Next steps for admitted first-year students 

The first step to secure your place in the incoming class is to accept your offer of admission and pay your $250 acceptance fee (previously known as the Advanced Enrollment Deposit). If you qualified for an application fee waiver, a portion of your acceptance fee will be deferred to your first tuition bill. Paying your acceptance fee holds your place in the incoming class and automatically registers you for the required New Student Orientation (NSO). If you have any questions about NSO, please contact orientation staff at +1 517-355-8490 or nso@msu.edu.

Acceptance deadline
If you are a first-year student planning to enroll for the fall semester, you will need to accept your offer of admission and pay your acceptance fee as soon as you've decided to enroll at MSU (and no later than May 1). MSU reserves the right to cancel your admission if you do not accept your offer and pay this fee by May 1. If you are planning to enroll for either spring or summer semester, you should pay your acceptance fee within four weeks from the date of your admission.

Acceptance fee refund
The acceptance fee is refundable up until May 1 for first-year students planning a fall semester enrollment. In order to receive a refund, you must cancel your application in your account by clicking the “cancel application” link, after which MSU will automatically process a refund. Please note that the acceptance fee is nonrefundable for first-year students enrolling for spring and summer semesters, as well as for all transfer students.

Log in to accept your admission

Once you receive an email with your student ID number and Personal Access Number (PAN), you can activate your MSU NetID and email account. After this activation, you will begin receiving communications about New Student Orientation (NSO) and you can complete your housing contract.

Make sure to monitor your MSU email account regularly, as MSU will send important information to this email address.

If you require financial assistance, submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online as soon as possible. FAFSA evaluates eligibility for need-based aid, including federal loans, and gives students access to need-based grants, scholarships, loans and work-study.

MSU does not have a separate financial aid application; however, aid is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are exhausted based upon receipt of the FAFSA. After MSU has received and processed your FAFSA, you will be able to view your financial aid package in MSU's secure Student Information System.

For FAFSA opening dates, deadlines, financial aid package timing and answers to other frequently asked questions, visit the financial aid website.

All first-year students, with a few exceptions, are required to live in on-campus housing for the first four semesters they are enrolled at MSU (summer semester excluded).

Housing application fee and advance payment
All incoming students pay a $50 one-time, non-refundable application fee (unless granted a fee waiver) in your My Housing account. Once the fee is paid, you will have access to the housing contract, as well as the housing exception form (if desired).

Along with the housing application fee, a $175 advance payment will be required prior to signing the housing contract (unless you have been granted a fee waiver). This payment works like a deposit and the full amount will be applied toward your fall semester bill. The advance payment is refundable if your housing contract is canceled prior to arrival. Students should only make this payment once they are officially committed to attending MSU for the fall semester, as paying early is not necessary for any advantage.

The housing application fee and advance payment are separate and different payments from the acceptance fee (formerly known as the Advanced Enrollment Deposit), which admitted students submit to the Office of Admissions. That acceptance fee secures your place in the incoming class and registers you for the required New Student Orientation (NSO).

Housing deadlines
You must complete your housing application fee, advance payment and housing contract by Friday, May 9, in your My Housing account. If you are under 18 years old, your parent or guardian will need to sign the contract as well.

In the spring you will receive more housing and dining information from MSU Live On — make sure to check your MSU email regularly for updates! Visit the MSU Live On website for more information about on-campus housing, the assignment process and to explore first-year residence halls and neighborhoods.

Complete prior to starting checkpoint 2 of your New Student Orientation

If you self-reported your ACT or SAT scores at the time you applied, you must submit your official scores prior to starting checkpoint 2 of your New Student Orientation. More information about the checkpoints can be found on the orientation website. ACT or SAT scores should be sent directly to MSU by the testing agency. The ACT code is 2032; the SAT code is 1465. For more information about having your scores sent from the testing agency, visit ACT or SAT online.

Before attending Michigan State University, all incoming first-year students must submit all final, official transcripts to MSU as soon as possible, but no later than mid-July.

Instructions for sending final transcripts