Solid graduate outcomes with earnings above the peer average.
What graduates earn 10 years after enrollment.
Annual salary at 10 years
Lower quartile earnings
Upper quartile earnings
How graduate earnings grow in the decade after enrollment.
Michigan State University graduates experience steady earnings growth throughout their careers. Median earnings rise from $55,084 six years after enrollment to $62,777 at eight years and $67,253 at ten years, representing 22.1% growth from the early to mid-career period.
How outcomes compare to similar institutions.
Graduate earnings exceed the peer average, indicating above-typical outcomes for this institution type.
Financial justification for the investment.
Healthy debt burden. Most graduates can manage $23,250 in debt with typical earnings.
Student debt outcomes at Michigan State University reflect typical borrowing patterns for public research universities. Median debt of $23,250 ranks at the 45th percentile nationally, indicating around the national average debt levels.
Michigan State University delivers well above average return on investment, ranking at the 81.6th percentile nationally for return performance. Graduates earn $67,253 at the median, exceeding the peer median by $6,710 annually and ranking at the 83rd percentile for long-term earnings.
Approximately 22.9% of Michigan State graduates continue to graduate or professional study, reflecting strong preparation for advanced education acros...
Program mix explains much of the earnings story.
Engineering and business programs drive Michigan State's strongest return performance. Artificial Intelligence graduates earn $94,016, while Mechanical Engineering produces $87,105 outcomes and Engineering Design achieves $82,682.
Business programs cluster around $75,000-$80,000, including Digital Marketing at $78,148 and Business Administration at $79,719. These high-earning programs anchor the university's overall return performance, though comprehensive program diversity serves students across the earnings spectrum.
See which programs drive the strongest earnings and career trajectories
Earnings distribution at Michigan State shows meaningful variation across career outcomes. The range from $46,010 at the 25th percentile to $96,911 at the 75th percentile represents a 2.1:1 ratio, indicating diverse but consistently positive career trajectories.
