MSU Extension Product Center

The Michigan State University Sensory Lab, directed by Dr. Emily Mayhew, operates a Service Center to provide sensory and consumer testing to clients. Standard rates have been established for 6 project tiers, described below. More complex project designs can be accommodated by treating these test units as modular (e.g., a 3-day consumer test could be billed as 1 full-service test and 2 data collection only tests). These rates are valid from March 2025 - March 2027. Prospective clients are encouraged to e-mail us to set up a free consultation at sensory@msu.edu. 

Sensory and Consumer Testing Project Tiers

Full-Service Project Tiers

Full-service consumer tests include:

• Study design*
• Recruiting
• Subject compensation
• Supplies
• Sample preparation
• Data collection
• Data analysis and reporting*

*only included in full-service tier

Standard, full-service consumer test

Up to 10 hours of data collection with 100 consumers and up to 6 products: $12,000

Small-scale, full-service consumer test

Up to 6 hours of data collection with 50-60 consumers and up to 6 products: $9,000

Pilot-scale, full-service consumer test

Up to 4 hours of data collection with 30-40 consumers and up to 6 products: $7,500

Data Collection Only Project Tiers

Data collection only tests include:

• Recruiting
• Subject compensation
• Supplies
• Sample preparation
• Data collection

Standard consumer test, data collection only

Up to 10 hours of data collection with 100 consumers and up to 6 products: $8,000

Small-scale consumer test, data collection only

Up to 6 hours of data collection with 50-60 consumers and up to 6 products: $5,000

Pilot-scale consumer test, data collection only

Up to 4 hours of data collection with 30-40 consumers and up to 6 products: $3,500