I do not think careers, socio-economic (the two schools cost roughly the same for residents) or “fit” is a primary (or secondary for that matter) reason for the relatively low number of applicants. Sure it plays a small role, but in my opinion, it is negligible. Selectivity is the main reason, and by a large margin. Any student with a 3.2+ GPA and a 21+ on the ACT has a shot at MSU. That would include a large chunk of each class at most high schools in the state. To have a shot at Michigan, a student must have at least a 3.6 GPA with a 27 or higher in the ACT. That pretty much excludes the majority of the students in most high schools in the state.