Michigan State University is now in the top 25 in the world according to the Times Higher Education 2024 Impact Rankings, the leading global performance index for how well universities are meeting the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, or SDGs. MSU is ranked No. 3 in the country and No. 25 in the world.

MSU is the only university in Michigan and the Big Ten to appear in the top 25 globally.

“MSU’s impact advancing sustainability and addressing the grand challenges of our time is one reason we stand as a leading global public research university,” said MSU President Kevin M. Guskiewicz, Ph.D. “As one of our strategic priorities, climate solutions engage more than 500 faculty researchers as well as every one of our colleges and community programs. This is an incredible achievement for our campus and truly shows what it means to be Spartan green.”

In just its fourth year of participation, MSU has gone from being ranked over 100 to breaking into the top 25. Times Higher Education evaluates universities across four broad areas: research, outreach, stewardship and teaching. 2024 is the sixth and most competitive year of the ranking with more than 1,900 universities taking part.  

“Each year, as more schools worldwide join the competition, the rankings become increasingly competitive. MSU is well positioned to remain at the forefront, provided we continually challenge ourselves and enhance our sustainable practices,” said Thomas Glasmacher, interim executive vice president of administration. “Our current efforts will need to evolve, and we must strive for even greater achievements. Every Spartan is crucial in fostering a culture that drives us toward a sustainable future. As MSU climbs higher in these rankings, our impact on the world grows, benefiting everyone.”

In addition to the overall rankings, MSU is ranked globally in the top 25 in three key areas and the top 50 in one additional area:

No. 5 globally and No. 2 in the U.S. for Sustainable Cities and Communities
The Cities and Communities ranking measures institutions’ research on sustainability, their role as custodians of arts and heritage and their internal approaches to sustainable transportation and land-use planning.

No. 8 globally and No. 2 in the U.S. for Zero Hunger
The Zero Hunger ranking looks at universities’ research on hunger, their teaching on food sustainability and their commitment to reducing food waste and addressing hunger on campus and in local communities.

No. 23 globally and No. 2 in the U.S. for Life on Land
The Life on Land ranking analyzes universities’ research of life on land and their education on, and support for, land ecosystems.

No. 34 globally and No. 4 in the U.S. for Partnership for the Goals
The Partnership for the Goals ranking reviews how universities support the SDGs by collaborating with nongovernmental organizations and other countries, developing improved methods to collect and measure data for the SDGs, promoting transparent sustainability reporting, embedding sustainability within curriculum.

“The THE Impact Rankings showcase how higher education supports sustainable development efforts through knowledge generation, education and outreach and stewardship,” said Laura Young, sustainability manager in MSU’s Office of Sustainability. “Our continued success is a testament to the Spartans working tirelessly to improve our sustainable operations as well as those who prepare our students to tackle sustainability challenges in their chosen career path, and those who study the world’s most complex and pressing problems to extend this knowledge into communities locally, regionally and globally.”

An explanation of the full methodology for the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings is available on its website.

Learn more about how MSU is creating solutions for a more sustainable future on the university’s Climate Solutions website.