About

Rankings (Education)

Graduate study in the areas of both elementary and secondary education at Michigan State University has ranked #1 in the nation for three consecutive decades, according to the U.S. News & World Report ranking of education graduate programs.

The MSU College of Education ranks 21st overall in the magazine’s 2024 edition of “Best Graduate Schools” and 13th among public universities.

A total of nine graduate study areas at MSU are featured in the rankings:

• Elementary teacher education – #1
• Secondary teacher education – #1
• Curriculum and instruction – #1
• Rehabilitation counseling – #2 (last ranked in 2023) 
• Educational administration – #1 (up from #2 the previous year) 
• Higher education administration – #1 (up from #2 the previous year) 
• Education psychology – #4 (up from #5 the previous year) 
• Education policy – #6 (up from #10 the previous year) 
• Special Education – #9 (up from #11 the previous year) 

The U.S. News & World Report ranks doctoral degree-granting graduate education schools across the nation. The rankings are based on measures such as institutional capacity, reputation and research funding. The Rehabilitation Counseling rankings are part of a separate rankings than the Education rankings; they are traditionally ranked ever five years.

Online program rankings (U.S. News & World Report)

In addition, in 2024, U.S. News & World Report recognized MSU as one of the best institutions to earn and online master’s degree in education. In fact, MSU is ranked in the top five in the U.S. in four program areas.

Where We Rank Globally

MSU consistently ranks among the best nationwide for education. The following rankings were published in calendar year 2023. Learn more.

• #4 – Shanghai Ranking’s 2023 Global Ranking of Academic Subjects
• #13 – Times Higher Education’s 2024 World University Rankings by Subject (Education)

In 2024, Quacquarelli Symonds named MSU as tied for #17 in their 2024 World University Rankings by Subject (Education and Training).

Where We Rank (U.S. News & World Report Best Graduate Schools)

For a complete list of the rankings, visit the U.S. News & World Report website.

Education Psychology

1. University of Wisconsin–Madison
2. University of Michigan–Ann Arbor
3. Stanford University
4. Michigan State University (tie)
4. University of Maryland–College Park (tie)
6. University of Texas–Austin 
7. University of Minnesota–Twin Cities (tie)
7. Vanderbilt University (Peabody) (tie)
9. Ohio State University (tie)
9. University of Illinois–Urbana-Champaign (tie)
11. University of California–Los Angeles

Educational Administration & Supervision

1. Michigan State University
2. University of Wisconsin–Madison
3. Teachers College, Columbia University (tie)
3. Vanderbilt University (Peabody) (tie)
5. University of Texas–Austin
6. Ohio State University
7. University of Virginia
8. Harvard University
9. Stanford University (tie)
9. University of Michigan–Ann Arbor (tie)
11. Pennsylvania State University–University Park (tie)
11. University of Washington (tie)

Elementary Teacher Education

1. Michigan State University
2. University of Wisconsin–Madison
3. University of Michigan–Ann Arbor
4. Teachers College, Columbia University
5. Indiana University–Bloomington (tie)
5. Vanderbilt University (Peabody) (tie)
7. University of Washington
8. Ohio State University
9. Arizona State University (Fulton)
10. University of Georgia (tie)
10. University of Texas–Austin (tie)
10. University of Virginia (tie)

Secondary Teacher Education

1. Michigan State University
2. University of Michigan–Ann Arbor
3. Teachers College, Columbia University (tie)
3. University of Wisconsin–Madison (tie)
5. University of California–Los Angeles (tie)
5. University of Virginia (tie)
7. University of Washington
8. Indiana University–Bloomington (tie)
8. Ohio State University (tie)
10. University of Georgia (tie)
10. University of Texas–Austin (tie)

Rehabilitation Counseling (Last Ranked in 2023-2024)

 1. University of Wisconsin-Madison
2. Michigan State University
 3. San Diego State University
3. University of Iowa
 5. George Washington University
 6. Pennsylvania State University
 6. University of Kentucky
6. Utah State University
6. Virginia Commonwealth University, College of Health Professions
10. University of Arizona
10. University of Wisconsin–Stout 

Curriculum and Instruction

 1. Michigan State University
 2. University of Wisconsin–Madison
 3. University of Michigan–Ann Arbor
 4. Teachers College, Columbia University
5. Vanderbilt University (Peabody)
 6. Stanford University
7. Ohio State University
8. University of Georgia (tie)
8. University of Illinois–Urbana-Champaign (tie)
 8. University of Washington (tie)
11. University of Maryland–College Park

Higher Education Administration

 1. Michigan State University
2. University of Michigan–Ann Arbor (tie)
2. University of Pennsylvania (tie)
 4. Pennsylvania State University–University Park
 5. University of California–Los Angeles
6. Vanderbilt University (Peabody)
 7. University of Georgia
8. University of Southern California (Rossier)
9. Indiana University–Bloomington (tie)
9. Ohio State University (tie)

Education Policy

 1. Vanderbilt University (Peabody)
 2. Harvard University
 3. Stanford University (tie)
 3. University of Pennsylvania (tie)
 5. University of Michigan–Ann Arbor
 6. Michigan State University
 7. Teachers College, Columbia University (tie)
7. University of Wisconsin–Madison (tie)
9. University of Texas–Austin
 10. University of California–Los Angeles

Special Education

 1. Vanderbilt University (Peabody)
 2. University of Kansas
 3. University of Oregon
4. University of Virginia
 5. University of Florida
 6. University of Wisconsin–Madison
 7. University of Texas–Austin
8. University of Illinois–Urbana-Champaign
9. Michigan State University
 10. University of Minnesota–Twin Cities

Rankings (Kinesiology)

Our doctoral program in Kinesiology is heralded as one of the top in the nation.

In 2023, the National Academy of Kinesiology ranked our program #11 nationwide.

Moreover, MSU is recognized internationally. In 2024, Quacquarelli Symonds named MSU as #9 in the United States for universities offering “Sports-related subjects.” MSU was also among the top 50 globally in the same rankings.

Teacher preparation and academics

• Michigan State University was a pioneer when it launched a full-year teaching internship for students in 1993. Since then, nearly 14,000 Spartans have been certified as new teachers through MSU. The Teacher Preparation Program continues to evolve today.
• The Urban Educators Cohort Program prepares students exclusively for teaching careers in high-need urban schools through special course sections and experiences starting their freshman year.
• The Global Educators Cohort Program, which also starts freshman year, is designed to prepare teachers committed to educating global citizens and working in culturally and linguistically diverse classrooms.
• The College of Education was one of the first to offer an online master’s degree program in education. Several of its master’s programs are now offered completely online, and the Ph.D. program in Educational Psychology and Educational Technology is offered in a hybrid (online and face-to-face) format.
• The College of Education has national accreditation from several organizations, including the Teacher Preparation Program by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), which requires a commitment to continuously assess program effectiveness; our programs in Rehabilitation Counseling by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP); our doctoral program for School Psychology by the Commission on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association (APA) and the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP); and our M.S. in Athletic Training Program by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE).
• All doctoral students in the College of Education have the opportunity to participate in the Fellowship to Enhance Global Understanding, a faculty-led international study trip with most expenses paid by the college.
• Combined with its graduate degree programs, the Michigan State University College of Education has also earned competitive training grants to provide paid fellowship opportunities in key areas. This includes the Michigan State Interdisciplinary Training in Education and Social Science (MITTENSS) Fellowship, Project Hi2LD (Hybrid Interdisciplinary Training to Address High Intensity Needs of Students with Learning Disabilities), fellowships funded through the national Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) and fellowships funded through the National Center for Leadership in Intensive Intervention-2 (NCLII-2).
• MSU was one of the first pioneering universities selected to participate in the Teachers for a New Era (TNE) initiative, a landmark effort by the Carnegie Corporation to restructure teacher education and set national standards for excellence.

Research and outreach

• College of Education faculty members serve as investigators on research projects funded by a variety of agencies and organizations.
• The CREATE for STEM Institute is a hub for innovation and collaboration among researchers committed to improving science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education from grades K-16. CREATE for STEM is a joint endeavor of the colleges of Education and Natural Science at MSU.
• Nine current and emeriti College of Education faculty members have been inducted into the National Academy of Education, a society honoring distinguished scholars for pioneering efforts in educational research and policy development.
• Three current College of Education faculty (and 11 emeriti faculty) have been inducted into the National Academy of Kinesiology. Representation as a Fellow highlights these scholars as a distinguished leader in the field.
• The Education Policy Innovation Collaborative, or EPIC, launched in 2017 and became the go-to research center for the Michigan Department of Education as it seeks to learn how reforms work best. EPIC has received over $12 million in grants, including one to study the state’s controversial read by grade 3 law. Most recently, EPIC has produced a series of research reports on the impact of COVID-19 in K-12 schools.
• The College of Education’s Office of K-12 Outreach provides professional development and resources for educators across Michigan in support of school improvement efforts.
• The Early Learning Institute, created by faculty from the College of Education, provides a novel model of early intervention for low income students with autism in multiple locations. Kids spend half the day in one-on-one therapy and half in a regular preschool classroom with peers who do not have autism.
• Michigan State University became the host institution for the national research organization on school leadership, the University Council for Educational Administration (UCEA), in 2020. UCEA influences the work and training of K-12 educational administrators and represents scholars from over 100 member institutions.
• Michigan State University scholars lead journals that are influential in their respective fields, such as one of the editors-in-chief of include Higher Education (Brendan Cantwell), lead editor of Education Administration Quarterly (Gerardo López) and editor-in-chief of Measurement in Physical Education and Exercise Science (Nicholas Myers). MSU served as home to the leading journal in the teacher education field, the Journal of Teacher Education, from 2015-2018.
• College of Education faculty members are often named leaders of major national organizations. Current and previous leaders include: University Council for Educational Administration (Gerardo López, president 2019-2020 and Terah Venzant Chambers, president 2018-2019) and the American Educational Research Association (Barbara Schneider, president 2013-14).
• The Department of Kinesiology is dedicated to the study of physical activity and sport across the lifespan, with a special emphasis on youth. In our research labs, MSU kinesiology scholars study topics ranging from the impact of physical activity for babies, re-learning how to move after a stroke, the effects of concussions and how exercise affects one’s ability to think clearly.
• The MSU Institute for the Study of Youth Sports was originally created by the Michigan Legislature and is known as a respected source of knowledge on coaching and maximizing the benefits of sports for kids.
• More than 100 teachers in Chicago and other urban areas participated in a fellowship focused on training leaders among STEM teachers. The program was funded by a $2.8 million grant from global tech company Wipro Ltd.
• Michigan State University researchers led the first-ever international study of mathematics teacher preparation, the Teacher Education Study in Mathematics (TEDS-M), which generated data from 17 countries.
• Sixty school districts and 300,000 students participated in the $35 million PROM/SE (Promoting Rigorous Outcomes in Mathematics and Science Education) project, which was led by faculty at MSU.