State Reporting—
Student and Academic Outcomes
Data reported in FY2026
MSU has more than 50,000 students from Michigan and beyond.
MSU strives to ensure that all students are successful and persist in their educational pursuits. Over 90 percent of MSU undergraduate students return to continue their education after the first year. Student retention rates reported provide the percentage of first-year undergraduate students who entered in the terms listed and returned the following fall.
MSU strives to ensure that all students are successful as they progress toward graduation. With a graduation rate over 80 percent, MSU ranks well ahead of the national median for its six-year graduation rate. Six-year graduation rates reflect the percentage of undergraduate Bachelor degree seeking students entering in the listed terms who graduate by the given dates.
The data reflect the counts and proportion of MSU students who completed a FAFSA during the financial aid year.
Students Who Receive a Pell Grant
As the nation’s pioneer land-grant university, MSU consistently works to assure that students have access to financial aid.
Student Geographic Origination
MSU currently engages students from all Michigan counties, all 50 U.S. states and more than 139 countries.
Student ratios reflect the number of undergraduate students per faculty member for the given terms.
MSU is among the leaders in the Big Ten for focusing more of its resources on the mission-critical functions of instruction, research and public service. Ratios reflect the number of undergraduate students per each university employee for the given terms.
Each MSU faculty member is asked to participate in instruction, research and public service, the core functions of a land-grant university. Faculty members are responsible for courses under their purview and dedicate a significant part of their effort toward this end. Teaching loads reflect the average number of sections for which a faculty member was responsible during the academic years listed.
MSU strives to assure that graduating students are provided opportunities going forward. Student graduation outcomes are based on survey results of undergraduate degree recipients for the terms listed. Category percentages reflect a point in time approximately six months after graduation.