Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI
Affordability & debt
- Average net price
- $19,680per year, after aid
- Undergraduates with a federal loan
- 34%
- Undergraduates receiving a Pell grant
- 20%need-based, not repaid
- Typical debt at graduation
- $23,250federal loans, students who finished
- Reducing their balance within 3 years
- 67%of borrowers who entered repayment
What that debt costs to repay. Typical debt here is about $23,250. At 7% over 10 years — the standard federal plan — that is roughly $270 a month, about $32,394 repaid in total, of which $9,144 is interest.
Stretch the same balance over 25 years and the payment drops to $164 a month — but the total climbs to $49,298, roughly $16,904 more in interest. A smaller payment is not a smaller loan.
An estimate, not financial advice: straight amortization at a fixed rate, ignoring fees, interest accrued while enrolled, and any forgiveness or income-driven plan. Figures on this page are averages and medians — what any one family borrows and pays varies widely. Try your own numbers.
Michigan State University’s net price calculator — every college is required to publish one. It is the only way to get a cost estimate based on your family’s own finances rather than an average.
Published tuition
- In-state tuition
- $16,458published rate
- Out-of-state tuition
- $43,842published rate
The sticker price before any aid. Most students pay less than this — the net price above is what aided students actually paid on average.
Admissions
- Acceptance rate
- 85%
- Average SAT
- 1,269of admitted students
- Average ACT
- 26of admitted students
Context for the class as a whole, not a prediction about any one applicant.
Outcomes
- Median earnings
- $67,25310 years after entry
Median earnings of former students who received federal aid, measured 10 years after they started.
Campus life
- Campus setting
- City: Small
- Residential character
- Primarily residential — many students live on campus
Most common fields of study
- Business & marketing15%
- Biological & biomedical sciences13%
- Communication & journalism11%
- Engineering8%
- Social sciences8%
- Computer & information sciences6%
Share of degrees awarded, by broad field.
Athletics
NCAA Division I-FBS
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Cross Country
- Field Hockey
- Football
- Golf
- Gymnastics
- Ice Hockey
- Rowing
- Soccer
- Softball
- Tennis
- Track and Field
- Volleyball
- Wrestling
What borrowing would really cost
Starting from the typical debt at Michigan State University. Change any figure to see your own.
Standard plan — 10 years
$270per month
- Total repaid
- $32,394
- Interest paid
- $9,144
Longer term — 25 years
$164per month
- Total repaid
- $49,298
- Interest paid
- $26,048
Borrow $23,250 and repay it over 25 years instead of 10, and you pay $16,904 more — $49,298 in all, about 2.1× what you borrowed. The monthly payment is smaller; the loan is not.
An estimate, not financial advice. Straight amortization at a fixed rate: it assumes every payment is made on time and the rate never changes, and it leaves out fees, interest that accrues while you’re still enrolled, and any forgiveness or income-driven plan. Planning4College is not a financial advisor and sells no loans. Check real terms with your school’s financial aid office and studentaid.gov.
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