Does Michigan State require the SAT or ACT in 2027?

As of November 2026: No -- Michigan State University is test-optional for fall 2027 first-year applicants, which is its published policy as of November 2026. The middle half of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored between 1150 and 1350.

Michigan State lets each applicant choose whether to send a score. Here is what the scores look like, when to send one, and what to do this month.

By Nick Standlea, Test Prep Gurus. Figures may be quoted with attribution to Test Prep Gurus.

Test-optional for fall 2027 first-years Michigan State names fall 2027 first-year applicants in its test-optional policy. Only 39 percent of enrolled first-years in fall 2023 sent an SAT, and 7 percent sent an ACT.

An SAT band of 1150 to 1350 The middle half of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored between 1150 and 1350. On the ACT, the middle half scored between 26 and 31.

83.9 percent of applicants admitted In fall 2023, Michigan State admitted 49,399 of its 58,879 applicants. A full year costs $32,198 before aid, and the average net price after aid is $19,680.

Does Michigan State require the SAT or ACT?

This is the policy Michigan State publishes today, in its own words.

Policy	Applies to	In the college's words	Source
Test-optional	fall 2027 first-year applicants	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.	Source

Test-optional means the college reads a score if one is sent.

Michigan State: score bands, who sends a score, how many get in, what it costs

Score bands describe enrolled first-years who sent that test in fall 2023.

Measure	Value
applicants, fall 2023	58879
admits, fall 2023	49399
admit rate, percent	83.9
SAT 25th percentile, enrolled submitters	1150
SAT 75th percentile, enrolled submitters	1350
ACT 25th percentile, enrolled submitters	26
ACT 75th percentile, enrolled submitters	31
share of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT, percent	39
share who sent an ACT, percent	7
application fee, dollars	65
full price of a year, dollars	32198
average net price after aid, dollars	19680

Bands describe enrolled first-years who submitted that test in the fall 2023 class, the latest federal numbers.

Michigan State deadlines for fall 2027 entry

These are the dates Michigan State lists for students who start college in fall 2027.

Early action	Priority	Regular	In the college's words	Source
2026-11-01	2027-02-01	2027-04-01	Applications completed with all required materials and submitted by Feb. 1 will be guaranteed an initial admission decision by March 31.	Source

Early decision dates are not listed.

Does Michigan State require the SAT or ACT in 2027?

No -- Michigan State University is test-optional for fall 2027 first-year applicants, which is its published policy as of November 2026. In its own words: "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."

This covers high school seniors in the 2026-27 school year, who start college in fall 2027. Each applicant chooses whether to include a score. Michigan State accepts self-reported scores. The writing and science test sections are recommended but not required.

For a closer look at the numbers, see our page What SAT or ACT score do you need for Michigan State? at https://www.prepgurus.com/blog/sat-act-score-for-michigan-state.

Could the Michigan State test policy change before fall 2027?

Michigan State's published policy names fall 2027 first-year applicants, so seniors applying this school year can plan on test-optional. That is the rule the college has stated for their cycle.

Juniors are a different story. They start college in fall 2028, and no rule for that year is stated yet. Colleges usually announce changes for the next cycle in the spring.

Our rule for juniors is to read the Michigan State admissions page each spring. We also tell families to plan as if a score could matter, since a score in hand keeps every door open.

What scores do enrolled first-years at Michigan State carry?

The middle half of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored between 1150 and 1350. On the ACT, the middle half of submitters scored between 26 and 31. These numbers come from the fall 2023 class, the latest federal numbers.

Keep in mind who these students are. Only 39 percent of enrolled first-years sent an SAT, and 7 percent sent an ACT. The bands describe those students, not every student who got in.

In fall 2023, Michigan State admitted 49,399 of its 58,879 applicants, an admit rate of 83.9 percent. A full year costs $32,198 before aid, and the average net price after aid is $19,680. Like every US college, Michigan State publishes a net price calculator, and we tell families to run it with their own numbers.

Should my child send a score to Michigan State?

Our rule is simple: send an SAT of 1150 or higher or an ACT of 26 or higher, because that score sits inside or above the band. A score below the band is one to think hard about. Since Michigan State is test-optional, leaving a score off is a real choice that each applicant makes.

Money matters here too. Michigan State's admissions page says test-optional applicants are still eligible for merit scholarships, so skipping a score does not take your child out of that pool.

Even so, we tell families it is nearly always good to have a strong score in hand. It gives your child the choice to send it here and to other colleges on the list, instead of having no choice at all.

When are the Michigan State deadlines for fall 2027?

Michigan State lists a priority date of February 1, 2027, and a regular deadline of April 1, 2027. The college says: "Applications completed with all required materials and submitted by Feb. 1 will be guaranteed an initial admission decision by March 31."

The early action date listed was November 1, 2026, and it has now passed. Early decision dates are not listed. The application fee is $65.

We tell families to aim for February 1. If your child plans to send a score, pick a test date that leaves time for the score to arrive before then.

What should we do this month?

Sit a full-length mock SAT and a full-length mock ACT this month, then compare each result with the 1150 to 1350 SAT band and the 26 to 31 ACT band. The mock tells you which test fits your child better and how far there is to go.

If the score is already inside or above the band, plan one real sitting and send it. If it is below, plan 6 to 12 weeks of prep before a test date that counts. Prepare for the whole test every sitting, not just the weakest section.

Test Prep Gurus offers a free mock SAT and a free mock ACT. Call us at 949.229.5359 or start at https://www.prepgurus.com/take-the-next-step.

Questions parents ask

Does Michigan State require the SAT or ACT?
No -- Michigan State University is test-optional for fall 2027 first-year applicants, which is its published policy as of November 2026.

What SAT scores do Michigan State first-years have?
The middle half of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored between 1150 and 1350.

Can my child get merit scholarships at Michigan State without a score?
Michigan State's admissions page says test-optional applicants are still eligible for merit scholarships, so skipping a score does not take your child out of that pool.

When is the Michigan State priority deadline?
Michigan State lists a priority date of February 1, 2027, and a regular deadline of April 1, 2027.

Ready to plan the next test date? Free mock SAT and free mock ACT at Test Prep Gurus, then a plan built on the result: prepgurus.com/take-the-next-step or 949.229.5359.

Method and sources: The policy is taken from Michigan State's own admissions page, which names fall 2027 first-year applicants as the term it covers. The SAT and ACT bands describe the middle half of enrolled first-years who sent that test in fall 2023, the latest federal file, so they do not describe every admitted student. Applicant counts and admit rate come from the same federal data, and prices come from the College Scorecard.