Michigan State Average GPA (3.74) & Acceptance Rate (85%)

Q: Can I get into Michigan State with a 3.5 GPA?

It would be on the low side there: 23.7% of Michigan State University's first-year students who submitted a GPA had one below 3.5, as the college reported in its 2025–26 Common Data Set, and it admitted 85% of applicants for fall 2024. Colleges calculate GPA in different ways, so compare on the same scale and look at your courses and test scores too.

Q: How much does GPA matter at Michigan State?

A lot: Michigan State University requires high school GPA, college preparatory program and essay or personal statement. It considers recommendations, test scores, other tests and work experience if you send them. It doesn't consider high school record, high school class rank, demonstration of competencies and legacy status. That's what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.

Q: What percent of applicants does Michigan State accept?

Michigan State University's acceptance rate was 85% for fall 2024: it admitted 52,690 of 62,138 first-year applicants, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education.

Q: How hard is it to get into Michigan State?

Not very selective: at least 3 in 4 applicants got in. Michigan State University admitted 85% of first-year applicants for fall 2024.

Q: Does Michigan State require the SAT or ACT?

Check Michigan State University's admissions website for the current rule: testing policies change from year to year. Michigan State University was test optional: it considered SAT or ACT scores if you sent them, according to its filing with the U.S. Department of Education (fall 2024). Of its fall 2024 first-year students, 39% sent SAT scores and 7% sent ACT scores.

Q: What GPA do most Michigan State students have?

76.3% of Michigan State University's first-year students who submitted a high school GPA had 3.50 or higher, and the largest group (28.1%) had 3.75–3.99, as the college reported in its 2025–26 Common Data Set. The college doesn't say whether these GPAs are weighted or unweighted.

Q: Is there a minimum GPA for Michigan State?

Michigan State University doesn't set a minimum GPA we could verify. Its first-year students averaged 3.74, as reported by the college in its 2025–26 Common Data Set. The college doesn't say whether that average is weighted or unweighted.

Q: What are Michigan State's SAT and ACT score ranges?

The middle 50% of Michigan State University's fall 2024 first-year students who sent scores had SAT 590–680 in reading and writing and 590–680 in math; ACT composite 25–31, according to what the college reported to the U.S. Department of Education. A quarter scored below that range.

Q: What do students pay at Michigan State after grants?

First-time, full-time undergraduates paying in-state tuition who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average of $24,630 a year at Michigan State University in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.

Q: Can you get college credit for AP scores at Michigan State?

Yes. Michigan State University awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.

Acceptance rate: 85% for fall 2024

Average high school GPA: 3.74, as reported by the college for 2025–26

SAT, middle 50%: 590–680 reading and writing, 590–680 math

ACT, middle 50%: 25–31 composite

Average net price: $24,630 a year (2022–23)

Michigan State GPA calculator

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Type your GPA to compare it with what Michigan State University reported: an average GPA of 3.74 (2025–26), an acceptance rate of 85% for fall 2024 and an ACT middle 50% of 25–31.

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A guide based on reported data, not a prediction. Michigan State University reviews each application.

Michigan State University average GPA

Michigan State University reported an average high school GPA of 3.74 for its first-year students who submitted one (92% did), in its 2025–26 Common Data Set. The college doesn't say whether it's weighted or unweighted.

How their high school GPAs were spread:

High school GPA	Share of first-year students
4.0	24.4%
3.75–3.99	28.1%
3.50–3.74	23.8%
3.25–3.49	15.1%
3.00–3.24	7%
2.50–2.99	1.5%
2.00–2.49	<0.1%
1.00–1.99	<0.1%

First-year students who submitted a high school GPA, as Michigan State University reported in its 2025–26 Common Data Set. None had a GPA below 1.00. The college doesn't say whether these GPAs are weighted or unweighted.

An average, not a cutoffColleges calculate GPA in different ways, so these figures can't be compared directly with your own GPA.

Michigan State University acceptance rate

Michigan State University admitted 52,690 of 62,138 first-year applicants for fall 2024, an acceptance rate of 85%, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Michigan State University is a public 4-year university in East Lansing, Michigan, with 41,234 undergraduates.

SAT and ACT scores

Scores of the first-year students who entered Michigan State University in fall 2024 and submitted them. Half of them scored between the 25th and 75th percentiles:

Test	25th percentile	Median	75th percentile
SAT Reading and Writing	590	630	680
SAT Math	590	630	680
ACT Composite	25	28	31
ACT English	24	28	32
ACT Math	24	26	29

39% submitted SAT scores and 7% submitted ACT scores, as Michigan State University reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

The U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard estimates an average SAT score of 1269 for admitted students.

Admission requirements

What Michigan State University looks at when it decides on first-year applicants, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024:

Admission factor	Status
High School GPAYour cumulative high school grade point average.	Required
College Preparatory ProgramCompletion of a college preparatory curriculum in high school.	Required
Essay or Personal StatementA personal statement or essay written for your application.	Required
RecommendationsLetters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, or other mentors.	Considered if submitted
Test ScoresSAT or ACT scores.	Considered if submitted
Other TestsOther admission tests, such as the Wonderlic or WISC-III.	Considered if submitted
Work ExperiencePaid or volunteer work.	Considered if submitted
High School RecordYour transcript: the courses you took and the grades you earned.	Not considered
High School Class RankYour ranking relative to other students in your graduating class.	Not considered
Demonstration of CompetenciesEvidence of specific skills through portfolios, auditions, or other demonstrations.	Not considered
Legacy StatusWhether a parent or other relative attended the college.	Not considered

Requirements can differ by program and applicant type, so check with Michigan State University's admissions office before you apply.

AP credit

Michigan State University awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.

It doesn't award credit for life experience.

Average net price

First-time, full-time undergraduates paying in-state tuition who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average net price of $24,630 a year at Michigan State University in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education.

Net price is the full cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get into Michigan State with a 3.5 GPA?

It would be on the low side there: 23.7% of Michigan State University's first-year students who submitted a GPA had one below 3.5, as the college reported in its 2025–26 Common Data Set, and it admitted 85% of applicants for fall 2024. Colleges calculate GPA in different ways, so compare on the same scale and look at your courses and test scores too.

How much does GPA matter at Michigan State?

A lot: Michigan State University requires high school GPA, college preparatory program and essay or personal statement. It considers recommendations, test scores, other tests and work experience if you send them. It doesn't consider high school record, high school class rank, demonstration of competencies and legacy status. That's what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.

What percent of applicants does Michigan State accept?

Michigan State University's acceptance rate was 85% for fall 2024: it admitted 52,690 of 62,138 first-year applicants, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education.

How hard is it to get into Michigan State?

Not very selective: at least 3 in 4 applicants got in. Michigan State University admitted 85% of first-year applicants for fall 2024.

Does Michigan State require the SAT or ACT?

Check Michigan State University's admissions website for the current rule: testing policies change from year to year. Michigan State University was test optional: it considered SAT or ACT scores if you sent them, according to its filing with the U.S. Department of Education (fall 2024). Of its fall 2024 first-year students, 39% sent SAT scores and 7% sent ACT scores.

What GPA do most Michigan State students have?

76.3% of Michigan State University's first-year students who submitted a high school GPA had 3.50 or higher, and the largest group (28.1%) had 3.75–3.99, as the college reported in its 2025–26 Common Data Set. The college doesn't say whether these GPAs are weighted or unweighted.

Is there a minimum GPA for Michigan State?

Michigan State University doesn't set a minimum GPA we could verify. Its first-year students averaged 3.74, as reported by the college in its 2025–26 Common Data Set. The college doesn't say whether that average is weighted or unweighted.

What are Michigan State's SAT and ACT score ranges?

The middle 50% of Michigan State University's fall 2024 first-year students who sent scores had SAT 590–680 in reading and writing and 590–680 in math; ACT composite 25–31, according to what the college reported to the U.S. Department of Education. A quarter scored below that range.

What do students pay at Michigan State after grants?

First-time, full-time undergraduates paying in-state tuition who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average of $24,630 a year at Michigan State University in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.

Can you get college credit for AP scores at Michigan State?

Yes. Michigan State University awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.

Before you apply, check Michigan State's official admissions site: requirements can differ by program and change from year to year.

Sources

College Navigator: Michigan State UniversityU.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS (2024–25 provisional data): admissions, test scores and admission factors for fall 2024, undergraduate enrollment for fall 2024, net price for 2022–23 and credit policies for 2024–25.
Michigan State University Common Data Set 2025–26Michigan State University: average high school GPA of first-year students and how their GPAs were spread.
College Scorecard dataAverage SAT: an estimate by the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (June 10, 2026 release).

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