Michigan State University reported 50,941 students for the fall semester, including 37,244 in-state students. Enrolled Spartans come from all 83 Michigan counties, all 50 states, and 127 countries around the globe.
In fall 2026, the university welcomed 10,984 new undergraduate students to campus, including first-time entrants and transfers across the summer and fall terms — 77.8 percent or 8,541 of those new undergraduates are from Michigan.
Overall enrollment is down slightly from 51,838 students in 2025, and 52,089 students in 2024.
“As Michigan’s state university, our core commitment is to serve the people and communities of our state while preparing our graduates to lead on a global stage,” says MSU President Kevin M. Guskiewicz.
“The strong demand for an MSU education demonstrates that Michigan families continue to place their trust in the practical, exceptional, and transformative experience we deliver. Welcoming students from every one of Michigan’s 83 counties, across the country, and around the world reinforces our land-grant mission and enriches our entire Spartan community.”
Key highlights from this year’s enrollment report include:
- Student demand: MSU received 62,539 applications for this year’s entering class, with a higher percentage of admitted students choosing to enroll at MSU compared to last year.
- Honors and academic excellence: MSU welcomed 675 new members of the Honors College, comprising 7 percent of the entering class.
- Transfer pathways: MSU welcomed 1,327 new transfer students into the Spartan community.
- Out-of-state destination: Domestic students from all 50 states totaled 1,936, making up 2 percent of entering undergraduates.
Undergraduate enrollment totals more than 40,800, with female students representing 52 percent of undergraduates. Total graduate and graduate professional enrollment reached 10,070 students, including 1,608 new degree-seeking master’s and doctoral students alongside 758 new graduate professional students.
Through initiatives such as the expanded Spartan Tuition Advantage program, which covers full tuition for Pell Grant–eligible Michigan residents with family incomes of $75,000 or less, and application fee waivers for in-state applicants during Michigan College Month, MSU reports it continues to strengthen access, support, and opportunities for all students.
