East Lansing, Michigan Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
EDsmart Data analysis of 2024 College Scorecard data for East Lansing, Michigan shows: median public in-state tuition $16,458 (+198.6% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $67,253 (+23.8% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 93.6% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $9,833 (-26.8% vs U.S.) 41,771 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 3 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 41,771 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $16,458 (+198.6% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $67,253 (+23.8% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 93.6% (+5.7 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $19,680 (+97.5% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $9,833 (-26.8% vs U.S. $13,432); regional median $14,004
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 80.7%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 90.0%
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Overview
EDsmart Data summarizes higher-education outcomes for campuses in East Lansing, Michigan—costs, debt, enrollment, completion, earnings, and standout institutions—against Michigan and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
East Lansing vs Michigan & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Lansing, Michigan | $16,458 | $19,680 | $9,833 | 80.7% | 41,771 |
| Michigan (state median) | $5,445 | $7,368 | $13,000 | 55.5% | 368,899 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: East Lansing, Michigan vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Lansing, Michigan | $67,253 | 93.6% | 90.0% | 4.6% | — | 74.5% | 0.35 |
| Michigan (state median) | $55,123 | 91.3% | 78.1% | 5.5% | — | 69.5% | 0.46 |
| United States | $54,323 | 87.9% | 76.3% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
Other cities in Michigan (3+ campuses)
Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Lansing, Michigan | $16,458 | $19,680 | $9,833 | 80.7% | 41,771 | $67,253 | 93.6% |
| Ann Arbor | $17,736 | $16,694 | $16,405 | 70.4% | 42,746 | $69,862 | 91.7% |
| Detroit | $19,655 | $13,999 | $17,125 | 66.9% | 27,782 | $53,493 | 89.2% |
| Grand Rapids | $24,466 | $17,707 | $21,389 | 61.9% | 20,279 | $48,449 | 89.9% |
| Kalamazoo | $15,252 | $15,273 | $26,000 | 66.8% | 18,794 | $59,576 | 91.1% |
| Warren | $14,063 | $10,522 | $9,500 | N/A | 14,113 | N/A | N/A |
| Flint | $14,704 | $14,344 | $15,406 | 55.6% | 11,021 | $74,026 | 92.4% |
| Mount Pleasant | $8,745 | $11,949 | $27,000 | 58.7% | 10,249 | $55,874 | 93.4% |
| Lansing | $19,520 | $15,524 | $15,740 | 36.0% | 8,539 | N/A | N/A |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 | $54,323 | 87.9% |
Top 10 colleges in East Lansing, Michigan by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
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Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 80.7%, Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Top 10 colleges in East Lansing, Michigan by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 93.6%, Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Top 10 most selective colleges in East Lansing, Michigan (lowest admission rate)
Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.
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Rank 1, Admission Rate, 84.8%, Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Top 10 colleges in East Lansing, Michigan by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.
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Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $86,192, Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Top 10 colleges in East Lansing, Michigan by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
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Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $116,905, Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Top 10 colleges in East Lansing, Michigan by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $55,084, Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Top 10 colleges in East Lansing, Michigan by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $62,777, Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Top 10 colleges in East Lansing, Michigan by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $67,253, Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Top 10 colleges in East Lansing, Michigan by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $205,304, Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Top 10 most affordable colleges in East Lansing, Michigan (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $19,680, Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Top 10 colleges in East Lansing, Michigan by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 90.0%, Michigan State University
Michigan State University
In-state tuition: East Lansing, Michigan vs benchmarks
Sticker price
East Lansing, Michigan median in-state tuition is $16,458, +198.6% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: East Lansing, Michigan vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in East Lansing, Michigan is $9,833 (-26.8% vs U.S. median $13,432). Regional median: $14,004.
Median earnings (10 years out): East Lansing, Michigan vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in East Lansing, Michigan center around $67,253 (+23.8% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: East Lansing, Michigan vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 93.6% at the median East Lansing, Michigan campus (+5.7 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
East Lansing, Michigan median public in-state tuition is $16,458, about +198.6% vs the national median. Versus the Great Lakes region, tuition is +192.6%.
Median graduate debt is $9,833 (-26.8% below the U.S. median of $13,432). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in East Lansing, Michigan are $67,253, about +23.8% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,323).
The median campus reports 93.6% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 87.9% (+5.7 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 90.0% vs a U.S. median of 76.3%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 4.6% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 74.5% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Michigan State University (93.6%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in East Lansing, Michigan is 80.7% (national institution average about 50.3%).
FAQ
How many colleges are in East Lansing?
EDsmart Data analysis: this city profile covers 3 campuses in East Lansing, Michigan with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in East Lansing?
EDsmart Data analysis: median in-state tuition in East Lansing is $16,458 and median net price is $19,680. For Michigan overall, medians are $5,445 and $7,368; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,967.
What do graduates earn in East Lansing?
EDsmart Data analysis: median 10-year earnings for campuses in East Lansing is $67,253 vs $55,123 for Michigan and $54,323 nationally.
What is student debt like for East Lansing colleges?
EDsmart Data analysis: median completer debt in East Lansing is $9,833 vs $13,000 for Michigan and $13,432 nationally.
What are the best colleges in East Lansing?
EDsmart Data analysis: top campuses on this page include Michigan State University (graduation) and Michigan State University (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in East Lansing?
EDsmart Data analysis: among 3 College Scorecard campuses in East Lansing, Michigan, none are flagged as HBCUs or tribal colleges in IPEDS, and none meet our 25% Hispanic-enrollment HSI proxy or report a religious affiliation in IPEDS.
Sources & related
- Michigan college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON