Michigan State University’s online graduate business (non-MBA) program in the Broad College of Business has been ranked No. 5 among universities nationwide and No. 3 among public institutions, according to the U.S. News & World Report Online Program Rankings 2026 Edition. MSU is also ranked No. 4 overall in online business programs for veterans.
Broad online programs also ranked in these specialty areas:
“Our faculty work hard to develop graduate programs that give students the critical thinking and creativity to succeed as alumni,” said Broad College of Business Dean David Souder. “We are committed to ongoing innovations in how we engage online graduate students to keep delivering at levels recognized among the best in the nation.”
Out of more than 320 online graduate programs nationwide, MSU’s online graduate program in the College of Education ranks No. 13 overall and among public institutions. Additional education disciplines continue to rank in the top 10, including:
“When we create, assess or aim to improve upon our online master’s programs, we think about students first. We want to offer high-quality, accessible and rigorous programs to meet the needs of learners across the globe. This recognition is one way we can say we are meeting that mark,” said Jerlando F. L. Jackson, dean and MSU Research Foundation Professor of education.
Among nearly 100 programs ranked nationwide, the MSU College of Social Science’s online graduate program in criminal justice ranks No. 8 overall and No. 5 among public institutions. MSU is also ranked No. 5 overall and No. 4 among publics for criminal justice programs for veterans.
“These rankings help to validate the outstanding work of the faculty and staff in the MSU School of Criminal Justice who are providing world-class, cutting-edge education in an accessible format for Spartans across the country,” said College of Social Science Dean Brent Donnellan. “We are proud to be named among the other prestigious institutions on this list. These rankings reaffirm our commitment to transforming the human experience through research, engagement and education.”
U.S. News & World Report rankings are based on a combination of reputational surveys, data-based metrics and metrics specific to online instruction.