Michigan State University
A good choice overall. It ranks 186 of 1,755 four-year colleges on student outcomes, with an overall score of 79.2 out of 100.
These three answers are rules of thumb from the numbers below, not advice for any one student or major.
What do students really think?
You have seen the federal numbers for Michigan State University. Now hear from people who went there, or add your own experience. Anonymous, no account.
Would you choose it again? That is the first question the rating form asks.
Why it is good
- 82% of students graduate, better than 89% of four-year colleges.
- Students stay: 90% of first-year students return for a second year, better than 86% of four-year colleges.
- Strong pay: typical earnings ten years after starting are $74,168, higher than 82% of four-year colleges.
- Debt is manageable: graduates owe a typical $20,000 in federal loans against earnings of $74,168.
Why it is bad
Nothing stands out as clearly worse than similar colleges.
The numbers
What these figures measure
Graduation rate: share of all students, full-time or part-time, who finish within 8 years. Return for year 2: share of first-time, full-time students who come back for a second year. Earnings: median pay about 10 years after starting, for students who received federal aid. Debt: median federal loan debt among those who finish. Net price: average yearly cost after grants and scholarships. All from the U.S. Education Department College Scorecard, institution file dated November 2, 2026.
Programs and early earnings
Bachelor's degrees: largest programs
| Field | Graduates a year | Earnings, 2 yrs after | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biology, General | 516 | $26,048 | $20,459 |
| Psychology, General | 496 | $30,535 | $19,000 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 448 | $62,654 | $19,500 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | 444 | $41,833 | $19,500 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | 372 | $75,291 | $20,382 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 350 | $60,219 | $19,500 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 348 | $38,992 | $19,500 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 298 | $28,312 | $19,500 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 279 | $75,936 | $21,000 |
| Economics | 274 | $48,823 | $18,750 |
| Marketing | 255 | $54,996 | $20,750 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | 247 | $25,194 | $21,000 |
Certificates and diplomas: largest programs
| Field | Graduates a year | Earnings, 2 yrs after | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agricultural Production Operations | 57 | n/a | n/a |
| Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services | 22 | $27,862 | n/a |
| Electrical and Power Transmission Installers | 11 | n/a | n/a |
| Agricultural Business and Management | 9 | n/a | n/a |
| Animal Sciences | 9 | n/a | n/a |
Earnings are the median pay two years after completing, for graduates who were working and not enrolled again. The federal government hides figures for small programs, shown as n/a. Fields are broad groups, so a college may offer several majors inside one.
Students and reviews
Numbers cannot tell you about teaching, dorms or campus life. Read and write anonymous student reviews for Michigan State University, or ask and answer questions about it. Other sources:
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The grade reflects outcomes for the average student compared with other four-year colleges. Individual majors can be much better or worse.