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Michigan State acceptance rate
Michigan State University · East Lansing, Michigan · Public · 40,922 undergraduates
Michigan State expanded its offers faster than its applicant pool grew, so the rate climbed 19 points between 2014 and 2024, to 85%. Michigan State admits more of its applicants than the typical four-year college, where the median rate is 77%. Iowa is the hardest to get into among the six schools closest to Michigan State in size and selectivity (84%); Texas State University is the easiest (89%).
Acceptance rate since 2001
Show the numbers by year
| Fall | Applied | Admitted | Rate | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 62,138 | 52,690 | 84.8% | 9,652 |
| 2023 | 58,879 | 49,414 | 83.9% | 9,533 |
| 2022 | 53,341 | 46,914 | 88.0% | 9,829 |
| 2021 | 50,630 | 42,150 | 83.3% | 9,225 |
| 2020 | 45,426 | 34,663 | 76.3% | 8,389 |
| 2019 | 44,322 | 31,522 | 71.1% | 8,801 |
| 2018 | 33,129 | 25,733 | 77.7% | 8,688 |
| 2017 | 36,143 | 25,860 | 71.5% | 8,366 |
| 2016 | 37,480 | 24,641 | 65.7% | 8,190 |
| 2015 | 35,300 | 23,397 | 66.3% | 8,173 |
| 2014 | 33,211 | 21,950 | 66.1% | 8,055 |
| 2013 | 31,479 | 21,610 | 68.6% | 8,061 |
| 2012 | 30,224 | 21,327 | 70.6% | 8,354 |
| 2011 | 28,416 | 20,728 | 72.9% | 7,984 |
| 2010 | 26,907 | 18,829 | 70.0% | 7,375 |
| 2009 | 25,395 | 18,392 | 72.4% | 7,416 |
| 2008 | 25,589 | 17,919 | 70.0% | 7,555 |
| 2007 | 24,436 | 18,040 | 73.8% | 7,541 |
| 2006 | 23,247 | 17,046 | 73.3% | 7,440 |
| 2005 | 21,844 | 16,686 | 76.4% | 7,485 |
| 2004 | 21,834 | 17,343 | 79.4% | 7,607 |
| 2003 | 24,973 | 17,690 | 70.8% | 7,122 |
| 2002 | 25,210 | 16,977 | 67.3% | 7,000 |
| 2001 | 24,391 | 15,877 | 65.1% | 6,914 |
Applications and offers
Acceptance rate for women and men
| Fall 2024 | Applied | Admitted | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 33,067 | 28,167 | 85.2% |
| Men | 29,049 | 24,505 | 84.4% |
SAT, ACT and test policy
- Test scores in admission
- Considered if submitted (test-optional)
- SAT reading and writing
- 590 to 680 (middle 50% of enrolled students)
- SAT math
- 590 to 680
- ACT composite
- 25 to 31
Colleges similar to Michigan State
The six public four-year colleges closest to Michigan State in acceptance rate and undergraduate enrollment.
| College | Acceptance rate | Avg net price | Earnings after 10 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Arizona Tucson, AZ | 86% | $17,125 | $67,414 |
| Cincinnati Cincinnati, OH | 85% | $24,917 | $60,832 |
| Texas State University San Marcos, TX | 89% | $16,660 | $60,523 |
| Iowa Iowa City, IA | 84% | $22,508 | $70,727 |
| Ohio University Athens, OH | 85% | $20,666 | $61,938 |
| Colorado State University, Fort Collins Fort Collins, CO | 89% | $22,247 | $66,947 |
Admissions counts are first-time, first-year applicants reported by Michigan State to IPEDS for each fall term (2001 to 2024), read from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal. Test score ranges and policy come from the College Scorecard. College Scorecard data updated November 2, 2026. How these figures are built · Michigan State on College Scorecard