Michigan State University expecting historically large freshman class this fall

EAST LANSING — A family divided by rivalry couldn't keep Meena Aoude from applying to her beloved Michigan State University. 

Aoude, 18, of Walled Lake, is the sole Spartan in a family of University of Michigan fans. This fall, she'll solidify her allegiance as she moves to East Lansing to start her freshman year at MSU, officially becoming a Spartan after bleeding green for most of her life. 

Aoude even gave Michigan a chance, but the school wait-listed her. So she picked MSU over Loyola University Chicago, Purdue University and a shot at going to the college she's long rooted against.

“I really liked it there when I visited. It feels like a place I would like to call home for the next four years,” said Aoude, who plans to study business management in MSU’s Eli Broad College of Business. “I walked all through campus and just seeing people interact and having a good time together, seeing the stadiums, it all seemed welcoming and overall a fun time."

Aoude will join thousands of freshmen as part of a record-size incoming class, according to MSU estimates. 

The school is targeting a freshman class of 8,800, said Director of Undergraduate Admissions John Ambrose. Based on the number of applicants who have already put down their $250 deposits — about 9,600 — they're on track to meet that goal.

More than 95% of prospective students who put deposits down typically end up enrolling at MSU, Ambrose said. 

A class of 8,800 would be the largest to enroll at MSU at least since 2006, topping the 8,570 freshmen who enrolled in fall 2019. That number would also leave the school's on-campus housing nearly at capacity, according to Ambrose. Students are required to live on campus for their first two years at MSU.

Freshmen class sizes have been on the rise at MSU since 2016. That year, 7,950 freshmen enrolled, according to enrollment reports. Incoming classes grew each consecutive year until fall 2020, when freshman enrollment dropped to 8,228 as classes went online due to COVID-19.

"We are excited that more and more students continue to choose Michigan State University to continue their educational journey," said Dan Olsen, MSU spokesperson, in a statement. "Coming out of the pandemic, we couldn't be more eager to see this next generation of Spartans join us on campus, in person this fall."

In addition to pent-up demand from students who didn't start college during the pandemic, the increase could be due to relaxed admissions requirements. 

For the first time ever, MSU made its enrollment process test-optional, waiving a requirement that students include an ACT or SAT score in applications. That led to an overall increase in applications, Ambrose said, notably among students of color.

MSU also increased recruiting efforts and are continuing to seek ways to reach more potential future Spartans, Ambrose said. They've made an effort to improve communication with prospective students, he said, rolling out a new student information system to support students with enrollment, financial aid, scheduling courses and other potentially overwhelming parts of enrolling.

MSU caps freshman enrollment at about 9,800 each year, a figure the school has never met, Ambrose said.

Ultimately, Ambrose said students saw MSU as the best road to their futures.

“I think the students like what we’re offering as an institution and a university in terms of finding a fit to their mission, the things they want to do with their lives and what they’re called to do,” Ambrose said. “That’s why we really believe we exist.”

Aoude will see some familiar faces when she joins the wave of new students coming to campus next fall. Like most years at Walled Lake Western, she said a majority of college-bound seniors are going to MSU. 

She’s going to MSU confident she’ll emerge on the other side pursuing a career she enjoys. 

“We just want to continue producing scholars who understand the value of life, but more importantly, being able to live a life worth living by living out your mission and your purpose,” Ambrose said.

Contact Mark Johnson at 517-377-1026 or at majohnson2@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ByMarkJohnson.