Michigan State University
Michigan State University — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Michigan State University at a Glance
Michigan State University is a public land-grant research university in East Lansing, Michigan, United States. It was founded in 1855 as the Agricultural College of the State of Michigan, the first of its kind in the country. After the introduction of the Morrill Act in 1862, the state designated the college a land-grant institution in 1863, making it the first of the land-grant colleges in the United States. The college became coeducational in 1870. Michigan State has facilities across the stat…
1855
171 years old
$4.6B
$4.6 billion (2025)
51,838
41,415 undergrad · 10,423 grad
5,696
5,200 acres
Identity
How to Apply to Michigan State University
Official admissions page$50
Fee waiver available
Testing policy
Fee waiver
Is Michigan State University Worth It?
Michigan State University delivers solid financial returns for its graduates. At $19,680/year, it's priced 3% below average, while graduates go on to earn $67,253 — 25% above the national average.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.2 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
The 81% graduation rate means roughly 19% of students leave without a degree — taking on debt without the earnings boost that completion brings.
Bottom line: Michigan State University delivers strong financial returns that justify the investment for most students.
How Michigan State University compares to peer public colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #14 of 38 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California State Polytechnic University-Pomona | 100 | $11,531 | $71,902 |
| #2 | California State University-Fullerton | 100 | $6,555 | $62,951 |
| #3 | California State University-Los Angeles | 100 | $3,967 | $59,211 |
| #4 | California State University-Northridge | 100 | $7,021 | $59,115 |
| #5 | California State University-Sacramento | 97 | $9,338 | $64,876 |
| #6 | San Jose State University | 96 | $13,760 | $78,988 |
| #14 | Michigan State University | 70 | $19,680 | $67,253 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Michigan State University's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%).
Best Programs at Michigan State University
The highest-earning program at Michigan State University is Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering at $74,700/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Anthropology at $18,200/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering graduate from Michigan State University earns $74,700, while a Anthropology graduate earns $18,200. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering graduates carry $27,000 in median debt vs. $29,875 for Anthropology.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $19,680/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $74,700 | $74,700 | $27,000 |
| Computer Engineering | $72,900 | $72,900 | $27,125 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $72,600 | $72,600 | $26,500 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $70,200 | $70,200 | $22,600 |
| Materials Engineering | $68,700 | $68,700 | $26,062 |
| Chemical Engineering | $67,400 | $67,400 | $26,928 |
| Construction Engineering Technologies | $64,900 | $64,900 | $27,125 |
| Engineering, General | $63,200 | $63,200 | $27,000 |
| Engineering-Related Fields | $62,800 | $62,800 | $25,000 |
| Civil Engineering | $61,200 | $61,200 | $25,000 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $60,400 | $60,400 | $23,000 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | $59,700 | $59,700 | $23,225 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $59,200 | $59,200 | $24,250 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $58,700 | $58,700 | $24,950 |
| Agricultural Engineering | $56,700 | $56,700 | $26,000 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $55,300 | $55,300 | $22,630 |
| Marketing | $51,300 | $51,300 | $24,373 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $50,900 | $50,900 | $26,981 |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | $47,700 | $47,700 | $28,250 |
| Physics | $47,000 | $47,000 | $20,500 |
| Economics | $45,300 | $45,300 | $22,587 |
| Agricultural Business and Management | $44,300 | $44,300 | $19,007 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $42,700 | $42,700 | $25,250 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $40,700 | $40,700 | $25,578 |
| Food Science and Technology | $39,600 | $39,600 | $23,000 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $39,000 | $39,000 | $25,375 |
| Chemistry | $38,800 | $38,800 | $26,800 |
| Education, General | $38,100 | $38,100 | $25,250 |
| Geography and Cartography | $38,100 | $38,100 | $27,000 |
| Music | $38,100 | $38,100 | $27,375 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | $38,000 | $38,000 | $25,500 |
| Political Science and Government | $37,700 | $37,700 | $26,000 |
| Mathematics | $37,400 | $37,400 | $26,981 |
| Sociology | $37,100 | $37,100 | $27,000 |
| Social Sciences, General | $36,900 | $36,900 | $29,750 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $36,200 | $36,200 | $26,399 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $36,200 | $36,200 | $22,550 |
| Soil Sciences | $35,700 | $35,700 | $19,325 |
| Non-Professional General Legal Studies (Undergraduate) | $35,500 | $35,500 | $26,361 |
| Animal Sciences | $35,200 | $35,200 | $24,250 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $34,700 | $34,700 | $27,000 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $34,100 | $34,100 | $26,905 |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | $33,900 | $33,900 | $27,000 |
| Journalism | $33,700 | $33,700 | $27,000 |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | $33,600 | $33,600 | $25,750 |
| Plant Sciences | $32,900 | $32,900 | $23,978 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $32,300 | $32,300 | $22,770 |
| Social Work | $31,300 | $31,300 | $25,250 |
| History | $30,800 | $30,800 | $24,700 |
| East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $30,600 | $30,600 | $29,058 |
| Psychology, General | $29,400 | $29,400 | $26,750 |
| International/Global Studies | $28,800 | $28,800 | $26,843 |
| Genetics | $28,700 | $28,700 | $27,000 |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $28,200 | $28,200 | $26,495 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $27,800 | $27,800 | $30,650 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $27,800 | $27,800 | $26,547 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $27,000 | $27,000 | $27,000 |
| Biology, General | $25,800 | $25,800 | $26,775 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $25,500 | $25,500 | $27,000 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | $25,200 | $25,200 | $26,603 |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | $24,900 | $24,900 | $27,000 |
| Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management | $24,600 | $24,600 | $27,919 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $24,000 | $24,000 | $25,556 |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | $23,900 | $23,900 | $28,500 |
| Zoology/Animal Biology | $23,200 | $23,200 | $27,000 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $23,100 | $23,100 | $27,000 |
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services | $21,100 | $21,100 | $22,503 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $19,800 | $19,800 | $27,250 |
| Anthropology | $18,200 | $18,200 | $29,875 |
Similar Colleges in MI
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- East Lansing, MI
- Student Body
- 40,922 students
- Admission Rate
- 85%
- Graduation Rate
- 81%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $19,680
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $67,253
- Median Student Debt
- $23,250