What are Michigan State's average SAT scores and GPA? In this guide, we'll discuss what scores are needed for you to get admitted into Michigan State. You'll also get to calculate your own chances with our admissions calculator.
Location: East Lansing, MI
This school is also known as: MSU, Michigan State University
Michigan State Admissions Statistics
There are three critical numbers when considering your admissions chances: SAT scores, GPA, and acceptance rate. All these combine to tell you what you scores are required to get into Michigan State University.
Average SAT: 1215
The average SAT score composite at Michigan State is a 1215.
Michigan State SAT Score Analysis
The 25th percentile New SAT score is 1100, and the 75th percentile SAT score is 1300.
In other words, a 1100 places you below average, while a 1300 will move you up to above average. There's no absolute SAT requirement at Michigan State, but they really want to see at least a 1100 to have a chance at being considered.
Here's the breakdown of SAT scores by section:
Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
Math | 610 | 540 | 660 |
Reading + Writing | 610 | 550 | 650 |
Composite | 1215 | 1100 | 1300 |
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Average GPA: 3.8
The average GPA at Michigan State is 3.8. This makes Michigan State Extremely Competitive for GPAs.
(Most schools use a weighted GPA out of 4.0, though some report an unweighted GPA.
With a GPA of 3.8, Michigan State requires you to be near the top of your class, and well above average. You'll need mostly A's, ideally with several AP or IB classes to help show your preparation at a college level.
Admissions Rate: 87%
The acceptance rate at Michigan State is 87%. In other words, of 100 students who apply, 87 are admitted.
This means the school is not selective. As long as you don't fall way below average, you'll likely get in.
Final Admissions Verdict
Because this school is not selective, you have a great shot at getting in, as long as you don't fall well below average. Aim for a 1100 SAT or higher, and you'll almost certainly get an offer of admission. But if you score below this, you may be one of the unlucky few to get rejected.
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Admissions Calculator
Here's our custom admissions calculator. Plug in your numbers to see what your chances of getting in are.
Pick your test:
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Note: Your admission decision relies not only on your GPA and SAT/ACT scores, but also on your coursework difficulty, extracurriculars, letters of recommendation, and personal statements. This tool provides only a simplistic estimate of your chances of admission. Instead of treating this tool as a crystal ball, we recommend you consider the big picture of what your chance means:
- 80-100%: Safety school: Strong chance of getting in
- 50-80%: More likely than not getting in
- 20-50%: Lower but still good chance of getting in
- 5-20%: Reach school: Unlikely to get in, but still have a shot
- 0-5%: Hard reach school: Very difficult to get in
Try to take your current SAT score and add 160 points to the calculator above. See how much your chances improve?
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Other Schools For You
If you're interested in Michigan State, you'll probably be interested in these schools as well. We've divided them into 3 categories depending on how hard they are to get into, relative to Michigan State.
Reach Schools: Harder to Get Into
These schools are have higher average SAT scores than Michigan State. If you improve your SAT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
School Name | Location | SAT Avg | ACT Avg |
---|---|---|---|
University of California, Santa Barbara | Santa Barbara, CA | 1355 | 29 |
United States Military Academy | West Point, NY | 1331 | 30 |
University of Connecticut | Storrs, CT | 1315 | 29 |
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo | San Luis Obispo, CA | 1313 | 29 |
Penn State University Park | University Park, PA | 1310 | 29 |
University of Texas at Dallas | Richardson, TX | 1291 | 28 |
University of California, Davis | Davis, CA | 1280 | 28 |
Same Level: Equally Hard to Get Into
If you're competitive for Michigan State, these schools will offer you a similar chance of admission.
School Name | Location | SAT Avg | ACT Avg |
---|---|---|---|
University of Alabama | Tuscaloosa, AL | 1225 | 26 |
University of California, Riverside | Riverside, CA | 1225 | 27 |
University of Cincinnati | Cincinnati, OH | 1223 | 26 |
University of Oklahoma | Norman, OK | 1220 | 26 |
San Diego State University | San Diego, CA | 1215 | 26 |
Quinnipiac University | Hamden, CT | 1210 | 25 |
Howard University | Washington, DC | 1204 | 25 |
Safety Schools: Easier to Get Into
If you're currently competitive for Michigan State, you should have no problem getting into these schools. If Michigan State is currently out of your reach, you might already be competitive for these schools.
School Name | Location | SAT Avg | ACT Avg |
---|---|---|---|
Ohio University | Athens, OH | 1174 | 25 |
Pace University | New York, NY | 1173 | 26 |
University of Texas at Arlington | Arlington, TX | 1160 | 23 |
California State University Long Beach | Long Beach, CA | 1145 | 23 |
Washington State University | Pullman, WA | 1130 | 23 |
Florida Gulf Coast University | Fort Myers, FL | 1110 | 23 |
University of North Texas | Denton, TX | 1110 | 23 |
Data on this page is sourced from Peterson's Databases © 2024 (Peterson's LLC. All rights reserved.) as well as additional publicly available sources.
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