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#3 Best Colleges in Michigan

Michigan State Admission Requirements

East Lansing, Michigan

 6 Reviews

Your chances of getting into Michigan State University

Admission Rate & Difficulty

Percent Admitted 

83%
Admission Difficulty for Michigan State University
Measure Difficulty
Admission Standards Difficult 
Applicant Competition Very Low 

Acceptance Rate

The acceptance rate at Michigan State is 83%.  Its admission rate is the 28th lowest in Michigan.

Admission Selectivity

How hard is it to get into Michigan State and can you get accepted?

Michigan State University is an easy school to get into with a very good chance of acceptance if you meet the admission requirements. Last year, 42,150 out of the 50,630 who applied were admitted.

The school has difficult admission requirements, generally admitting students who can score in the top 36 percent on standardized admission tests. Michigan State University typically accepts and attracts "A-" average high school students with an average GPA around 3.72. Most incoming freshmen graduate in the top quarter of their high school class. 22% of those admitted chose to enroll in the school.

Check if you have the grades and scores to get into Michigan State and calculate your admission chance.

Admission Requirements in Brief

To have the best chance of getting into to Michigan State University you should:

  • Have a high school GPA of 3.72 or better
  • Earn A- grades in high school
  • Score 1210 on the SAT
  • Score 26 on the ACT
  • Graduate in the top 25% of your high school class

Test Optional

Submission of SAT or ACT scores is not required for admission to Michigan State University. If you submit test scores, they will be considered with your application, but they are not mandatory. 48% of students submitted SAT scores and 16% submitted ACT scores for admission for the 2021/2022 academic year..

Michigan State SAT Scores

SAT Requirements & Average SAT Score

SAT Range 

1100-1320

Applicants Submitting SAT 

48%
SAT Scores for Michigan State University
SAT Test 25th Percentile Score
SAT Reading 25th 550
SAT Math 25th 550
SAT Composite 25th 1100
SAT Scores for Michigan State University
SAT Test 25th Percentile Score
SAT Reading 75th 650
SAT Math 75th 670
SAT Composite 75th 1320
Average SAT Score 1210

SAT Scores you need to get in

What are the SAT requirements for students to be admitted to Michigan State University?

Michigan State University is a test optional school meaning you are not required to submit SAT scores with your application. The position on SAT scores from the college is "considered but not required".

Students who get into Michigan State University score in the top 41 percent of all SAT test takers.. The SAT composite score range for the middle 50% of accepted students is 1100-1320 and the average score is 1210.  Michigan State ranks #7 in the state of Michigan for highest average SAT composite score. You should target scoring 1210 or above to be competitive with most other applicants.

View other colleges which accept students in the 1210 SAT score range.

Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2021 starting class

Chance of Acceptance by SAT Score

The table below outlines your predicted admission chances based on SAT score alone. If you are an average applicant with a score of 1210, you have around a 83% chance of being admitted. A 1210 places you well ahead of most other applicants and gives you about a 90% chance of getting in.

Michigan State University admission chances by SAT score
SAT Score (1600 scale) Competitiveness  Admission Chances 
1320 and Above Good >90%
1210 to 1320 Avg + 83%-90%
1100 to 1210 Avg - 72%-83%
990 to 1100 Reach 57%-72%
Less than 990 Low <57%
Calculate My Chances 
Connect with Michigan State

Engage with counselors on a personal level to demonstrate your interest in their school and get answers to all of your admissions-related questions.

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Michigan State ACT Scores

ACT Requirements & Average ACT Score

ACT Range 

23-29 

Applicants Submitting ACT 

16%
ACT Scores for Michigan State University
ACT Test 25th Percentile Score
ACT Reading 25th 22
ACT Math 25th 22
ACT Composite 25th 23
ACT Scores for Michigan State University
ACT Test 75th Percentile Score
ACT Reading 75th 30
ACT Math 75th 28
ACT Composite 75th 29
Average ACT Score 26

ACT Scores needed to get accepted

What are the ACT requirements for prospective students to get into Michigan State?

Michigan State University is test optional. Students are not required to submit ACT scores with their application. The policy on ACT scores is "considered but not required".

Michigan State regularly accepts students who score 23 and above on the ACT. These students typically score in the top 32 percent nationally. The ACT composite score range for the middle 50% of students is 23-29.

Find other colleges with similar ACT score requirements

Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2021 starting class

Estimated Chance of Acceptance by ACT Score

Michigan State University admission chances by ACT score
ACT Score Competitiveness  Admission Chances 
29 and Above Good >90%
26 to 29 Avg + 83%-90%
23 to 26 Avg - 72%-83%
20 to 23 Reach 57%-72%
Less than 20 Low <57%
Calculate My Chances 

Michigan State GPA

GPA Requirements & Average GPA

Avg. High School GPA 

3.72

Typical High School Grades 

A-

What GPA do you need to get into Michigan State University?

You are required to have very good grades in high school to get into Michigan State. The average high school GPA of the admitted freshman class at Michigan State University was 3.72 on the 4.0 scale. This indicates that primarily A- average high school students are accepted and ultimately attend. The school ranks #7 in Michigan for highest average GPA. If your high school grades are above the average 3.72 GPA, you have a very good chance of being admitted as Michigan State accepts 83% of all applicants.

See additional colleges accepting applicants in the 3.7 GPA range.

High School GPA's for admitted Michigan State University students
High School GPA Freshmen Within Range Competitiveness 
4.0 22.92% Good
3.75 to 3.99 27.81% Avg
3.50 to 3.74 23.22% Avg -
3.25 to 3.49 15.63% Reach
3.00 to 3.24 8.24% Reach
2.50 to 2.99 2.1% Reach
2.00 to 2.49 0.06% Reach
1.00 to 1.99 0.02% Reach
less than 1.00 0.02% Low

 What do these chances mean?

GPA Data Source, Peterson's Data 2022

High School Class Rank

54% of Michigan State University freshman were in the top twenty five percent of their high school graduating class.

High School Class Rank for admitted Michigan State University students
High School Class Rank Freshmen Within Range
Top 10% of class 23%
Top 25% of class 54%
Top 50% of class 89%
Data Source, Peterson's Data

Applying

Admission Statistics

Michigan State University admission statistics
Women Men Total
Applied 27,310 23,320 50,630
Accepted 23,327 18,823 42,150
Acceptance Rate 85% 81% 83%
Enrolled 4,925 4,300 9,225
Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield) 21% 23% 22%
Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2021 starting class

Application Fee

The cost for prospective students to apply to Michigan State University is $65.

Application Requirements

What are the requirements for admission to Michigan State University and what student information is used for admission decisions?

Michigan State University Application Requirements
Test Scores Considered but not required
High School GPA Required
High School Class Rank Considered but not required
Completion of College Preparatory Program Required
Recommendations Considered but not required
Demonstration of Competencies Neither required nor recommended

Credits Accepted

High School Credits Accepted at Michigan State University
AP Credit Yes
Dual Credit Yes
Credit for Life Experiences No

Other Colleges to Apply To 

Students applying to Michigan State University often consider these colleges

Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=171100 IPEDS survey data for Michigan State University.

FAQs

Does Michigan State University prefer SAT or ACT?

48% of students submit their SAT scores to Michigan State. 16% of applicants send their ACT scores when applying.

What is my chance of getting into Michigan State University?

83% of those who apply are granted admission to Michigan State. Admission competition is and the college has difficult admission standards. See if your grades and scores are good enough for admission.

What SAT score is required for Michigan State University?

The middle 50% of addmitted applicants have SAT scores between 1100 and 1320. 48% of students submit SAT scores when applying. See if your SAT score is good enough for admission.

What ACT score is required for Michigan State University?

The middle 50% of addmitted applicants have ACT scores between 23 and 29. 16% of students submit ACT scores when applying. See if your ACT score is good enough for admission.