Jump to HeaderJump to Main ContentJump to Footer
Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Office of Admissions
  • Request information
  • For counselors
  • My account

Office of Admissions

  • Academics
    • Academics overview
    • Majors, degrees and programs
    • Career interest areas
    • Residential colleges
    • Living-learning communities
    • Honors programs
    • Research
    • Education abroad
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Academic support
    • Graduate programs
    A professor faces a circular auditorium full of students while giving a lecture at Michigan State University

    More than 200 undergraduate and graduate programs

    Find yours
  • |
  • Life at MSU
    • Life at MSU overview
    • Living and dining
    • Inclusion
    • Campus safety
    • Health and wellness
    • Getting around campus
    • East Lansing
    Students in the MSU Quidditch club playing outside in the snow.

    Explore over 1,000 student clubs and organizations

    Get involved
  • |
  • Cost and aid
    • Cost and aid overview
    • Tuition and fees
    • Financial aid
    • Return on investment
    • Student employment
    • First-year scholarships
    • Transfer scholarships
    • International scholarships
    The Hannah Administration building on a sunny day surrounded by trees with red and green leaves.

    Review tuition and fees

    See detailed costs
  • |
  • Visit
    • Visit overview
    • Visit options
    • Virtual tour
    • Academic department visits
    • Maps and directions
    • Travel and accommodations
    An MSU campus tour group gathered around the Beaumont tower listens to a student tour guide

    Explore visit options

    Explore visit options
  • |
  • Apply
    • First-year applicants
    • Transfer applicants
    • International applicants
    • International transfer applicants
    • Graduate applicants
    • Agricultural Technology Certificate applicants
    • Non-degree applicants
    • College planning guide
    • Information for counselors
    A student in a green sweater leans over a desk as she takes notes on a piece of paper

    See where you stand in the admissions process, and keep it moving forward.

    Check application status
  • |
  • Admitted
    • Admitted overview
    • First-year next steps
    • Transfer next steps
    • International next steps
    A student sits on a bench under a tree at Michigan State University, his longboard leaned on his backpack, as he smiles and looks at his phone

    Pay your acceptance fee to secure your spot at MSU

    Accept your admission
  • |
  • Contact
Office of Admissions
  • Academics
  • Life at MSU
  • Cost and aid
  • Visit
  • Apply
  • Admitted
  • Contact

< Academics

  • Academics overview
  • Majors, degrees and programs
  • Career interest areas
  • Residential colleges
  • Living-learning communities
  • Honors programs
  • Research
  • Education abroad
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Academic support
  • Graduate programs
A professor faces a circular auditorium full of students while giving a lecture at Michigan State University

More than 200 undergraduate and graduate programs

Find yours

< Life at MSU

  • Life at MSU overview
  • Living and dining
  • Inclusion
  • Campus safety
  • Health and wellness
  • Getting around campus
  • East Lansing
Students in the MSU Quidditch club playing outside in the snow.

Explore over 1,000 student clubs and organizations

Get involved

< Cost and aid

  • Cost and aid overview
  • Tuition and fees
  • Financial aid
  • Return on investment
  • Student employment
  • First-year scholarships
  • Transfer scholarships
  • International scholarships
The Hannah Administration building on a sunny day surrounded by trees with red and green leaves.

Review tuition and fees

See detailed costs

< Visit

  • Visit overview
  • Visit options
  • Virtual tour
  • Academic department visits
  • Maps and directions
  • Travel and accommodations
An MSU campus tour group gathered around the Beaumont tower listens to a student tour guide

Explore visit options

Explore visit options

< Apply

  • First-year applicants
  • Transfer applicants
  • International applicants
  • International transfer applicants
  • Graduate applicants
  • Agricultural Technology Certificate applicants
  • Non-degree applicants
  • College planning guide
  • Information for counselors
A student in a green sweater leans over a desk as she takes notes on a piece of paper

See where you stand in the admissions process, and keep it moving forward.

Check application status

< Admitted

  • Admitted overview
  • First-year next steps
  • Transfer next steps
  • International next steps
A student sits on a bench under a tree at Michigan State University, his longboard leaned on his backpack, as he smiles and looks at his phone

Pay your acceptance fee to secure your spot at MSU

Accept your admission

< Contact

Home > Academics >

Residential colleges

Residential colleges

Residential college students at MSU hanging out together in their residence hall where they live an learn.

What is a residential college?

A residential college is a college where students in similar majors or academic programs live together in residence halls associated with their program. This makes for an exceptional educational setting with a vibrant and collaborative community.

The residential colleges at MSU provide the perfect blend of a small liberal arts college and a powerful research university. In addition to comfortable living spaces, these halls house faculty offices, academic advisers, classrooms, labs, libraries, art studios, study lounges, galleries, performance spaces and much more, giving students unparalleled access to campus resources. This immersive learning experience extends education far beyond the confines of the classroom.

MSU's residential colleges

FAQs

LANGUAGES

  • Portuguese
  • 한국어 (Korean)
  • Español (Spanish)
  • العربية (Arabic)
  • pусский (Russian)

RESOURCES

  • Disability resources
  • Communications opt out
  • Academic programs catalog
  • Our Commitment
  • Inclusion
  • MSU social media directory
  • Find people
  • Maps

Phone

517-355-8332

Email

admis@msu.edu

Address

426 Auditorium Road, Room 250, East Lansing, MI 48824

Contact your counselor

Request Information

Follow Us

  • Visit our Facebook page
  • Visit our page on X
  • Visit our Instagram page
  • Visit our YouTube page

If you're having accessibility issues, please let us know.

  • Contact Information|
  • Site Map|
  • Privacy Statement|
  • Site Accessibility|
  • Call MSU: (517) 355-1855|
  • Visit: msu.edu|
  • Notice of Nondiscrimination|

SPARTANS WILL|© Michigan State University|

  • Request information
  • For counselors
  • My account

The feel of a small, private college

  • Classes and one-on-one advising in the same building where students live
  • Smaller class sizes
  • A strong community among classmates and faculty
  • Professors know students by name and provide consistent encouragement and support
A residential college student at MSU meeting with an adviser in the residence hall where she lives and learns.
Residential college students at MSU talking outside Snyder-Phillips Hall near a large red art sculpture framing their engaging discussion.

The support of a Big Ten university

  • Access to world-class academic programs and research facilities
  • Extensive volunteer, intern and job opportunities
  • Experiential learning options around the globe
  • Engaged alumni network ready to aid students
Residential colleges at MSU

Lyman Briggs College (LBC)

For students interested in natural sciences and mathematics, as well as the social contexts of science

Discover LBC

James Madison College (JMC)

For students interested in the political, legal, social, economic and environmental issues affecting the world

Discover JMC

FAQs

How do I apply to a residential college?

To apply, simply select the name of the residential college you are interested in as your major preference on your MSU undergraduate application for admission.

  • James Madison College: Select "James Madison College"
  • Lyman Briggs College: Select "Lyman Briggs"

Once admitted to the university, students are selected for their preferred residential college on a first-come, first-served basis. Apply early to maximize your chances!

Apply now

What if I already applied to MSU?

If you have already applied to MSU and you are interested in a residential college, you can log into your account and change your major preference to the name of the residential college you are interested in. The major change process usually takes 3-5 business days.

  • James Madison College: Select "James Madison College"
  • Lyman Briggs College: Select "Lyman Briggs"

In the event that your major change request cannot be processed in your account, please directly contact the residential college you are interested in.

Can residential college students take part in the Honors College program?

Yes. Students may combine their participation in the Honors College with any degree program at MSU, including every major within all three residential colleges.

Do residential college students pay the same as other students?

Yes. Residential college students pay the same tuition rate and housing costs as all undergraduate students. You can enjoy living with others in your area of interest and having all of your classes, professors and advisers in the same building without paying more.

Living-learning communities 

MSU is also home to several other living-learning communities based around shared academic interests. Unlike residential colleges, these communities are not part of degree-granting programs.
Explore communities