Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan · Public

Of 132 assessed programs, 130 leave graduates out-earning a typical Michigan high-school graduate (about $34,809/yr) and 2 fall short. Another 218 could not be assessed.

What would this cost you?

Family incomeNet price per year
Under $30k$7,068
$30k to $48k$10,830
$48k to $75k$16,521
$75k to $110k$22,703
$110k and up$28,546
All families (average)$19,680

Net price is the yearly cost after grants and scholarships, by family income (College Scorecard). It reflects students who received federal aid.

Program earnings vs a high-school graduate

Earnings are measured four years after completion when available. Where four-year earnings are suppressed, one-year earnings are shown and marked 1-year earnings. One-year and four-year figures reflect different career stages and should not be compared as if measured at the same time.

132 of 350 programs could be assessed 38% have an earnings verdict

Programs by earnings versus a typical Michigan high-school graduate.
ProgramDegreeMedian earningsvs a high-school gradVerdictMedian debtYears to repayRecent completers
Public Relations and AdvertisingBachelor's Degree$69,300+$34,491clears the bar$22,6050.7 yrs552
BiologyBachelor's Degree$64,018+$29,209clears the bar$25,1750.9 yrs521
PsychologyBachelor's Degree$56,040+$21,231clears the bar$23,6301.1 yrs476
MedicineFirst Professional Degree$130,503+$95,694clears the bar$251,5022.6 yrs467
Communications and MediaBachelor's Degree$60,807+$25,998clears the bar$25,2501.0 yrs441
Business AdministrationBachelor's Degree$91,187+$56,378clears the bar$21,5000.4 yrs425
FinanceBachelor's Degree$102,017+$67,208clears the bar$22,5000.3 yrs361
Kinesiology and Physical EducationBachelor's Degree$67,290+$32,481clears the bar$24,5800.8 yrs312
Business AdministrationMaster's Degree$142,927+$108,118clears the bar$51,2500.5 yrs297
Computer and Information ScienceBachelor's Degree$116,905+$82,096clears the bar$22,5000.3 yrs290
Mechanical EngineeringBachelor's Degree$97,946+$63,137clears the bar$23,2500.4 yrs277
EconomicsBachelor's Degree$79,428+$44,619clears the bar$22,2310.5 yrs275
NeuroscienceBachelor's Degree$58,046+$23,237clears the bar$24,2321.0 yrs255
LawFirst Professional Degree$96,342+$61,533clears the bar$103,6301.7 yrs251
Criminal JusticeBachelor's Degree$62,715+$27,906clears the bar$25,0000.9 yrs202
Management ScienceMaster's Degree$139,589+$104,780clears the bar$30,3750.3 yrs185
MarketingBachelor's Degree$90,453+$55,644clears the bar$22,2500.4 yrs185
NursingBachelor's Degree$80,129+$45,320clears the bar$25,0000.6 yrs183
Mental Health and Counseling ServicesMaster's Degree$62,675+$27,866clears the bar$51,0241.8 yrs175
Engineering-Related FieldsBachelor's Degree$94,143+$59,334clears the bar$23,3750.4 yrs172
AccountingBachelor's Degree$96,093+$61,284clears the bar$22,5000.4 yrs164
Hospitality ManagementBachelor's Degree$69,651+$34,842clears the bar$21,8150.6 yrs154
Human ResourcesBachelor's Degree$85,886+$51,077clears the bar$23,2500.5 yrs147
Physiology, Pathology and Related SciencesBachelor's Degree$61,309+$26,500clears the bar$22,7590.9 yrs137
Political ScienceBachelor's Degree$67,032+$32,223clears the bar$21,5000.7 yrs137
EducationBachelor's Degree$52,243+$17,434clears the bar$26,0001.5 yrs131
Animal SciencesBachelor's Degree$54,751+$19,942clears the bar$25,0231.3 yrs126
SociologyBachelor's Degree$62,204+$27,395clears the bar$25,8450.9 yrs118
Veterinary MedicineFirst Professional Degree$127,621+$92,812clears the bar$177,8571.9 yrs114
Human Development and Family StudiesBachelor's Degree$53,740+$18,931clears the bar$28,1951.5 yrs113
Zoology/Animal BiologyBachelor's Degree$41,768+$6,959clears the bar$25,0003.6 yrs111
Non-Professional Legal StudiesBachelor's Degree$72,414+$37,605clears the bar$24,7530.7 yrs110
BusinessMaster's Degree$188,085+$153,276clears the bar$78,6860.5 yrs108
Chemical EngineeringBachelor's Degree$102,223+$67,414clears the bar$25,3140.4 yrs102
Electrical EngineeringBachelor's Degree$100,481+$65,672clears the bar$22,5000.3 yrs101
MarketingMaster's Degree$100,453+$65,644clears the bar$30,7190.5 yrs101
JournalismBachelor's Degree$59,498+$24,689clears the bar$23,5471.0 yrs100
DesignBachelor's Degree$53,250+$18,441clears the bar$26,9971.5 yrs98
Social SciencesBachelor's Degree$58,797+$23,988clears the bar$28,0901.2 yrs96
International RelationsBachelor's Degree$74,709+$39,900clears the bar$23,7500.6 yrs87
Engineering, GeneralBachelor's Degree$102,301+$67,492clears the bar$22,2500.3 yrs85
Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyBachelor's Degree$63,419+$28,610clears the bar$22,1250.8 yrs83
Civil EngineeringBachelor's Degree$90,650+$55,841clears the bar$26,5000.5 yrs82
GeneticsBachelor's Degree$55,404+$20,595clears the bar$25,0001.2 yrs78
MathematicsBachelor's Degree$72,226+$37,417clears the bar$19,2500.5 yrs77
Natural Resources and ConservationBachelor's Degree$60,728+$25,919clears the bar$23,0800.9 yrs74
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, OtherMaster's Degree$80,358+$45,549clears the bar$30,7500.7 yrs72
Curriculum and InstructionMaster's Degree$61,650+$26,841clears the bar$27,4501.0 yrs69
Radio, TV and Digital MediaMaster's Degree$86,080+$51,271clears the bar$32,5000.6 yrs66
EnglishBachelor's Degree$49,154+$14,345clears the bar$24,9661.7 yrs66
StatisticsBachelor's Degree$93,930+$59,121clears the bar$23,6250.4 yrs65
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition ServicesBachelor's Degree$58,989+$24,180clears the bar$22,3750.9 yrs65
Wildlife and Wildlands Science and ManagementBachelor's Degree$49,948+$15,139clears the bar$28,3321.9 yrs64
Medical Laboratory ScienceBachelor's Degree$70,940+$36,131clears the bar$26,0000.7 yrs60
Computer EngineeringBachelor's Degree$104,627+$69,818clears the bar$23,0000.3 yrs56
International/Globalization StudiesBachelor's Degree$64,372+$29,563clears the bar$26,0000.9 yrs56
MusicBachelor's Degree$52,132+$17,323clears the bar$26,7501.5 yrs56
Agricultural Business and ManagementBachelor's Degree$69,108+$34,299clears the bar$21,5000.6 yrs55
Food Science and TechnologyMaster's Degree$106,264+$71,455clears the bar$28,4040.4 yrs55
Nutrition SciencesBachelor's Degree$66,437+$31,628clears the bar$23,1700.7 yrs54
Social WorkBachelor's Degree$57,321+$22,512clears the bar$24,4321.1 yrs54
PhysicsBachelor's Degree$33,400 1-year earnings-$1,409falls short$27,000insufficient data53
HistoryBachelor's Degree$47,224+$12,415clears the bar$25,0252.0 yrs52
Microbiological Sciences and ImmunologyBachelor's Degree$61,953+$27,144clears the bar$26,6251.0 yrs50
MusicMaster's Degree$62,193+$27,384clears the bar$30,1581.1 yrs50
Agricultural EngineeringBachelor's Degree$86,498+$51,689clears the bar$28,0000.5 yrs49
MusicDoctoral Degree$64,672+$29,863clears the barinsufficient datainsufficient data49
ChemistryBachelor's Degree$65,983+$31,174clears the bar$26,7500.9 yrs48
Human ResourcesMaster's Degree$127,481+$92,672clears the bar$41,0000.4 yrs47
Engineering, OtherBachelor's Degree$79,609+$44,800clears the bar$21,8480.5 yrs42
Interdisciplinary StudiesBachelor's Degree$45,167+$10,358clears the bar$26,1302.5 yrs42
Teacher Education (by subject)Master's Degree$55,911+$21,102clears the barinsufficient datainsufficient data41
Construction Engineering Technology/TechnicianBachelor's Degree$95,387+$60,578clears the bar$25,2500.4 yrs41
Educational/Instructional Media DesignGraduate/Professional Certificate$64,738+$29,929clears the bar$32,0791.1 yrs38
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population BiologyDoctoral Degree$76,183+$41,374clears the barinsufficient datainsufficient data35
Educational AdministrationDoctoral Degree$101,377+$66,568clears the barinsufficient datainsufficient data34
Agricultural Production OperationsUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma$35,265+$456clears the bar$7,50016.4 yrs33
IT Administration and ManagementBachelor's Degree$73,880+$39,071clears the bar$22,3750.6 yrs33
Food Science and TechnologyBachelor's Degree$70,380+$35,571clears the bar$25,0000.7 yrs32
Special EducationBachelor's Degree$58,522+$23,713clears the bar$26,3751.1 yrs32
Pharmacology and ToxicologyMaster's Degree$110,091+$75,282clears the bar$40,9000.5 yrs32
Speech-Language Pathology and AudiologyMaster's Degree$62,529+$27,720clears the bar$51,2501.8 yrs32
Romance Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsBachelor's Degree$59,315+$24,506clears the bar$27,0001.1 yrs31
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population BiologyBachelor's Degree$55,159+$20,350clears the bar$25,0001.2 yrs31
TheatreBachelor's Degree$42,820+$8,011clears the bar$22,1852.8 yrs31
Educational/Instructional Media DesignMaster's Degree$67,489+$32,680clears the bar$24,6080.8 yrs30
Environmental/Natural Resources Management and PolicyBachelor's Degree$68,913+$34,104clears the bar$20,5000.6 yrs29
Special EducationMaster's Degree$64,777+$29,968clears the bar$30,6681.0 yrs29
Plant SciencesBachelor's Degree$47,404+$12,595clears the bar$22,5501.8 yrs28
Materials EngineeringBachelor's Degree$95,761+$60,952clears the bar$24,3850.4 yrs28
Liberal Arts and General StudiesBachelor's Degree$51,436+$16,627clears the bar$27,0001.6 yrs28
Criminal JusticeMaster's Degree$84,105+$49,296clears the bar$27,5180.6 yrs27
AnthropologyBachelor's Degree$41,512+$6,703clears the bar$27,7504.1 yrs27
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing StudiesBachelor's Degree$56,662+$21,853clears the bar$24,3601.1 yrs26
Educational AdministrationMaster's Degree$74,998+$40,189clears the bar$26,7020.7 yrs25
Social WorkMaster's Degree$64,368+$29,559clears the bar$53,8861.8 yrs24
ChemistryDoctoral Degree$113,129+$78,320clears the barinsufficient datainsufficient data23
PhysicsDoctoral Degree$80,184 1-year earnings+$45,375clears the barinsufficient datainsufficient data23
Public HealthMaster's Degree$81,743+$46,934clears the bar$50,5231.1 yrs23
Soil SciencesBachelor's Degree$67,666+$32,857clears the bar$19,5000.6 yrs22
Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/TechniciansBachelor's Degree$46,669+$11,860clears the barinsufficient datainsufficient data22
Teacher Education (by subject)Bachelor's Degree$50,127+$15,318clears the bar$25,3751.7 yrs22
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities ManagementBachelor's Degree$49,377+$14,568clears the bar$23,2501.6 yrs22
Astronomy and AstrophysicsBachelor's Degree$33,373 1-year earnings-$1,436falls shortinsufficient datainsufficient data22
Public Policy AnalysisBachelor's Degree$58,535+$23,726clears the bar$25,8221.1 yrs22
Computer and Information ScienceMaster's Degree$123,621+$88,812clears the barinsufficient datainsufficient data21
Fine ArtsBachelor's Degree$50,098+$15,289clears the bar$27,8751.8 yrs21
EducationMaster's Degree$60,007+$25,198clears the bar$30,7501.2 yrs20
Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business ServicesUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma$61,187+$26,378clears the bar$12,0000.5 yrs19
School CounselingMaster's Degree$61,573+$26,764clears the barinsufficient datainsufficient data18
Public Policy AnalysisMaster's Degree$72,828+$38,019clears the barinsufficient datainsufficient data18
Educational AdministrationGraduate/Professional Certificate$71,324+$36,515clears the barinsufficient datainsufficient data17
Curriculum and InstructionDoctoral Degree$79,274+$44,465clears the barinsufficient datainsufficient data15
Kinesiology and Physical EducationMaster's Degree$57,864+$23,055clears the barinsufficient datainsufficient data15
Geography and CartographyBachelor's Degree$56,515+$21,706clears the barinsufficient datainsufficient data15
Management ScienceBachelor's Degree$97,236+$62,427clears the bar$22,8720.4 yrs14
ForestryBachelor's Degree$55,724+$20,915clears the bar$29,3621.4 yrs13
Geology and Earth ScienceBachelor's Degree$62,448+$27,639clears the bar$28,8691.0 yrs13
NursingMaster's Degree$118,130+$83,321clears the bar$48,3550.6 yrs13
East Asian Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsBachelor's Degree$52,496+$17,687clears the bar$21,2901.2 yrs11
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and ServicesBachelor's Degree$65,667+$30,858clears the bar$24,9150.8 yrs9
Counseling PsychologyMaster's Degree$74,956+$40,147clears the barinsufficient datainsufficient data9
Agricultural Business and ManagementUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma$63,115+$28,306clears the barinsufficient datainsufficient data8
Electrician TrainingUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma$59,811+$25,002clears the barinsufficient datainsufficient data8
Germanic Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsBachelor's Degree$53,183+$18,374clears the bar$23,0001.3 yrs7
Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsBachelor's Degree$75,147+$40,338clears the barinsufficient datainsufficient data6
Counseling PsychologyDoctoral Degree$91,736+$56,927clears the barinsufficient datainsufficient data4
AnthropologyDoctoral Degree$72,767+$37,958clears the barinsufficient datainsufficient data2
Allied Health Diagnostics and TreatmentBachelor's Degree$51,658+$16,849clears the bar$25,2501.5 yrs1
Physical and Occupational TherapyMaster's Degree$65,302+$30,493clears the barinsufficient datainsufficient data0
AccountingMaster's Degree$105,724+$70,915clears the bar$29,0040.4 yrs0
City/Urban, Community, and Regional PlanningBachelor's Degree$71,158+$36,349clears the barinsufficient datainsufficient datainsufficient data
NursingFirst Professional Degreeinsufficient datainsufficient datainsufficient datainsufficient datainsufficient data57
Sustainability StudiesBachelor's Degreeinsufficient datainsufficient datainsufficient datainsufficient datainsufficient data54
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, OtherMaster's Degreeinsufficient datainsufficient datainsufficient datainsufficient datainsufficient data53
Electrical EngineeringDoctoral Degreeinsufficient datainsufficient datainsufficient datainsufficient datainsufficient data31
Electrical EngineeringMaster's Degreeinsufficient datainsufficient datainsufficient datainsufficient datainsufficient data30
Computational ScienceBachelor's Degreeinsufficient datainsufficient datainsufficient datainsufficient datainsufficient data28
Legal Professions and Studies, OtherMaster's Degreeinsufficient datainsufficient datainsufficient datainsufficient datainsufficient data24
Business AdministrationGraduate/Professional Certificateinsufficient datainsufficient datainsufficient datainsufficient datainsufficient data24
Applied MathematicsBachelor's Degreeinsufficient datainsufficient datainsufficient datainsufficient datainsufficient data22
Computer and Information ScienceDoctoral Degreeinsufficient datainsufficient datainsufficient datainsufficient datainsufficient data21
EconomicsDoctoral Degreeinsufficient datainsufficient datainsufficient datainsufficient datainsufficient data21
Mechanical EngineeringDoctoral Degreeinsufficient datainsufficient datainsufficient datainsufficient datainsufficient data20
Mechanical EngineeringMaster's Degreeinsufficient datainsufficient datainsufficient datainsufficient datainsufficient data18
NeuroscienceGraduate/Professional Certificateinsufficient datainsufficient datainsufficient datainsufficient datainsufficient data18
PhysicsMaster's Degreeinsufficient datainsufficient datainsufficient datainsufficient datainsufficient data17
Public Relations and AdvertisingMaster's Degreeinsufficient datainsufficient datainsufficient datainsufficient datainsufficient data16
Teacher Education (by subject)Graduate/Professional Certificateinsufficient datainsufficient datainsufficient datainsufficient datainsufficient data16
EconomicsMaster's Degreeinsufficient datainsufficient datainsufficient datainsufficient datainsufficient data16

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release 2026-06-10. Earnings are medians measured four years after completion where available (programs shown with a 1-year figure are marked), compared with the state high-school-graduate benchmark ($34,809/yr). Debt is federal loans only. Suppressed values are shown as insufficient data, never imputed. Figures describe past graduates and are never a promise.