Michigan State University College Portrait
Michigan State UniversityEast Lansing, MI 48824
(517) 355-8332
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is one of
the top research universities in the world, on one of the biggest, greenest
campuses in the country.
MSU Spartans have been working to advance the common good in uncommon ways for more than 150 years. The nation’s pioneer land-grant university, MSU offers nationally ranked and recognized academic, residential-college, and service-learning programs and leads the nation in study abroad participation among public universities. As part of a diverse community of dedicated scholars and scientists, athletes and artists, students work side by side with faculty on research and creative projects that make a difference in lives from Michigan to Malawi.
Living in the Spartans Community
Michigan State University offers more
than a world-class education. It offers an epic adventure!
At MSU, the vast number of opportunities—from more than 200 programs of study and more than 600 student organizations to big-time cultural events and Big Ten athletics—is matched only by the immensity of the chance to make a difference. Students study abroad, participate in internships, conduct research, and lead and volunteer locally and globally. The largest single-campus residence hall system in the nation, an active Greek community, and living-learning communities are just the start of a proud and powerful Spartan tradition that provides a lifelong network of friends and opportunities.
The Big Picture: How many students were on campus in Fall 2010?
More Information
| Total Students | 47,131 | |
|---|---|---|
Undergraduate Snapshot
| Total Undergraduate Students | 36,058 | |
|---|---|---|
| Gender | ||
| Women | 18,708 | 52% |
| Men | 17,350 | 48% |
| Race/Ethnicity | ||
| American Indian / Alaskan Native | 153 | <1% |
| Asian | 1,566 | 4% |
| African American / Black | 2,665 | 7% |
| Hispanic | 1,133 | 3% |
| Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | 21 | <1% |
| White | 26,382 | 73% |
| Two or More Races | 571 | 2% |
| International | 2,994 | 8% |
| Race/Ethnicity Not Reported | 573 | 2% |
| Where do MSU undergraduates call home? | |
|---|---|
| Michigan | 84% |
| Other US States & Territories | 8% |
| Other Countries | 8% |
| Residency Unknown | <1% |
| How old are MSU undergraduates? | |
| Average Age | 20 |
| Percent of Undergraduates Age 25 or Older | 4% |
New Student Applications (Fall 2010)
New Freshmen High School Background and Test Scores
Test(s) Required for Admission: SAT or ACT recommended
| Test Scores of Enrolled New Freshmen | ACT | SAT |
|---|---|---|
| Composite | 23 - 28 | |
| Math | 22 - 28 | 530 - 670 |
| English | 22 - 28 | |
| Critical Reading | 450 - 610 |
50% of admitted students have test scores within the ranges listed, 25% have scores above, and 25% have scores below.
| High School Background of Enrolled New Freshmen | ||
|---|---|---|
| Percent in top 25% of High School Graduating Class | 69% | |
| Percent in top 50% of High School Graduating Class | 96% | |
| Percent of New Freshmen who submitted HS GPA | 57% | |
| Average High School GPA (4-point scale) | 3.6 | |
| Percent who submitted High School GPA | 88% | |
Sticker Price: How much does it cost on average?
Typical Undergraduate Costs for 2010-11 without Financial Aid (Full-Time, In-State Students)
Total Typical Cost of Attendance: $21,641
Cost of attendance figures for the 2011-12 academic year will be available July 2011.
Out-of-State & Other Costs
More Information
The cost to attend Michigan State University varies based on the individual circumstances of students and may be reduced through grants and scholarships.
How much would I pay?
Financial Aid: How much help is there to pay?
Scholarships & Grants
- 30% of 2010-11 full-time undergraduates received need-based grants or scholarships; the average award for the year was $8,887. Scholarships and grants are financial aid that does not need to be repaid and is sometimes referred to as gift aid.
Annual Need-Based Loans
- 46% of 2010-11 full-time undergraduates received need-based work-study and/or loans (not including parent loans); the average loan for the year was $6,504. Loans need to be repaid. Typically, repayment starts once you are no longer enrolled full-time. Please refer to page 12 of the Funding Education Beyond High School guide on the US Department of Education's Federal Student Aid website for more information about Financial Need.
Percent of 2009-2010 Full-time Beginning Students Receiving Each Type of Financial Aid
NOTE: Students may receive aid from more than one source.
MSU Classes & Instructors
| Classroom Environment | |
|---|---|
| Students per Faculty | 16 to 1 |
| Undergraduate classes with fewer than 30 students | 56% |
| Undergraduate classes with fewer than 50 students | 79% |
| Total Full-Time Instructional Faculty | 2,538 |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Are Female | 36% |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Are Persons of Color | 22% |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Have the Highest Academic Degree Offered in Their Field of Study | 94% |
More Information
Campus-based Housing
93% of new freshmen live in campus-based housing or residence halls.
40% of all undergraduates live on campus
More Information
Campus Safety
Creating and maintaining a safe and secure campus environment is paramount at MSU. The MSU Police provide emergency management, community team policing, and education on crime prevention, safety, and reporting to the campus community.
Campus Crime Statistics
Carnegie Classification of Institutional Characteristics
The Carnegie Classification's were created "to reference the great diversity of colleges and universities in the United States, and ... enable [people] to identify groups of roughly comparable institutions." For information on the Carnegie Classifications system, please visit their website: http://classifications.carnegiefoundation.org/
- Basic Type
- Research Universities (very high research activity)
- Size and Setting
- Large four-year, primarily residential
- Enrollment Profile
- High undergraduate
- Undergraduate Profile
- Full-time four-year, more selective, lower transfer-in
- Undergraduate Instructional Program
- Balanced arts & sciences/professions, high graduate coexistence
- Graduate Instructional Program
- Comprehensive doctoral with medical/veterinary
NOTE: Institutional classifications based on the Carnegie 2005 edition.
More Information
Student Activities and Involvement at MSU
Students who are actively involved in their own learning and development are more likely to be successful in college. MSU offers a wide variety of ways for students to become engaged with new ideas, people, and experiences--both in and out of the classroom. MSU measures in a number of ways the effectiveness of these opportunities in order to track what types of activities and programs students find the most helpful and to fine-tune offerings.
Institutions participating in the VSA program measure student involvement on campus using one of four national surveys. Results from the one survey are reported for a common set of questions selected as part of VSA. Following are the selected results from the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE). The questions have been grouped together in categories that are known to contribute to student learning and development. The results reported below are based on the responses of seniors who participated in the survey.
Group Learning Experiences
- 97% percent of seniors worked with classmates on assignments outside of class.
- 60% of seniors tutored or taught other students
- 32% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week participating in co-curricular activities such as student organizations and intramural sports
Active Learning Experiences
- 86% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week preparing for class
- 31% of seniors worked on a research project with a faculty member
- 59% of seniors participated in an internship, practicum, or field experience
- 70% of seniors participated in community service or volunteer work
- 31% of seniors participated in study abroad
- 94% of seniors made at least one class presentation last year
Institutional Commitment to Student Learning and Success
- 96% of seniors believe this institution provides support for student success
- 72% of seniors rated the quality of academic advising at this institution as good or excellent
- 68% of seniors reported that this institution provided help in coping with work, family and other non-academic responsibilities
- 90% of seniors reported working harder than they thought they could to meet an instructor's standards or expectations
Student Interaction with Campus Faculty and Staff
- 50% of seniors believed that the campus staff were helpful, considerate, or flexible
- 75% of seniors believed that faculty are available, helpful, or sympathetic
- 95% of seniors reported that faculty members provided prompt feedback on their academic performance
- 71% of seniors discussed readings or ideas with faculty members outside of class
Experiences with Diverse Groups of People and Ideas
- 67% of seniors reported that they often tried to understand someone else's point of view
- 90% of seniors reported their experience at this institution contributed to their understanding people of other racial and ethnic backgrounds
- 54% of seniors often had serious conversations with students of a different race or ethnicity
Student Satisfaction
- 90% of seniors would attend this institution if they started over again
- 90% of seniors rated their entire educational experience as good or excellent
- 87% of seniors reported that other students were friendly or supportive
Evaluation of Experiences
Survey Administration Process
Survey Information
Majors and Degrees
| Degrees awarded at Michigan State University in 2009-10 | |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 8,268 |
| Master's | 1,936 |
| Doctoral | 921 |
| Total | 11,125 |
More Information
| Areas of Study with the largest number of bachelor's degrees awarded in 2009-10 | |
|---|---|
| BUSINESS, MANAGEMENT, MARKETING, AND RELATED SUPPORT SERVICES | 4% |
| Psychology, General | 4% |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | 4% |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 4% |
| Biology, General | 4% |
| Links to degree programs at Michigan State University |
|---|
Bachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral |
Student Success & Progress Rate
A 93% four-year success and progress rate means that 93% of students starting in Fall 2004 either graduated or are still enrolled at a higher education institution four years later.
Counts for the Fall 2004 entering class shown in the graph above.
- 7,262 First-Time, Full-Time Students
- 1,467 Full-Time Transfer Students
Success & Progress Rate Table
Retention of Freshman Class
First-time students in Fall 2009 that returned for their second year: 91%
Student Learning at Michigan State University
All colleges and universities use multiple approaches to measure student learning. Many of these are specific to particular disciplines, many are coordinated with accrediting agencies, and many are based on outcomes after students have graduated.
Learning Assessment Examples
Pilot Project to Measure Core Learning Outcomes
Colleges and universities participating in the College Portrait measure the typical improvement in students' abilities to think, reason, and write using one of three tests. This is part of a pilot project to better understand and compare what students learn between their freshman and senior years at different colleges and universities.
This university is in the process of collecting and analyzing learning outcomes test results.