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Employers › MI

Educational Services · East Lansing, MI

Michigan State University

According to OSHA enforcement records (2010–2026), Michigan State University ranks #91,681 of 99,447 penalized U.S. employers by total current penalty, with a relatively clean safety record: 3 violations across 5 inspections.

Lower half by penalty0% serious
$600
OSHA penalties
3
Violations cited
5
OSHA inspections
#91,681
of 99,447 penalized employers

Michigan State University in East Lansing, MI has been the subject of 5 OSHA workplace inspections and 3 citations since 2010, according to enforcement records from the U.S. Department of Labor. Total penalties assessed: $600. Federal wage-and-hour enforcement records also show 47 WHD violations against this employer under the Fair Labor Standards Act. All enforcement data below is sourced from the DOL public enforcement databases at data.dol.gov.

The record in one line

OSHA has inspected Michigan State University 5 times over 6 years, roughly once every couple of years. These inspections resulted in 3 violations, averaging 0.6 per inspection, on the lighter side. According to OSHA enforcement records, its total current penalty ranks #91,681 of 99,447 penalized U.S. employers (the lower half of penalized employers nationally). Against the Educational Services industry average of 3 inspections per employer, this runs moderately above peers (2.0x the sector average) on inspection frequency. The Department of Labor also found wage violations, with $21,457 in back wages owed to 46 affected workers. For comparison, Colegio Bautista Rosa DE Saron in Rio Grande, PR is another educational services employer with 1 OSHA inspection on record and $0 in current penalties.

0.6
violations per inspection
0.0%
of violations were serious
#91,681
of 99,447 penalized employers
$21,457
in back wages recovered

Compliance score

C 79/100
  • B OSHA safety compliance: 3 violations across 5 OSHA inspections (0.6 per inspection), vs. national p10 0.0 (best) / p90 5.5 (worst) among 145,626 inspected employers.
  • C Wage & hour compliance: $21K in back wages owed across 2 WHD cases ($11K per case), vs. national p10 $2K (best) / p90 $58K (worst) among 91,622 employers with a WHD case on file.
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How Michigan State University compares on OSHA penalties

Total current penalty vs the Educational Services per-employer average

in penalties

What this shows Michigan State University runs well below peers (0.20x the sector average) in total OSHA penalties.

Source U.S. Department of Labor, OSHA enforcement extracts As of 2026

Where this penalty ranks nationally

Total current OSHA penalty vs every U.S. employer with a nonzero penalty

$600 Top 8% most affordable more affordable than 92% of 99,447 U.S. employers with a penalty

$0–$5,000: 43,959 U.S. employers with a penalty (44%). This entry sits in this band. $5,000–$10,000: 20,304 U.S. employers with a penalty (20%). Above this entry. $10,000–$15,000: 11,027 U.S. employers with a penalty (11%). Above this entry. $15,000–$20,000: 6,546 U.S. employers with a penalty (7%). Above this entry. $20,000–$25,000: 4,175 U.S. employers with a penalty (4%). Above this entry. $25,000–$30,000: 2,877 U.S. employers with a penalty (3%). Above this entry. $30,000–$35,000: 2,036 U.S. employers with a penalty (2%). Above this entry. $35,000–$40,000: 1,493 U.S. employers with a penalty (2%). Above this entry. $40,000–$45,000: 1,095 U.S. employers with a penalty (1%). Above this entry. $45,000–$50,000: 785 U.S. employers with a penalty (1%). Above this entry. $50,000–$55,000: 5,150 U.S. employers with a penalty (5%). Above this entry. This employer $0 $55,000 every penalized U.S. employer, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $5K-wide band; taller bars hold more U.S. employers with a penalty. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Department of Labor, OSHA enforcement extracts · 2026

Does more inspection scrutiny mean more findings?

Each dot is one of 21 Educational Services employers with an OSHA inspection on record, placed by inspections and violations cited. The highlighted dot is Michigan State University.

Frequently inspected, many findingsRarely inspected, many findingsFrequently inspected, clean recordBelow median on both5.05.055.05.009.719.429.138.9OSHA inspectionsViolations citedCOAST COMMUNITY COLL…, OSHA inspections: 5 · Violations cited: 2CUNY JOHN JAY COLLEG…, OSHA inspections: 5 · Violations cited: 6VALLEJO CITY UNIFIED…, OSHA inspections: 5 · Violations cited: 9TN BOARD OF REGENTS …, OSHA inspections: 5 · Violations cited: 8U C BERKELEY, OSHA inspections: 5 · Violations cited: 0ROCHESTER CITY SD EA…, OSHA inspections: 5 · Violations cited: 6DOLGEVILLE CSD, OSHA inspections: 5 · Violations cited: 17PORT BYRON CSD GATES…, OSHA inspections: 5 · Violations cited: 15CUBA-RUSHFORD CSD MI…, OSHA inspections: 5 · Violations cited: 29DELAWARE-CHENANGO-MA…, OSHA inspections: 5 · Violations cited: 18STAMFORD CSD, OSHA inspections: 5 · Violations cited: 15JERSEY CITY PUBLIC S…, OSHA inspections: 5 · Violations cited: 25DE, OSHA inspections: 5 · Violations cited: 6CAZENOVIA CSD HIGH S…, OSHA inspections: 5 · Violations cited: 6ALLEGANY COLLEGE OF …, OSHA inspections: 5 · Violations cited: 37JEFFERSON CO COMMUNI…, OSHA inspections: 5 · Violations cited: 19SAN FRANCISCO STATE …, OSHA inspections: 5 · Violations cited: 11OREGON STATE UNIVERS…, OSHA inspections: 5 · Violations cited: 13DE, OSHA inspections: 5 · Violations cited: 8TN BOARD OF REGENTS …, OSHA inspections: 5 · Violations cited: 16Michigan State Unive…, OSHA inspections: 5 · Violations cited: 3
Michigan State University has 5 OSHA inspections on record and 3 violations cited. The crosshair marks the median among these Educational Services peers. Across this sector's tracked employers, more inspections is moderately associated with more violations found -- not a coincidence, but not a guarantee either.

Michigan State University in the Educational Services enforcement ledger

Educational Services sector: Michigan State University is the #754 heaviest OSHA penalty carrier of 856 employers with nonzero fines ($600). On wage-and-hour enforcement alone, Michigan State University ranks #126 among 478 Educational Services employers with WHD recoveries ($21,457).

Combined federal exposure here: $600 OSHA penalties plus $21,457 WHD back wages (97.3% of the combined total is wage recovery).

How Michigan State University Compares

Michigan State University's 0.60 violations per inspection compares to the Educational Services sector average of 5.7 violations per employer.

Against the Educational Services industry average of $3,025 per employer, this employer's current OSHA penalty runs well below peers (0.20x the sector average).

Enforcement detail

OSHA Inspection History

Total Inspections

5

First Inspection

2011-04-19

Last Inspection

2017-04-25

Inspection Span

6 yrs

Violations / Inspection

0.6

Avg Penalty / Inspection

$120

Industry Avg / Inspection

$1,199

What this shows 5 inspections over 6 years, averaging 0.6 violations per visit. That's $120 per inspection vs. the Educational Services average of $1,199.

Enforcement detail

Violation Breakdown

0

Serious

0.0% of total

0

Willful

0.0% of total

0

Repeat

0.0% of total

3

Other-Than-Serious

100.0% of total

What this shows Serious violations involve hazards that could cause death or serious physical harm. Willful violations indicate intentional or knowing disregard of the law. Repeat violations are for hazards previously cited within the past 5 years.

Enforcement detail

Penalty Analysis

Initial Penalty Assessed

$1,200

Current Penalty Amount

$600

Penalty Reduction

50.0%

Combined Impact (OSHA + WHD)

$22,057

What this shows Penalties were reduced by $600 from the initial assessment of $1,200. Reductions may result from informal settlements, formal contests, or negotiated agreements with OSHA.

Wage & Hour Findings

WHD Cases
2
Back Wages Owed
$21,457
Employees Affected
46
WHD Violations
47
Avg Back Wages per Employee
$466
Avg Back Wages per CaseBelow average
$10,729

The Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division found that Michigan State University owed $21,457 in back wages to 46 employees across 2 cases and 47 violations. WHD enforces federal labor laws including the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), covering minimum wage, overtime pay, and child labor standards.

Industry Safety Context: Educational Services

How Michigan State University compares to the Educational Services sector, which has 3,186 employers tracked by PlainWorker.

Metric Michigan State University Industry Avg
Inspections 5 2.5
Violations 3 5.7
Total Penalty $600 $3,025
Avg Penalty per Inspection $120 $1,199
View all 3,186 employers in Educational Services →

Nationwide Educational Services peers with similar penalties or inspection counts

Two OSHA-record peer sets for Michigan State University, both outside MI so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment.

Similar current OSHA penalty

Nearest same-sector employers by current assessed penalty ($600 here).

College of the Canyons $600 CA Uc Santa Cruz $600 CA Advanced Welding Institute, LLC $600 VT Washoe County School District - Hug High School $600 NV

Similar OSHA inspection count

Same-sector employers with a comparable inspection history outside this state (5 inspections here).

Coast Community College District 5 insp. Costa Mesa, CA Cuny John Jay College of Criminal Justice 5 insp. New York, NY Vallejo City Unified School District 5 insp. Vallejo, CA TN Board of Regents - Tcat - Crossville 5 insp. Crossville, TN

Nearby & Similar Employers in Educational Services

Showing 5 of 3185 other employers tracked in this sector.

KeyCentrix
Wichita, KS
0 inspections $0
Colegio Bautista Rosa DE Saron
Rio Grande, PR
1 inspections $0
Bergen Community College
Paramus, NJ
4 inspections $21,750
President and Fellows of Middlebury College
Middlebury, VT
4 inspections $22,365
San Lorenzo Unified School District - San Lorenzo High School
San Lorenzo, CA
2 inspections $21,735

Compare Michigan State University vs KeyCentrix side-by-side →

What to do with this record

Use Michigan State University's enforcement history as one data point, not the whole picture.

  • A single employer's record can look unusual in isolation. Compare Michigan State University against KeyCentrix, a similarly-sized employer in the same sector, before drawing conclusions. Compare side-by-side
  • See whether Michigan State University's inspection and penalty record is typical for Educational Services or an outlier against the sector's own average. View the Educational Services sector
  • Michigan State University also carries $21,457 in Wage and Hour Division back-wages, a separate enforcement track from OSHA safety violations. How wage-theft enforcement works

Figures reflect closed OSHA and WHD federal enforcement actions on record (2010–2026); not every workplace issue results in an inspection or investigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Michigan State University safe to work at? ▼
Based on OSHA records, Michigan State University's workplace safety record is relatively clean, with fewer violations than typical. The employer has 3 violations across 5 inspections. Compared to Educational Services industry peers, this is below average for penalties. Review the full inspection history below for details.
How many OSHA violations does Michigan State University have? ▼
Michigan State University has 3 OSHA violations on record, including 0 serious, 0 willful, and 0 repeat violations. The total current penalty amount is $600.
How many OSHA inspections has Michigan State University had? ▼
Michigan State University has had 5 OSHA inspections, with the first recorded on 2011-04-19 and the most recent on 2017-04-25. This averages 0.6 violations per inspection.
What is the total penalty amount for Michigan State University? ▼
Michigan State University has been assessed $600 in current OSHA penalties, reduced from an initial assessment of $1,200 (a 50.0% reduction). Additionally, $21,457 in back wages were owed through WHD enforcement.
Has Michigan State University been cited for wage theft? ▼
Yes. The Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division has recorded 2 enforcement cases against Michigan State University, resulting in $21,457 in back wages owed to 46 affected workers. These cases involve violations of federal labor laws including minimum wage, overtime, and other worker protections.
What industry does Michigan State University operate in? ▼
Michigan State University operates in the Educational Services sector (NAICS code 611310). This industry has 3,186 employers tracked by PlainWorker, with 8,042 total OSHA inspections and $9.64M in cumulative penalties.
What should I do if Michigan State University owes me wages? ▼
If you believe Michigan State University owes you wages, you can file a complaint with the Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division at dol.gov/agencies/whd/contact/complaints or by calling 1-866-487-9243. WHD investigates violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act including unpaid minimum wage, overtime, and unauthorized deductions. The DOL has previously found $21,457 in back wages owed by this employer across 2 cases.
Where does Michigan State University rank nationally on OSHA penalties? ▼
Among the 99,447 U.S. employers with a nonzero current OSHA penalty in PlainWorker's corpus, Michigan State University ranks #91,681 (the lower half of penalized employers nationally). The ordinal is a live COUNT of employers with a lower total_current_penalty; see the methodology page for the exact derivation.
How does Michigan State University's safety record compare to industry average? ▼
Michigan State University's total OSHA penalty of $600 is below the Educational Services industry average of $3,025 per employer. The employer has 5 inspections compared to the industry average of 2.5 per employer. For a direct comparison, Colegio Bautista Rosa DE Saron in Rio Grande, PR is a similar educational services employer with $0 in current penalties.
Data Sources & Methodology ▼

Data as of 2026. Source: U.S. Department of Labor (OSHA, WHD).

Source: OSHA Enforcement Data

Inspection and violation records from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), U.S. Department of Labor, covering the period 2010–2026. Includes inspection dates, violation types (serious, willful, repeat, other-than-serious), and penalty amounts. Penalties shown are current assessed amounts and may differ from original citations due to settlement, contest, or reduction.

Source: Wage and Hour Division (WHD)

Compliance actions from the WHD, covering enforcement of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), including minimum wage, overtime, and child labor violations. Back wages represent amounts owed to affected employees as determined by WHD investigations.

Employer Matching

Employers are matched across OSHA and WHD datasets by name, state, and city. Employers included in PlainWorker have 2 or more OSHA inspections or $1,000+ in WHD back wages. Data is updated monthly from data.dol.gov.

Verify with OSHA establishment search →

Every figure on PlainWorker is rendered directly from official U.S. Department of Labor OSHA and Wage & Hour Division enforcement records, no number is typed in by an editor. This employer's ratios (penalty-per-violation, industry comparisons) are computed live from the 5 inspections on record. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026.