EAST LANSING – The Michigan State University Board of Trustees unanimously approved on April 10 a 5% increase in housing and dining rates for the 2026-27 school year.
The 5% increase in residence hall rates for first-year and returning in-state students, means a double room rate would be an additional $267 per year, and the silver meal plan would increase $379 per year, according to university materials.
For the 2025-26 school year, students had to pay $12,928 to cover a standard room with the silver dining plan, which gives students unlimited access to dining halls and 12 Combo-X-Changes.
Under the new rates, students would be expected to pay $13,574.
A 5% increase was also included for 1855 Place and University Villages, university owned-and-operated upper class apartments.
“The proposed rate reflects a careful balance between affordability and the responsibility to sustain high-quality residential and dining environments where students live, eat, play, and discover,” the resolution said.
Both freshman and sophomores are required to live on campus.
The approval is the sixth year in a row the trustees increased housing and dining rates. The last time rates were frozen was in 2020 after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The board last year raised rates 2.9% for the current school year. In 2024, the board approved a 6.89% hike in rates, and in 2023, the board approved a 6.95% increase.
Under the new rates, one year of housing and dining is expected to bring in nearly $211 million in revenue for the university, up an additional $10 million from the current school year.
Trustee Sandy Pierce said Residential Housing Services is self-sufficient and does not receive any funding from the state.
Trustee Mike Balow said the university needs to maintain its pride of place, while finding funding sources to bring renovations and upgrades to university dorms.
“As part of being competitive in the future, we’ve got to succeed on all levels,” Balow said, saying the board “can’t sleep on” bringing upgrades to campus.
“We’re trying to find ways to find the sources of funding to do what we need to be done,” he said.
Balow mentioned the recent $37 million renovation to Campbell Hall, and said much of those funds came from donations and philanthropy. He said he’d love to see more donors adopt another dorm to help bring more updates to the university housing.
He said a study is ongoing, looking into different ways the university can bring infrastructure upgrades and and other improvements to student housing.
Pierce said the board is looking for different places to build a reserve of funds. According to the resolution, the new funding would add $6.83 million to reserves.
The increased rates come as the university is in a 9% general fund budget reduction, which was announced in May 2025.
Contact Karly Graham at kgraham@lsj.com. Follow her on X at @KarlyGrahamJrn.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: MSU increases housing, dining rates for 2026-27 school year
Reporting by Karly Graham, Lansing State Journal / Lansing State Journal
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