Nearly half of Michigan State University students say their degree is only worth the cost if they can avoid student loans, according to a State News survey of 800 current students published Sunday, Aug. 9.
That finding carries weight for Lansing-area families, many of whom rely on financial aid to send students to the university down the road. MSU's in-state tuition and fees run $17,656 for the 2026-2027 academic year, according to MSU admissions data cited by Metro Parent — a figure that does not include room and board, which typically adds about $11,750 a year. Only about half of students pay that full sticker price, according to the State News survey citing MSU data.
What the survey found
The State News asked students whether they agreed that "the education I am receiving at MSU is worth the financial investment." On average, respondents somewhat or strongly agreed. Only 5% strongly disagreed.
When asked to weigh loans specifically, 44% said a degree is worth it even with debt, 46% said only without loans, and 10% said it is not worth it regardless.
How students pay shapes their responses. Those who said a degree is only worthwhile without loans were more likely to rely on family money. Those who said it is never worth it had fewer financial pathways overall.
Demographics matter
Gender was the strongest predictor of attitude: women were consistently more positive about the value of a college education than men. Race and class year did not meaningfully predict how students viewed their degree's worth.
But students of color reported heavier reliance on loans than white students, who leaned more on parents and personal income.
Freshmen were most likely to have family funding, with about 84% reporting they relied on parents or relatives. By senior year, that figure dropped to about 73%, with older students turning to personal income or loans.
Jeff Strohl, director of the Center on Education and the Workforce at Georgetown University, told The State News that women "have been enculturated to understand differently than men the value of education" because college has created economic independence for many women in recent history.
Experts urge caution on interpreting results
Phillip Levine, an economics professor at Wellesley College who studies college costs, cautioned that people naturally want to believe they make smart decisions, so students affirming their own investment may reflect human nature as much as actual value.
"For the average student, college is worth it. Period," Levine told The State News.
He said there is broadly strong evidence that a college degree is ultimately worthwhile for most people, and cautioned that most people focus only on the price tag rather than the full picture.
What Lansing-area families can do
The cost is real. But so are the options.
MSU's Spartan Tuition Advantage program covers up to 18 credits of tuition per semester — not room, board or other fees — for incoming first-year Michigan residents with household incomes of $65,000 or less who are Pell Grant-eligible. No separate application is required beyond the FAFSA. The program is available for up to eight consecutive semesters. By fall 2027, MSU estimates about 6,000 students will qualify, according to Bridge Michigan.
Transfer students do not qualify for Spartan Tuition Advantage. But Lansing Community College operates the Envision Green pathway, which pairs LCC students with academic advisors to build a transfer plan to MSU. LCC also holds formal articulation agreements with MSU in nursing, geospatial science and veterinary nursing.
New federal loan rules that took effect July 1, 2026, cap Parent PLUS borrowing at $20,000 per year, with a $65,000 lifetime limit per student, according to MSU's financial aid office. Families with questions can contact Spartan One-Stop at (517) 432-8000.
