Michigan State University

East Lansing, MI · Public · 40,243 students · Visit Website

Michigan State University offers hands-on certificate programs through its Institute of Agricultural Technology (IAT) for skilled careers in areas like Electrical Technology and various horticulture and agricultural operations specialties. These programs emphasize practical experience through field laboratories and required internships, often in partnership with community colleges across Michigan. Graduates are prepared for direct entry into the job market, with options to continue their education for a bachelor's degree. The Electrical Technology program, for example, is an apprenticeship training program recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor, focusing on residential, agricultural, commercial, and industrial wiring. MSU's Career Services Network also connects students with employers through career fairs and an online management system for internships and job postings.

Programs Analyzed

3

Avg Grad Earnings

$39,199/yr

Avg TradeSchoolOutlook Score

58/100

Tuition (In-State)

$15,988/yr
Out-of-state: $43,372/yr

All Programs at Michigan State University

3 trade programs at Michigan State University, ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score (combines earnings, ROI, AI resilience, and job market size). Use the “compare” links to see how this school’s programs stack up against others nationally.

Program Score Earnings Debt 10yr ROI AI Risk Job Market
Horticulture
Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services
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66 $42,513/yr $12,000 27.1x Moderate Very Large
408 openings/yr
Electrical Installation
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers
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59 $39,107/yr 23.5x Low Very Large
230 openings/yr
Agricultural Production
Agricultural Production Operations
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50 $35,978/yr $7,500 21.5x High Very Large
132 openings/yr

Reading the table: Score combines earnings, ROI, AI resilience, and job market size on a 0–100 scale. Earnings = median first-year salary from College Scorecard. Debt = median federal debt at graduation (blank where Scorecard suppresses small samples). 10yr ROI = projected 10-year earnings ÷ in-state tuition. AI Risk reflects task-level AI exposure across mapped occupations. Job Market = annual openings nationwide for connected occupations.

More Trade Schools in Michigan

Top-scored trade schools elsewhere in Michigan, ranked by average TradeSchoolOutlook Score across their programs.

View all trade schools in Michigan →

Apprenticeship Pathways in Michigan

Earn-while-you-learn alternatives in Michigan. Registered apprenticeships skip tuition and pay you during training, though training periods are typically longer.

Browse all apprenticeship trades →

Trade Schools Near East Lansing

Other cities in Michigan with multiple trade schools, sorted by distance from East Lansing.

About This Data

TradeSchoolOutlook analyzes 3 trade and vocational programs at Michigan State University using earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and employment projections from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024–2034).

The TradeSchoolOutlook Score (0–100) combines graduate earnings, return on investment, AI resilience, and job market size. AI Risk reflects task-level exposure for the occupations each program feeds into. Job Market shows the size of the national hiring pool. Programs without published debt figures had small reporting samples that the College Scorecard suppresses for privacy.

Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (earnings, debt), Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034 (employment projections). Last updated 2026.