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April 25, 2023

MSU graduate programs earn top national rankings

In its 2023-24 Best Graduate Schools rankings, U.S. News & World Report recognized four of Michigan State University’s graduate programs as first in the nation, with several others appearing in the top 25.

“Continuously earning high marks from our peers through the U.S. News & World Report rankings is another validation of the exceptional quality of Michigan State’s graduate programs,” said MSU Interim President Teresa K. Woodruff, Ph.D. “And we are not letting up. Our 2030 strategic plan is spurring us to increase the number of ranked programs MSU offers, together with pursuing other priorities focused on student, faculty and staff success.”

The College of Education — which is ranked No. 21 in the nation overall — continued its track record of distinction by ranking No. 1 for elementary and secondary education for 29 straight years. For the fifth year in a row, the college is ranked No. 1 in curriculum and instruction.

The College of Education has nine graduate programs ranked in the top 15.

  • No. 1 — Curriculum and instruction
  • No. 1 — Elementary education
  • No. 1 — Secondary education
  • No. 2 — Educational administration and supervision
  • No. 2 — Higher education administration
  • No. 2 — Rehabilitation counseling
  • No. 5 — Educational psychology
  • No. 10 — Education policy
  • No. 11 — Special education

"These top rankings across our education programs reflect the high-quality work of our faculty, students and alumni,” said Jerlando F.L. Jackson, dean of the MSU College of Education. “We are proud of the continued recognition of the innovative and world-changing teaching and research at our college. We will build on this recognition to continue to improve policy and practice in support of learners across the lifespan.”

MSU also continued its excellence in supply chain management. U.S. News & World Report ranked the supply chain and logistics graduate program as No. 1 for the seventh straight year. The undergraduate program in supply chain has been ranked No. 1 for more than a decade. 

“We are honored to be recognized because it not only reflects the quality of our graduate curriculum, programs and specialty areas, but also the passion and expertise of our faculty and staff who help students reach their goals every day,” said Judith Whipple, interim dean of the Broad College of Business. “Given the prominent role that supply chains have played, particularly in the past few years, the strength of our programs recognized through our seven-year No. 1 consecutive supply chain/logistics ranking is a source of great pride at the Broad College, and our supply chain faculty, staff, students and alumni continue to inspire the future of business.”

The Eli Broad College of Business has four graduate programs ranked in the top 25. 

  • No. 1 — Supply chain/logistics
  • No. 9 — Production/operations
  • No. 20 — Management
  • No. 22 — Accounting

The nuclear physics graduate program in the College of Natural Science ranks No. 2 after holding the No. 1 ranking for 13 years.

The College of Veterinary Medicine ranks No. 15 overall in the 2023-24 rankings.

U.S. News & World Report does not rank every program each year. The programs not appearing in the 2023-24 report that maintain their top 20 positions are:

  • No. 2 — Industrial organizational psychology
  • No. 3 — African history
  • No. 9 — Criminal justice/criminology
  • No. 14 — Biological and agricultural engineering
  • No. 16 — Econometrics
  • No. 17 — African American history

U.S. News & World Report bases individual disciplinary program rankings on peer assessments of deans and program directors across the given field nationwide.

Learn more about graduate education at MSU.

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By: Melody Kindraka

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