How to Get Into Michigan State (MSU) – Acceptance Rate & Strategies

With over 38,000 total undergraduates, Michigan State University caters to more BA/BS-pursuing students than its in-state rival, the University of Michigan. In addition, the Michigan State acceptance rate is typically four times that of UMich. This gives members of The Great Lakes State a second terrific in-state option. Students flock to East Lansing for a vibrant campus, an elite athletics program, and strong academic offerings including engineering, nursing, business, and computer science.

In order to help you prepare for the pathway toward becoming a Spartan, this article will cover the following topics:

• Michigan State acceptance rate (plus how to predict your chances with our free admissions calculator)
• SAT, ACT, GPA, and class rank of accepted Michigan State applicants
• Admissions trends
• MSU’s system for rating applicants
• A look at the demographics of current Michigan State undergraduates
• The percent of accepted students that attend Michigan State (yield rate)
• Tips for applying
• How to assess whether applying to Michigan State is even worth the $75 application fee (for you)

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Michigan State University (MSU) Acceptance Rate — Class of 2028

There were 62,138 applicants to MSU last cycle — an all-time high. Of those Spartan-hopefuls, 52,690 were admitted, for a Michigan State University acceptance rate of 84%. This is a few points lower than the previous two years.

Historical Michigan State acceptance rates are as follows:

What GPA do you need to get into Michigan State?

For enrolled Class of 2028 students, the average GPA was 3.74, and 54% earned above a 3.75.

What class rank do you need to get accepted to Michigan State?

23% of the 2024-25 enrolled cohort placed in the top decile of their high school class, while 54% finished at least in the top quartile. Impressively, over 90% were in the top half of their graduating class.

What is the minimum SAT or ACT score for Michigan State?

For Class of 2028 members, the mid-50% SAT was 1100-1310. The ACT range was 24-30. It is important to point out that Michigan State is test-optional; around 60% of enrolled students submitted test scores.

Admissions Trends & Notes

• For the Class of 2028, Michigan State saw a 9% rise in the number of applications. They also received the most applications in school history.
• If applying to the Honors College, you should be in the top 5% of your high school.
• Historically, the average SAT score of an accepted Honors College applicant is 1450; the average ACT is 32.
• In a recent year, Honors College students comprised 6.7% of the entering class.
• 19% of the enrolled Class of 2028 hail from out-of-state.
• 27% of a recent class was students of color.

How Michigan State Rates Applicants

Michigan State views just one factor as “very important” to the admissions process: GPA. Additionally, items that are “important” as part of the admissions process include: rigor of high school course load, application essay, and extracurriculars. What’s more, “considered” factors include: standardized test scores, the interview, talent/ability, character/personal qualities, volunteer work, work experience, and demonstrated interest.

For a look at the academic requirements, we go right to MSU’s admissions office:

Any student considering attending Michigan State as a first-year should pursue a strong college preparatory curriculum. At a minimum, this includes:

• Four years of English (composition and literature)
• Three years of mathematics (two years of algebra, one year of geometry)
• Three years of social studies (history, anthropology, economics, geography, government, political science, psychology or sociology)
• Two years of science (biology, chemistry, physics or earth science)
• Two years of a single foreign language

Michigan State Demographics

Next, let’s look at the demographics of the Michigan State undergraduate student body.

The regional representation among the Class of 2028 is as follows:

• Michigan State: 76%
• Out-of-State: 19.7%
• International: 3.9%

Historically, the greatest percentage of international students come from the following countries:

1. China
2. India
3. South Korea
4. Bangladesh
5. Vietnam

In terms of ethnic identity, the breakdown of the Class of 2028 is:

• White: 66%
• Asian: 8%
• Hispanic: 7.8%
• Black or African American: 7.4%
• International: 4%
• Two or more races: 5%

A look at the gender split of the Class of 2028 reveals that women outnumber men by a significant margin.

• Men: 46%
• Women: 54%

Historically, the five most popular undergraduate colleges were:

• Broad College of Business
• Social Science
• Engineering
• Natural Science
• Communication Arts & Sciences

Michigan State Yield Rate

Michigan State’s yield rate is 18%, which has dropped several points in recent years. For comparison, other notable public schools have the following yields: University of Washington (26%), UCLA (52%), and Binghamton University (18%).

Tips for Applying

If you plan on joining the 62,000+ Spartan-hopefuls for the next admissions cycle, you should know the following:

• Firstly, we encourage you to check out the step-by-step application directions offered by the university.
• Michigan State will continue to be test-optional in the 2025-26 admissions cycle.
• Prospective Spartans can apply through the Common App or MSU application.
• Michigan State greatly values students who show demonstrated interest. Therefore, we recommend following them on social media, visiting campus, connecting with an admissions officer, etc.
• Lastly, Michigan State does not require supplemental essays, but make sure to dedicate sufficient time and effort to the 2025-26 Common App essay prompts required by Michigan State.

Should I Apply to Michigan State?

Most students admitted to MSU have a GPA above a 3.5, write a strong personal statement, and take a challenging course load in high school. If you check those boxes, then you will be a competitive applicant and, if the school is a good fit for you, submitting an application will certainly be worth your time and $65.

Michigan State University (MSU) Acceptance Rate — Final Thoughts

All students applying to Michigan State also need to have a proper mix of “target” and “safety” schools on their college list. More on creating a balanced college list can be found here.

Ready to start crafting your college applications? Consider checking out the following resources:

• Should You Start College Applications in the Summer?
• What is Demonstrated Interest?
• Do Colleges Look at Social Media?
• College Fair Advice for High School Students
• How to Complete the Common App Activities List
• Common App Essay Prompts
• 25 Inspiring College Essay Topic Ideas
• Should I Complete Optional College Essays?