Michigan State University is a public research university located in East Lansing, Michigan. It is a public land grant university that was founded as the agricultural college of Michigan. Later in the year 1964, they were given the status of Michigan State University USA. It is regarded as one of the highly valued research universities worldwide. Michigan State University Campus is home to over 50,000 students, out of which around 11% are international students. The university is ranked #152 as per QS World University Rankings and #122 as per THE World Rankings in 2025.
MSU is home to the national superconducting cyclotron laboratory and is renowned for its state-of-the-art facilities. One of the most recent editions includes the 730 million dollar facility for rare isotope beams, a new facility for nuclear science research that is funded in partnership with the US Department of Energy and the state of Michigan. Around 200 programs are available at MSU, among which the top programs are:
Some globally top-ranked subjects include Nuclear engineering and veterinary medicine. You can opt for research programs funded by the US government, mostly in the fields of agriculture and science. The Michigan State University USA also has online programs. The university has more than 900 clubs and organizations including dance, sports, theatre and many more. The campus has multiple food joints and also a dairy store. As an undergraduate fresher, you cannot have cars, but you can avail of the service provided by the university.
International students are recommended to have a GPA of 3.5 (90%) or higher on a 4.0 scale for admission. Students applying for the MBA program at MSU are generally expected to have a GMAT score between 600-720 or higher. The Cost of Living at MSU per year for international students starts from 61,041 USD (50.85 lakhs INR) for UG students and 65,754 to 70,314 USD (54.78 lakhs—58.58 lakhs INR) for PG students. Michigan State University offers nearly 67% of its students various MSU scholarships, granting up to 25,000 USD (20.82 lakhs INR) per year.
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Michigan State University Michigan programs include over 200 undergraduate, graduate, and professional courses. It is the first academic institution to teach scientific agriculture in USA. There are more than 275 education abroad programs offered in 60+ countries across all continents. 33 of the graduate programs at Michigan State University rank among the top 25 nationally by the U.S. News. The university provides Diverse stem subjects for international students. The AgBioResearch finances the research of more than 325 scientists researching on-campus and at 14 off-campus locations.
Listed below are some popular courses at the Michigan State University for international students:
| Course Name | Duration | Tuition Fees (USD) | Tuition Fees (INR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master of Science (M.S) in Computer Science | 2 years | $27,551 | ₹2,259,182 |
| Master of Science (M.S) in Business Data Science and Analytics | 1 Year | $39,000 | ₹3,198,000 |
| Master of Science (M.S) in Marketing Research and Analytics | 1 Year | $37,500 | ₹3,075,000 |
| Master of Accounting (M.Acc) | 2 years | $59,385 | ₹4,868,570 |
| Master of Science (M.S) in Construction Management | 18 months | $37,500 | ₹3,075,000 |
| Master of Business Administration (M.B.A) | 21 months | $77,872 | ₹6,387,504 |
| Master of Science (M.S) in Electrical Engineering | 2 years | $29,850 | ₹2,447,700 |
| Bachelor of Science (B.S) in Computer Science | 4 years | $43,502 | ₹3,567,164 |
| Master of Science (M.S) in Chemical Engineering | 2 years | $28,131 | ₹2,306,742 |
| Master of Science (M.S) in Supply Chain Management | 2 years | $28,675 | ₹24,55,440 |
| Master of Science (M.S) in Materials Science and Engineering | 2 years | $27,897 | ₹24,55,440 |
The Michigan State University students, also called Spartans can experience Historic buildings and modern architecture blended with park-like green gardens. The MSU campus spans over 5,200 acres, providing a picturesque and spacious environment for students to study, live, and engage in various activities. There are 27 residence halls and more than 30 dining options.
As an Indian student, you should proceed with an early application. This will help you to keep your number slightly higher than the average. You must start preparing at least a year before the application deadline. Students applying for Michigan State University admission 2024, can check out the below-mentioned requirements for international students.
The university allows you to change your major multiple times. So, if you feel that the course is not perfect for you, you can request a change in major. The teachers and the university help arrange and schedule the lectures accordingly.
| Category | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Application Portal | Common Application or MSU Registration Portal |
| Application Fee | 75 USD (6,248 INR) |
| GPA Requirement | Minimum GPA- 3.5 i.e. 90% |
| English proficiency test scores | TOEFL iBT—79 | IELTS – 6.5 | PTE—53 |
| Standardized Exam Scores | SAT score: 1210 (Avg) | ACT score: 27 (Avg) |
| Additional Requirement | Personal Essay | Photographs | Letter of Recommendation | Portfolio |
MSU provides you the freedom to study anything that you like and opt for any extracurricular activities. The employers of MSU are more interested in students as a person than their degree. You can check the Michigan State University MBA and graduate admission details here.
| Category | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Application Portal | MSU Registration Portal |
| Application Fee | 75 USD (6,248 INR) |
| GPA Requirement | Minimum GPA- 3.0/4 ~85% | Recommended- 3.5/4 or above |
| English proficiency test scores | TOEFL iBT – 80 | IELTS – 6.5 | PTE – 48 |
| Standardized Exam Scores | GMAT – 600-720 | GRE – 150 [Verbal] | 160 [Quantitative] |
| Additional Requirement | Resume/CV | Essays or Statement Of Purpose | 2-3 Letters of Recommendation |
International students must apply for undergraduate admissions at MSU by the following deadlines:
| Application Type | Application Deadline |
|---|---|
| Early Action | November 1, 2024 (Closed) |
| Regular Admission | February 1, 2025 (Closed) |
| April 1, 2025 |
Tabulated below are the top graduate programs with their upcoming deadlines or international students:
| Programs | Deadlines |
|---|---|
| Master of Accounting | Spring [Oct 1, 2025] | Fall/Summer [Jan 15, 2026] | Fall Round 2 [Mar 1, 2026] |
| M.S Business Data Science and Analytics | Round [May 1, 2025] | Round 2 [Jul 1, 2025] | Round 3 [Aug 15, 2025] |
| M.S Chemical Engineering | Mid-December |
| M.S Computer Science | Spring [Sept 15, 2025] |
| M.S Electrical Engineering | Spring [Sept 15, 2025] |
| M.S Marketing Research and Analytics | May 1, 2025 |
| M.S Supply Chain Management | August 1, 2025 |
The cost of living for international students is different as compared to domestic or local students. For an Indian student, the cost will be somewhere between USD 15,000 – USD 20,000 depending on your lifestyle. As per US News, Michigan State University’s 43% of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 57% of students live off campus. The off-campus living can cost you between USD 720 – USD 1,130/monthly. This is cheaper than on-campus living since you do not get facilities outside which are provided by on-campus living. The on-campus housing costs are higher since you will get:
The Michigan State University accommodation is offered to its students with world-class amenities. Students are free to live on-campus or off-campus. There are officials to assist the students in getting the accommodation of their choice. Living in an on-campus residence will help the students with access to classrooms, faculty, labs, libraries, and support services. One of the unique traditions that you will experience at Michigan State is the “Spartan Bucket List,”. It consists of 50 weird and unique activities that you should do as an MSU student. This includes Clicking a photo with Sparky, the MSU mascot
Living on campus can be the best experience for new students. However, most students move outside the campus in their 2nd or 3rd year of study. Living off campus can be cheaper since there is no fixed expense and you can spend as per your lifestyle. You can also share an apartment with 2-3 more Indian students.
| Residences | Type of Room | Cost per Year (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Residence Hall | Standard Room (Single/Double/Triple) | 6,108 |
| Double Room (3 persons) | 7,220 | |
| Quadruple Room (4 persons) | 3,610 | |
| Owen Graduate Hall | Permanent Single Room | 6,768 |
| Owen Designated Single Room | 8,298 | |
| Williams | Single Room | 8,830 |
| Double Room | 5,526 |
Michigan State University offers various awards and scholarships for international students in USA. At least 67% of full-time undergraduate students get financial assistance from the institute. The average need-based scholarship awarded here is 10,508 USD. If you are unable to get university scholarships, you can also apply for various government-funded and external scholarships. Some MSU scholarships are as follows.
| Scholarships | Eligibility | Grants (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| #YouAreWelcomeHere scholarship | Undergraduate students committed to bridging intercultural divides | 25,000 USD for tuition up to 8 semesters |
| International Tuition Grant | Students applying before Dec 1 with excellent academic records | 7,000-15,000 USD for tuition up to 8 semesters |
| Global Ambassador Grant | Meritorious students, who don’t get selected for Tuition Grant | 7,000 USD annually for 8 semesters |
| Honors College Excellence Scholarship | Students invited to the honors college | 13,000 USD annually for 8 semesters |
As an international student, you must understand that you can get jobs at any location in or outside USA. Of the 523 graduates reporting destination locations, 59% (306) were employed in Michigan, and 76% (395) reported employment in the Midwest. The average starting salary of students graduating in 2023 was USD 76,806 and the median starting salary was USD 75,000. Not only this, the university employs the largest number of students on campus. Some areas that hire most frequently are
The student jobs that you can do while studying include:
| Job Name | Details | Payments |
|---|---|---|
| REHS Facilities Administrative Assistant | Organized, detail-oriented, and dependable individual to support the Associate Director of Residence Hall Services with various projects and initiatives as a REHS Facilities Administrative Assistant | USD 15 hourly |
| Events Bartender | Bartenders will be needed for lunches, dinners, weddings, and other social events taking place at the hotel or other off-site venues we are catering events. | USD 16 hourly |
| Front Desk Rotation | Focused, hardworking, a team player, and dependable for Front Desk | USD 12 hourly |
| Student Food Service Assistant | Under the supervision of the on-duty Student Supervisors, and/or full-time staff and Operations Managers, a Student Food Service Assistant will support Culinary Services | USD 13 hourly |
| Events Set-Up/Server | Helps serve the hotel and MSU Athletic Venues, including Breslin Center, Stadium Tower, Munn Ice Arena | USD 13 hourly |
With students from nearly 140 countries, Michigan State University is a coveted institution. The students at Michigan State University are offered financial aid through grants and scholarships. You can also work while studying at the university. The university exhibits a decent graduation rate and employment rate indicating a bright career for the meritorious students.
Ques: What is the admission process like and how is the campus life?
Ques. What is the minimum GMAT score required for MSU business programs?
Ques. What is Michigan State University famous for?
Ques. Is it hard to get admission in Michigan State University?
Ques. Is Michigan State University a good institution for international students?
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