Michigan State University, or MSU, is a public state university located in East Lansing, Michigan. It was founded as land-grant universities in 1855. Since then, the university has been committed to providing its students with a high-quality curriculum, professors, and facilities so that they can be better prepared in the real world. In this article, we will be discussing Michigan State University scholarships and financial aid so that you will know your options for financing your education at MSU.
Cost of Attendance at MSU
Since Michigan State University is a public institution, the tuition fee varies depending on whether or not you live in the state of Michigan. The cost of attendance for Michigan students is $25,000 a year, and that includes $15,000 in tuition and $10,000 in room and board. The cost of attendance for non-residents is $50,000, and the increase is because of non-resident fees.
This is a huge amount to pay for a child’s education for most families. So, we will discuss ways you can lower the cost to make it affordable. The main type of financing available are scholarships and grants, and you don’t have to pay the university back for both of these awards. There are some students whose financial award of grants and scholarships are not enough. In that case, you will need to take out a student loan.
Michigan State University Scholarships
There are many scholarships at MSU to help you pay for the cost of attending the university. The main categories are scholarships for both in-state and out-of-state students, scholarships for in-state students, and scholarships for out-of-state students. So, let’s get started!
1. Scholarships for Both In-State and Out-of-State Students
Many scholarships in this category require students to attend the Alumni Distinguished Scholarship competition. To be eligible for this competition, you will need to submit your application by November 1. Then, you will be automatically considered and will be notified and invited to the competition if you are selected by the selection committee.
A. Alumni Distinguished Scholarships
Alumni Distinguished Scholarships are fully funded scholarships, meaning the award includes full tuition, room, and board for all four years as well as a $1,000 annual stipend. This scholarship is given to the top 15 students who participate in the Alumni competition.
B. Distinguished Freshmen Scholarships
This scholarship is given to 20 runner-up students in the Alumni competition, and the award is tuition and fees for four years.
C. Commended Finalists
This is a $2,500 a year scholarship for 30 students who are finalists in the Alumni competiiton.
D. Commended Semifinalists
This $1,500 a year scholarship is given to 65 semifinalists in the alumni competition.
E. Criteria-Specific Scholarships
There are many MSU scholarships that are awarded to students who fit certain criteria such as being a member of the debate team, or majoring in a certain major, etc. You can view these scholarships in the criteria-specific scholarships page.
F. Scholarships in a Searchable Database
If you are interested in hundreds of other scholarships available. You can go to the Scholarship Database. You can filter scholarships to be tailored to you. So, if you are considering to apply to MSU, it would not hurt to take a quick look.
2. Scholarships for In-State Students
A. Honors College State Scholarship
Michigan students who have an SAT score of at least 1,500, or ACT of 33, or are National Merit Semifinalists can receive $5,000 a year scholarship for four years. To renew the scholarship, you will need to be a part of the Honors College.
B. Scholarships Given Based on High School and County
Many scholarships are given to Michigan residents based on the high school that they have graduated from and the country that they are from. You can see the complete list here.
3. Scholarships for Out-of-State Students
A. Honors Excellence Scholarships
Students who are not from Michigan that have at least 33 on the ACT, 1500 on the SAT, or are National Merit Semifinalists are eligible for $13,000 annual scholarship. This scholarship is renewable if the student continues to be a member of the Honors College.
B. MSU National Merit Scholarship for Out-of-State Students
This scholarship is given to national merit scholarship finalists who’ve chosen Michigan State University as the first-choice institution. This award includes room and board as well as $4,000 in tuition per year. So, the total award is approximately $14,000 a year award.
C. MSU Non-Resident Scholarships
Students not from Michigan can receive up to $15,000 a year based on the SAT/ACT scores and GPA. There’s a table that shows how much you will receive per year, and you can find it here.
How to Apply For Scholarships
You can apply for scholarships by applying to the university admissions. To be eligible for prestigious awards such as the Alumni Distinguished scholarships, you will need to apply by November 1. For other scholarships, you just need to apply by the Early Action deadline (November 1) or Regular Decision deadline (February 15).
If you want to see the list of all the scholarships that are available at MSU, visit the Scholarships Page!
MSU Grants
Michigan State Universit does provide need-based grants to its students. You will need to submit FAFSA as soon as possible to be eligible. It becomes available on October 1, and you should finish and submit it. If you delay the application, there will be less money available for your financial aid. The recommended deadline is November 1.
Net Price Calculator
If you want to get a rough estimate on how much you will actually pay for your education at MSU, you can try the net price calculator. You will need to fill out the details about your academic records and financial information, but it should not take long to get an estimate.
I hope that this article on Michigan State University Scholarships and Financial Aid was helpful. If you are from Michigan, you should check out the Michigan University Scholarships Category. There are excellent universities in Michigan, and they offer great financial aid to Michigan residents especially! If you are not from Michigan, you should go to Authority Scholarships Website and check the universities in your state. These will most likely be affordable to you and your family financially.
