Admission to the Broad College for students transferring from other institutions
This information is for students at other institutions who wish to transfer to MSU to earn a degree from the Broad College (accounting, finance, human resource management, management, marketing, and supply chain management; hospitality business has separate requirements).
This information does not apply to current MSU students applying to the Broad College or a Broad major through the current student secondary admission process, or the direct admission from high school process.
Transfer Admission Application Process
Students wishing to apply for transfer student admission to MSU as a Broad major must complete the Michigan State University application process through the MSU Office of Admissions. There is no separate Broad application for transfer students. All application and admission communication will come from the Office of Admissions.
Transfer applicants are first reviewed by the MSU Office of Admissions for admissibility to the university, and then reviewed by the Broad College for admission as Business Admitted or Business Preference. Students cannot be admitted to a degree-granting major through the transfer admission process.
Requirements for Transfer Admission Consideration
Applicants are first reviewed for Business Admitted, and if they are not eligible for admission as Business Admitted they are then reviewed for Exploring Business Preference.
Business Admitted Requirements
- 28 or more cumulative transferable credits
- Completion of CSE 102 (see the Secondary Admission Academic Requirements for approved CSE course substitutions)
- Completion of College Precore Courses: STT 200/201/315, WRA 101/110-195H, EC 201 or 202 with 3.5 GPA across the courses, with no individual grade below a 3.0 in these three courses
- See the Secondary Admission Academic Requirements for approved College Precore course substitutions
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 across all institutions
Exploring Business Preference Requirements (for students matriculating to MSU in Fall 2024)
Students with fewer than 56 credits who are not eligible to be Business Admitted, but who are admissible to MSU, will be admitted as Exploring Business Preference majors.
Students between 28 and 55 credits are strongly recommended to be making progress toward completion of the following courses (this allows students to progress toward a degree in a timely manner once at MSU):
- MTH 103
- CSE 102
- STT 200/201/315
- WRA 101/110–195H
- ACC 201
- ACC 202
- EC 201
- EC 202
- MKT 250 (MGT 250 or BUS 250 also completes this requirement; MSU course code changed in Fall 2019)
Exploring Business Preference students will apply to the Broad College after matriculating to MSU, through the secondary admission process.
Per MSU policy, students with 56 or more transferable credits who do not meet the requirements for the Business Admitted major cannot be admitted to MSU as Exploring Business Preference majors. These students will be admitted to MSU as the next highest-ranked major preference on their transfer admission application.
Admission to a Degree-Granting Major
Once a student is admitted to the Broad College they are admitted directly to the degree-granting major of their choice via the Secondary Admission application process (students directly admitted via the Transfer Admission process will designate their major during New Student Orientation-Advising & Enrollment). Specific majors are no longer restricted/limited enrollment.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How can I meet with someone in the Broad College?
As the application process is administered by the MSU Office of Admissions, we recommend that you explore that office’s visit programs.
For a closer look at the Broad College, there are multiple online and in-person (coming soon) ways to learn about Broad.
Individual advising appointments are reserved for currently enrolled MSU students. If you have specific questions that are not answered by reviewing our website, please contact undergrad@broad.msu.edu.
- Can I be admitted directly to the Broad College and/or a specific Broad major?
All transfer student applicants who choose a Broad major on the MSU admission application will be considered for admission to MSU as “Exploring Business Preference.” Students with strong grades in specific coursework and a strong cumulative GPA from their current and previous institution(s) may be considered for admission directly to the Broad College, as “Business Admitted.” See the specific requirements for transfer students applying to MSU as a Broad major (above).
No new student will be admitted directly to the following majors: accounting, finance, human resource management, management, marketing or supply chain management. Once students matriculate to MSU, they are subject to the secondary Broad College/major admission process.
Progression: Exploring Business Preference → Secondary Admission process → Degree-Granting Major if admitted to Broad
- How does my writing/math/biology/etc. course transfer to MSU?
Transferability of courses from students’ current or previous institution(s) can be researched on the Transfer MSU database (please read all notes for each course carefully, including posted equivalency end dates). Note that an official evaluation of your transfer credits will be completed when you are admitted to MSU and is done by the Office of the Registrar, not the Broad College. Official transcripts are required for an official evaluation of transfer credit. See transcript submission instructions on the Office of Admissions website.
- My school doesn't offer one of the required courses; how can I fulfill the course requirement?
You may seek to take the course at another institution. See Transfer MSU for currently evaluated course equivalencies.
- I don't have all the required courses completed. Can I still select Broad on the MSU application?
Yes! If your goal is to earn a degree in a Broad major, please choose that major on your MSU admission application. A final decision about admission to MSU as a Broad student will be determined based on multiple factors, including space in the Broad College, course completion prior to application, and GPA. If Broad is your first choice, apply as such.
- What courses should I take next semester at my current institution?
Future schedule planning should be done with an academic advisor at your current institution, in consultation with an MSU admissions counselor (if you plan to take courses that are required for admission to MSU). To check transferability of coursework, see Transfer MSU. The Broad College Transfer Guide is also a helpful resource.
- How and when can I meet with an academic advisor and plan my classes?
All new MSU students are required to attend the New Student Orientation (NSO). During NSO, you will have the opportunity to learn more about resources offered through MSU and the Broad College; we also will walk you through curriculum requirements and admissions criteria, and you will meet with a academic advisors to discuss the appropriate courses for your first year at MSU. Course scheduling occurs at NSO and cannot be done in advance. You can research Broad College curriculum prior to NSO.
