Michigan State
Michigan State SAT and ACT Requirements
Michigan State is test-optional for the 2026-27 cycle. The middle 50% of enrolled first-year students scored 1180 to 1360 on the SAT and 25 to 31 on the ACT.
2026-27 policy
Test-Optional
SAT middle 50%
1180–1360
ACT middle 50%
25–31
Acceptance rate
85%
Michigan State SAT scores by section
| Section | 25th percentile | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Reading and Writing | 590 | 680 |
| Math | 590 | 680 |
| Total | 1180 | 1360 |
| ACT Composite | 25 | 31 |
The total is the sum of the section percentiles, the standard way to estimate a middle 50% for the combined score.
Where your score puts you
- Below 1180: lower than three quarters of enrolled students. A retake has the most upside here, and at a test-optional school you can also leave the score off.
- 1180 to 1360: in line with the class. The rest of your application decides it.
- Above 1360: higher than three quarters of enrolled students. Testing is no longer what holds the application back.
Keep these numbers
Frequently asked questions
Does Michigan State require the SAT or ACT?
Michigan State is test-optional for the 2026-27 cycle. MSU is test-optional for first-year applicants entering fall 2027, per its own page: 'MSU is test optional, which means that prospective first-year students have the opportunity to apply for admission without submitting an ACT or SAT score.' Self-reported scores accepted for review; official scores due before orientation if used. No future change announced.
What SAT score do you need for Michigan State?
The published range is not a cutoff. Among enrolled first-year students, a quarter scored below 1180, half scored between 1180 and 1360, and a quarter scored above 1360. A score at or above 1360 puts you ahead of most of the class on testing; a score below 1180 works against you.
What ACT score do you need for Michigan State?
The middle 50% of enrolled students scored 25 to 31 on the ACT. On the official conversion table that is an SAT 1210 to 1400.
Score ranges: College Scorecard API — U.S. Department of Education (api.data.gov) and Editorial overrides layer (overrides.json) — Common Data Set & institutional sources. They describe students who enrolled, not everyone admitted. Test policy: Michigan State admissions, verified for 2026-27.
