CostByCollegeAdmissions
Michigan State acceptance rate
The acceptance rate at Michigan State University is 83.9% for fall 2023. Out of 58,879 applicants, 49,414 were admitted and 9,533 enrolled.
The application numbers
| Figure | Fall 2023 |
|---|---|
| Applicants, fall 2023 | 58,879 |
| Admitted, fall 2023 | 49,414 |
| Acceptance rate, fall 2023 | 83.9% |
| Admitted students who enrolled, fall 2023 | 9,533 |
How this rate compares
Against the Michigan pilot school average of 69.6%, the rate at Michigan State University is 14.3 points higher, which means a larger share of applicants were admitted.
Against the national pilot school average of 53.0%, the rate at Michigan State University is 30.9 points higher, which means a larger share of applicants were admitted.
Averages here are simple averages across the pilot schools that publish a rate, 4 schools in Michigan and 235 schools nationwide on this site.
What the acceptance rate does and does not mean
The acceptance rate is the share of applicants who were offered a place. It is worked out by dividing the number of students admitted by the number who applied, for fall 2023.
A low rate means many more people applied than the school could admit. It does not by itself prove that a school is better, that teaching is stronger, or that graduates earn more. Some schools draw very large applicant pools because applying is free or simple, and some excellent schools admit a large share of a smaller, well matched pool.
A high rate does not mean admission is automatic. Schools still set entry requirements, and popular programs inside a school can be far harder to enter than the overall rate suggests. The rate also says nothing about cost. Read it beside the total cost, the average net price, and the outcomes on the cost page for Michigan State University.
Similar schools to compare
- Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan. Total cost $31,785 for one year.
- University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Total cost $34,782 for one year.
- Grand Valley State University, Allendale, Michigan. Total cost $29,027 for one year.
- Boise State University, Boise, Idaho. Total cost $32,341 for one year.
- University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado. Total cost $37,684 for one year.
Frequently asked questions
What is the acceptance rate at Michigan State?
The acceptance rate at Michigan State University is 83.9% for fall 2023. It is the number admitted, 49,414, divided by the number who applied, 58,879.
How many students apply to Michigan State each year?
In fall 2023, 58,879 students applied to Michigan State University, 49,414 were admitted, and 9,533 admitted students enrolled.
How selective is Michigan State compared with other schools in Michigan?
The average acceptance rate across the pilot schools in Michigan that publish a rate is 69.6%, and the national average across the pilot schools on this site is 53.0%. The rate at Michigan State University is 83.9%.
Does a low acceptance rate mean a school is better?
No. A low rate means far more people applied than the school could admit. It says nothing on its own about teaching quality, cost, or graduate earnings, which is why this site prints the rate beside cost and outcomes figures.
How much does Michigan State cost?
The total cost for one year at Michigan State University is $32,668 for in state students. The cost page on this site breaks that total into tuition, fees, books and supplies, room and board, and other expenses.
What is the graduation rate at Michigan State?
The graduation rate at Michigan State University is 82%, measuring the share of a starting cohort that finished within one and a half times the normal program length.
Sources: the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System, United States Department of Education. Admissions figures are for fall 2023. See the methodology page for full detail.