 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $16,521 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $22,703 |
| $110,001+ | $28,546 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 bracket pays $7,068 net price. MSU's aid program for its lowest-income students is genuinely strong. At $7,068 per year, even mid-range programs produce rapid payback.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $16,521 and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $22,703. Middle-income families choosing between MSU and out-of-state private schools will generally find MSU's value superior if their child is headed into engineering, business, or CS.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
The 110001-plus bracket pays $28,546 - roughly $114,000 over four years. At $45,200 average 6-year earnings and a 6.8-year payback on average, the full-pay case is solid for STEM and business graduates. Families paying full price for soft majors at MSU will face a longer payback than the aggregate suggests.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Michigan State University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Biology | $64,018 | F |
| Psychology | $56,040 | D |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $91,187 | B+ |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $69,300 | C+ |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $116,905 | B+ |
| Finance and Financial Management | $102,017 | B+ |
| Communication and Media Studies | $60,807 | D |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $67,290 | D |
| Mechanical Engineering | $97,946 | B+ |
| Economics | $79,428 | B |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Computer and Information Sciences
Computer and Information Sciences is MSU's highest-earning program by volume: 372 graduates, $86,192 year-one, $116,905 at year four, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.279 (ROI grade B+). Median debt of $24,022 is in line with the institutional average. MSU's CS program feeds major tech employers in Michigan and nationally. The four-year trajectory to $117k reflects strong placement in software engineering and systems roles.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration is MSU's highest-enrollment high-earning program at 448 graduates. Year-one earnings of $71,253 and year-four of $91,187 with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.326 (ROI grade B+). MSU's Broad College of Business has strong employer relationships in the Midwest. Finance (350 graduates, $68,103 year-one, $102,017 year-four) is a sister program with even stronger long-run outcomes.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering (279 graduates) earns B+ ROI: $80,259 year-one, $97,946 year-four, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.299 with median debt of $24,000. MSU's engineering programs connect directly to Michigan's automotive and manufacturing sectors. The near-six-figure four-year earnings reflect the premium on mechanical engineers in this region.
Biology
Biology is MSU's highest-volume program at 516 graduates, and it carries an F-grade ROI: $26,435 year-one, $64,018 year-four, debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.016 with median debt of $26,849. Near-term earnings of $26k reflect the large proportion of biology graduates entering graduate or professional school, which depresses the Scorecard's six-year figure. The four-year trajectory to $64k suggests eventual recovery, but the near-term debt burden is real for graduates who enter the workforce directly.
Psychology
Psychology (496 graduates) earns D-grade ROI: $30,164 year-one, $56,040 year-four, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.837 with median debt of $25,250. This is one of MSU's highest-enrollment programs and one of its weakest by near-term ROI. Students planning on graduate study may tolerate this; those entering the workforce directly after graduation face a challenging debt-to-earnings situation early in their careers.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 70.2% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 74.5% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 75.6% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 81.5% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Michigan State University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 84.8% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 590-680 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 590-680 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 25-31 |
| Enrollment | 40,922 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 20.1% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $13,468 |
MSU admits 84.8% of applicants. SAT 590-680 Math and 590-680 Reading, ACT 25-31, describe the middle range.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan State University (this school) | 79 | $19,680 | $67,253 |
| University of Colorado Boulder | 80 | $25,346 | $69,738 |
| The University of Texas at Arlington | 76 | $13,951 | $63,199 |
| University of Arizona | 75 | $16,674 | $59,979 |
| Central Michigan University | 51 | $17,597 | $55,874 |
| Eastern Michigan University | 42 | $15,407 | $51,793 |
Head-to-Head ROI Comparisons
See Michigan State University side by side with similar schools on ROI, cost, earnings, and debt.
Who Thrives Here
MSU admits 84.8% of applicants. SAT mid-range is 590-680 Math and 590-680 Reading; ACT composite 25-31. Enrollment of 40,922 means students must be self-directed; the institutional scale offers breadth. Pell grant rate of 20.1% is moderate. Strong fit for students interested in engineering, business, computer science, or agriculture - all programs where MSU has deep alumni networks and employer relationships.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, Michigan State University pays off. You'd pay about $19,680 a year after aid ($78,720 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $67,253 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 6.8 years, a solid return.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, its 80.7% graduation rate.
Median debt of $23,250 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $45,200 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.51, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Michigan State University: Common Questions
Is Michigan State University worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students Michigan State University pays off. It scores 79/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $19,680 a year after aid ($78,720 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $67,253 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 6.8 years to earn back.
How much does Michigan State University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $19,680 a year, or roughly $78,720 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Michigan State University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $67,253 ten years after enrolling, roughly $25,453 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Michigan State University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 6.8 years for Michigan State University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Michigan State University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $23,250, against average earnings of $45,200 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.51. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Michigan State University?
The six-year graduation rate is 80.7%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.