In the Global Employability University Ranking 2026, published by Times Higher Education, Michigan State University is No. 9 among U.S. public universities and No. 34 in the country overall. The ranking highlights universities that recruiters at top companies believe best prepare students for the workplace.
“At MSU, we are deeply committed to student success and preparing our Spartans for the careers of tomorrow,” said Career Services Network Director Karin Hanson. “Through hands-on career exploration and skill development both inside and outside the classroom, we create meaningful learning experiences in partnership with employers. Spartans are — and always will be — future ready.”
MSU boasts a 93% placement rate for bachelor’s degree graduates within six months of graduation. More than 65% of graduates are employed in Michigan. The MSU community includes more than 12,000 faculty and academic and support staff in addition to an alumni network of more than half a million people.
“My time at MSU played a huge role in securing my apprenticeship at Identity,” said graduating senior Maya Tillem. “With being an active member of MSU’s PRSSA chapter, my previous internships, classes preparing me with portfolio and sample workshops, as well as studying abroad and attending the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity as a student delegate, I was able to obtain an apprenticeship offer for after graduation. My PR 325 class helped me with writing press releases and pitches, as well as learn what it would be like to work in a PR firm. Randi Martinez was incredible with encouraging me to create and expand my professional portfolio, which ultimately helped me determine my career path.”
The key employability drivers in the ranking are:
Work expertise
Graduate skills
Internationality
Specialization
Academic performance
Social impact and leadership
Reputation
Employability drivers reveal what employers value most when they think of employability and how perceptions evolve across countries and industries. The drivers do not weight the ranking, but explain the votes in the methodology, helping to identify the main trends shaping global employability and universities’ performance.
“Our commitment to student success supports a rich undergraduate experience both in and out of the classroom, developing high value graduates who enter the workforce with a global mindset, ready to contribute to their communities and the world,” said Mark Largent, vice provost and dean of Undergraduate Education at MSU.
“Michigan State prepared me exceptionally well for entering the workforce after graduation,” said class of 2025 alum Evan Katz. “From opportunities within the College of Communication Arts and Sciences, to working for MSU’s student-run radio station WDBM and Spartan Vision, to learning the ins and outs of effective, strategic communications while interning in University Communications and Marketing — these experiences, combined with my academics, allowed me to land my first job in public relations within six months of graduating.”
Other recent notable MSU rankings: