Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology
Quick Stats
Earnings, Debt & Completion
What happens to students who enroll at Michigan State University, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
Typical debt at graduation equals about 35% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.
Earnings rank: 86th percentile among bachelor’s-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (MI wage index 0.90). This drives the Outcome Rating.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.
Earnings by Major at Michigan State University
Median pay of bachelor's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.
| Major | 1 yr after | 4 yrs after | vs. national | Rank (pay) | Rank (wage-adj.) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences | $86,192 | $116,905 | +27% | #60 of 459 | #36 | $22,500 |
| Computer Engineering | $83,934 | $104,627 | -4% | #101 of 189 | #83 | $23,000 |
| Engineering | $75,058 | $102,301 | +14% | #10 of 57 | #6 | $22,250 |
| Chemical Engineering | $79,023 | $102,223 | +4% | #38 of 158 | #36 | $25,314 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $68,103 | $102,017 | +22% | #45 of 452 | #32 | $22,500 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $83,874 | $100,481 | +-0% | #99 of 258 | #74 | $22,500 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $80,259 | $97,946 | +6% | #53 of 318 | #41 | $23,250 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $69,443 | $97,236 | +13% | #30 of 126 | #24 | $22,872 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $65,965 | $96,093 | +26% | #73 of 796 | #37 | $22,500 |
| Materials Engineering | $78,276 | $95,761 | +5% | #8 of 34 | #3 | $24,385 |
| Construction Engineering Technology/Technician | $74,518 | $95,387 | +2% | #14 of 43 | #9 | $25,250 |
| Engineering-Related Fields | $76,563 | $94,143 | +5% | #11 of 33 | #10 | $23,375 |
| Statistics | $63,649 | $93,930 | +2% | #21 of 50 | #15 | $23,625 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $71,253 | $91,187 | +34% | #50 of 1176 | #33 | $21,500 |
| Civil Engineering | $72,048 | $90,650 | +5% | #51 of 233 | #23 | $26,500 |
| Marketing | $57,275 | $90,453 | +31% | #22 of 516 | #12 | $22,250 |
| Agricultural Engineering | $65,396 | $86,498 | +2% | #10 of 26 | #8 | $28,000 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | $56,501 | $85,886 | +26% | #17 of 187 | #9 | $23,250 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $75,081 | $80,129 | -10% | #707 of 966 | #637 | $25,000 |
| Engineering | $67,007 | $79,609 | -15% | #18 of 19 | #15 | $21,848 |
| Economics | $54,013 | $79,428 | -4% | #187 of 368 | #129 | $22,231 |
| Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | — | $75,147 | +11% | — | — | — |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $38,810 | $74,709 | +12% | #29 of 118 | #19 | $23,750 |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $48,185 | $73,880 | -13% | #65 of 99 | #62 | $22,375 |
| Non-Professional Legal Studies | $33,752 | $72,414 | +17% | #6 of 39 | #3 | $24,753 |
| Mathematics | $47,951 | $72,226 | +4% | #138 of 309 | #99 | $19,250 |
| City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning | — | $71,158 | +6% | #6 of 17 | #3 | — |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | $47,202 | $70,940 | -7% | #64 of 93 | #52 | $26,000 |
| Food Science and Technology | $59,342 | $70,380 | -1% | #16 of 29 | #9 | $25,000 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $41,069 | $69,651 | +23% | #14 of 137 | #4 | $21,815 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $45,158 | $69,300 | +9% | #45 of 178 | #34 | $22,605 |
| Agricultural Business and Management | $57,023 | $69,108 | +4% | #23 of 77 | #25 | $21,500 |
| Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy | $48,967 | $68,913 | +23% | #6 of 29 | #3 | $20,500 |
| Soil Sciences | $50,770 | $67,666 | +9% | #3 of 6 | #3 | $19,500 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $28,045 | $67,290 | +23% | #50 of 610 | #31 | $24,580 |
| Political Science and Government | $39,514 | $67,032 | +6% | #161 of 565 | #101 | $21,500 |
| Nutrition Sciences | $28,759 | $66,437 | +11% | #9 of 53 | #4 | $23,170 |
| Chemistry | $39,531 | $65,983 | +1% | #108 of 209 | #70 | $26,750 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | — | $65,667 | +31% | #8 of 90 | #5 | $24,915 |
| International/Globalization Studies | $38,410 | $64,372 | +7% | #25 of 87 | #17 | $26,000 |
| Biology | $26,435 | $64,018 | +12% | #216 of 841 | #122 | $25,175 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $38,243 | $63,419 | -3% | #67 of 110 | #42 | $22,125 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $40,390 | $62,715 | +13% | #87 of 660 | #56 | $25,000 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $39,997 | $62,448 | +4% | #58 of 138 | #38 | $28,869 |
| Sociology | $35,055 | $62,204 | +18% | #61 of 462 | #18 | $25,845 |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | $38,726 | $61,953 | -1% | #36 of 49 | #30 | $26,625 |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | $29,642 | $61,309 | -1% | #28 of 64 | #23 | $22,759 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $36,390 | $60,807 | +8% | #154 of 660 | #81 | $25,250 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $37,170 | $60,728 | +10% | #58 of 265 | #33 | $23,080 |
| Journalism | $36,912 | $59,498 | +6% | #53 of 187 | #37 | $23,547 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.
The Michigan State University Town Property Report
- Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 48915 (7.1% cap, Lansing)
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🏆 Where Michigan State University Ranks
Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.
Costs & Financial Aid
Tuition & Fees
| Category | In-State | Out-of-State |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $16,930 | $43,700 |
| Room | $4,854 | |
| Board | $6,900 | |
| Total Cost (On-Campus) | $32,668 | $60,052 |
Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
| Family Income | Average Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $8,119 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $13,980 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $20,378 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $25,940 |
| $110,001+ | $28,327 |
Programs & Career Paths
Top Degree Programs
Programs ranked by number of degrees awarded annually.
Related Career Paths
Careers that graduates from Michigan State University's top programs commonly pursue.
Student Demographics
👥 Race & Ethnicity
🏠 Living Arrangements
💻 Learning Mode
📊 Age Distribution
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at Michigan State University?
How much does it cost to attend Michigan State University?
What is the graduation rate at Michigan State University?
Is Michigan State University a good school?
- Outcomes (A): Graduation and retention rates
- Affordability (C): Net cost and financial aid access
- Resources (C+): Class sizes and selectivity
- Experience (B+): Campus life and learning format
- Prestige (C+): Reputation and recognition
How many students attend Michigan State University?
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🎓 Similar Colleges to Michigan State University
Compare with other 4-Year public institutions of similar size.
Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology