# MSU SAT Scores: Admissions Range & Acceptance Rate | 1600.now Source: https://1600.now/college/michigan-state-university --- ## Michigan State University SAT scores and admissions Written by [Luke Finigan](https://1600.now/about) East Lansing, MI · Public · Doctoral / R1 research university SAT middle 50% (historical enrolled scores): 1180–1360 · Range midpoint ~1270 Acceptance rate: 85% Enrollment: 40,922 ACT middle 50%: 25–31 The figures above are the stored federal Scorecard snapshot, imported April 25, 2026. Its fields can cover different reporting years. Current university profiles below can describe a different cohort or applicant group. ### How MSU compares - Its SAT rank in the stored federal dataset is #87 of 197 US colleges with published SAT ranges in this snapshot and #1 of 4 in MI. - Its 85% acceptance rate is more selective than 19% of the 197 colleges in the same ranked pool. - Reported section midpoints skew 10 points toward Math (610 Math vs 600 Reading and Writing). - Median earnings 10 years after entry ($67,253) are $4,187 above the $63,066 median across that pool. - Out-of-state students pay $27,384 more per year than in-state students ($43,842 vs $16,458). National SAT rank: #87 of 197 SAT rank in MI: #1 of 4 More selective than: 19% of ranked colleges Earnings vs national median: +$4,187 ### What the numbers say about MSU - The reported middle 50% spans 180 points, from 1180 to 1360. A planning score near or above 1400 gives you a target above that historical range, not an admission guarantee. - The reported section midpoints are 600 Reading and Writing and 610 Math. Use the lower section as the first place to look for recoverable points in your own score split. - The Scorecard snapshot reports a 85% acceptance rate. That rate describes a past applicant pool and should not be read as your personal admission probability. - Reported outcomes include a 81% completion rate and $67,253 in median earnings 10 years after entry. Compare those figures with cost and program fit, not in isolation. [Understand a 1270 SAT score](https://1600.now/sat-score/1270) [Plan for a 1400](https://1600.now/how-to-get-1400-sat) [Verify current admissions policy](https://www.msu.edu/) ### Tuition and outcomes Tuition (in-state): $16,458 Tuition (out-of-state): $43,842 Median earnings 10 years after entry: $67,253 4-year completion rate (150% time): 81% Source: US Department of Education College Scorecard. Documentation version September 2025; our snapshot imported April 25, 2026. Scorecard fields can come from different reporting years, and this snapshot does not encode one universal data year. SAT totals are rounded to the nearest valid 10 points. Tuition excludes room, board, fees, and books. [Read the methodology](https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/files/InstitutionDataDocumentation.pdf). ### How your SAT score lines up The Scorecard snapshot places the middle 50% of reported scores between **1180** and **1360**. This is descriptive data, not an admission threshold or probability estimate. - **1400 SAT planning target:** Above the reported middle-50% range, not an admission guarantee. - **1360 SAT (reported 75th percentile):** At the upper end of the reported middle-50% range. - **1270 SAT (range midpoint):** Within the reported range; not a measured median. - **1180 SAT (reported 25th percentile):** At the lower end of the reported middle-50% range. At or above 1360 Strong relative score At the upper end of the reported range. Consider submitting if the current policy accepts scores. 1180–1350 Within the reported range Compare your exact position, section split, and the rest of your academic record. Below 1180 Below the reported range Check the current testing policy before deciding whether to withhold the score or retake. [Compare to other colleges →](https://1600.now/what-sat-score-do-i-need) ### Colleges with similar SAT scores Ranked by proximity to MSU's reported SAT midpoint. Similar scores do not imply similar programs, cost, or admission odds. | College | Location | SAT middle 50% | Acceptance rate | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Rollins College](https://1600.now/college/rollins-college) | Winter Park, FL | 1160–1370 | 48% | | [Washington College](https://1600.now/college/washington-college) | Chestertown, MD | 1140–1390 | 57% | | [Loyola University Chicago](https://1600.now/college/loyola-university-chicago) | Chicago, IL | 1170–1360 | 82% | | [Western Washington University](https://1600.now/college/western-washington-university) | Bellingham, WA | 1150–1390 | 93% | | [University of Mary Washington](https://1600.now/college/university-of-mary-washington) | Fredericksburg, VA | 1170–1370 | 80% | | [Allegheny College](https://1600.now/college/allegheny-college) | Meadville, PA | 1170–1360 | 55% | ### Questions about MSU #### What SAT score do I need for MSU? Michigan State University's Scorecard snapshot shows a middle-50% SAT range of 1180–1360, rounded to valid 10-point totals. 1400 is a planning target above the reported range, not an admission cutoff. #### What is MSU's acceptance rate? Michigan State University's historical College Scorecard snapshot reports approximately 85%. This is a past institution-wide applicant pool, not an individual admission probability. #### How much does it cost to attend MSU? Historical annual in-state tuition is approximately $16,458 and out-of-state is approximately $43,842. These figures exclude room, board, and fees. #### Is MSU test-optional? The College Scorecard does not record testing policy, and this page has not checked Michigan State University's current rule. Confirm whether it is test-optional, test-required, or test-blind on its admissions page before you apply. Official site: [www.msu.edu](https://www.msu.edu/)