Three people were killed and five others wounded on Monday when a gunman opened fire on a university campus in the United States, local police said.

Officers said the gunman later fatally shot himself off campus amid an hourslong manhunt during which frightened students hid in the dark.

The suspect opened fire inside a building at Michigan State University in East Lansing shortly after 8pm local time, said Chris Rozman, interim deputy chief of campus police.

The gunman then moved on foot to a nearby building where more shots were fired.

"There are three confirmed fatalities," Michigan State University police said in a statement on Twitter. "This is in addition to the five victims who have been transported to the hospital."

Some of the wounded had suffered life-threatening injuries, Rozman told reporters.

Rozman said it was too early to know a motive and whether the gunman had some type of affiliation with the university. His name was not immediately released.

Police responded quickly to the scene and students and staff were ordered to shelter in place.

Aedan Kelley, a junior who lives less than a kilometre east of campus, said he locked his doors and covered his windows “just in case.” Sirens were constant, he said, and a helicopter hovered overhead.

"It’s all very frightening," Kelley said. “And then I have all these people texting me wondering if I’m OK, which is overwhelming.”

Officials said all campus activities will be cancelled for the next 48 hours.

East Lansing is about 145 kilometres northwest of Detroit.

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer was briefed on the shooting and said police were working to secure the area.

"Let's wrap our arms around the Spartan community tonight," she wrote on Twitter, referring to the university's athletic logo. (AP/AFP)