The Michigan State University doctoral program in Education Policy prepares students to conduct research on current and enduring issues, and to connect with policymakers and educational professionals. The program was created by faculty members from multiple disciplines who shared a vision: that policy should be created with stakeholders through research that takes into account the real needs of teachers, administrators, students, families, and communities.
The Spartan difference
The Education Policy Ph.D. program at MSU is ranked in the nationās top-10 and housed in one of the top schools of education. Students work closely with faculty who are leaders in their fields of expertise, and take classes in departments across the university that meet their interests. Students are encouraged to begin independent research as soon as their first year.
Opportunities to connect research to practice are abundant, from partnerships with state and local agencies to collaborative research projects around the globe. Wherever they work, MSU scholars share a particular commitment to meet the educational needs of historically disadvantaged and underserved students.
Fast Facts
<10
STUDENTS IN EACH COHORT
~39%
ACCEPTANCE RATE TO EDUCATION POLICY PH.D. PROGRAM
#6
RANK ACCORDING TO 2024Ā U.S. NEWS AND WORLD REPORT
11% Less
AREA COST OF LIVING BELOW THE NATIONAL AVERAGE
Benefits to our location
Michigan State University is located only minutes from the state Capitol and access to policymakers, the state Department of Education, and leading educational organizations centered in Lansing. Michigan represents a microcosm of U.S. education, with urban centers, remote rural districts, and wealthy suburbs.
The MSU College of Education community includes offices and centers that create opportunities to conduct and disseminate education policy research, such as theĀ Education Policy Innovation CollaborativeĀ (EPIC) and theĀ Office of K-12 Outreach.
Concentration Areas
Policy students may design an individual program of study that suits their specific scholarly and professional interests. These are the possible concentrations within the policy major.
Core values
1. A personalized approach to student growth and development
2. A commitment to a mission of service
3. Dedication to a well-rounded, cutting-edge approach to research
4. Guaranteed financial support throughout five years
5. Faculty at the forefront of research in their area of expertise
I was drawn to the program by the faculty and the projects they were doing. They do research in schools. And it was a good mix of people doing the researchāqualitative and quantitative.
Beyond our borders
A strength of Michigan Stateās College of Education is its commitment to international work. Faculty and students are involved in policy-related research in countries in Africa, as well as in China, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Thailand and more.
