Admitted

To secure your spot in the incoming class, you’ll need to accept the offer of admission and pay your $250 acceptance fee. This confirms your intent to enroll and triggers the next steps in your housing and orientation process. Admissions advises transfer students to accept your offer and pay your acceptance fee within four weeks from your date of admission and no later than June 1 if starting in the fall semester and Dec. 1 if starting in the spring. Learn more about transfer acceptance fee deadlines. Log in to your Admissions portal to pay your deposit and officially join the Spartan family. 

MSU evaluates transfer credits after you’re admitted, once your official transcripts are received, and you’ve accepted your offer/paid your acceptance fee. Your official transfer credit evaluation is usually available shortly before or during New Student Orientation (NSO), where you’ll review it with an advisor. Make sure to submit your transcripts to MSU as soon as possible to start the evaluation process. 

Credits are reviewed based on course content, grades earned, and how they align with MSU courses. In general, courses completed with a 2.0 or higher are eligible to transfer, though previous GPAs do not carry over to MSU.  

Some credits apply directly to major or general education requirements, while others transfer as elective credit. Whether a course meets major requirements is decided by the academic department, not just Admissions.

Students can use the Transfer Equivalency Tool to explore how courses have transferred in the past, but final decisions are made after admission and advising. Finalized credits can be viewed in the Student Information System (SIS). 

As a transfer student, you’ll register for your first semester of classes after you’ve completed New Student Orientation (NSO) and met with your academic advisor. For subsequent semesters, registration will happen in the spring (for fall classes) and fall (for spring/summer classes). The Office of the Registrar will send information to you about your specific enrollment window based on your total credit count ahead of enrollment periods.  

• Learn how to use the Class Search and other enrollment tools in SIS.  
• Explore the New Student Orientation Checkpoints to prepare for your advising meeting and first semester.
• Get familiar with the Academic Calendar so you know when to plan for your next enrollment period. 

And don't worry, for transfer students starting in the spring managing condensed enrollment timelines, MSU reserves course seats specifically for transfer students!

Transfer students at MSU have flexibility when it comes to housing. While most transfer students are not required to live on campus, on‑campus housing may be available on a space‑available basis. Students interested in on‑campus housing can submit a housing request through Live On, typically opening in April. Students can request space in a double room, single room or on-campus apartment space, though most availability will be in double rooms. 

Many transfer students choose to live off campus in East Lansing or the surrounding area. The Off-Campus Life at MSU and Off-Campus Housing websites are great places to search listings, compare options, find housing fairs and other events, and discover tips on leases, timelines, and life in the community.  

Housing timelines move quickly, so it’s a good idea to explore options early and bookmark key resources.

Getting around MSU takes a little planning, especially if you’re commuting.  

The MSU Mobile App brings together campus maps, transportation info, parking resources, and links to helpful services in one place. It’s especially useful for finding garages (parking ramps), understanding where you can and can’t park, and getting oriented on a large campus.

New Student Orientation (NSO) is one of your first stops on your Spartan journey. NSO connects new transfer students with advising, enrollment, campus resources, and key next steps all in one place. Composed of online modules you’ll complete before you arrive on campus as well as in-person opportunities during the start of fall and spring semester, NSO will help you build your network before classes start making you feel prepared, informed, and ready to begin life as a Spartan. 

New Student Orientation

The Transfer Student Success Center is your go-to place after admissions and orientation to find connection, access resources and get involved in your undergraduate experience. From community-building events, the Transfer Student Advisory Board and peer-mentoring, TSSC serves to help transfer students get the most out of their time at MSU.