Address: 220 Trowbridge Road, 48824 East Lansing, Michigan, United States
Agriculture, Education, Supply Chain Management
Michigan State University began on 12 February 1855 as the Agricultural College of the State of Michigan, and its first classes were held in 1857. The university states that it was the first institution of higher learning in the United States to teach scientific agriculture, and Encyclopaedia Britannica likewise calls it the first agricultural college in the country.
The Morrill Act of 1862, which created the land-grant system, followed its early example, and MSU describes itself as a prototype for that system. The college took the name Michigan State University in 1964. Its East Lansing campus covers about 5,200 acres, and the university’s facts page lists 51,838 students and 5,696 faculty and academic staff.
The campus is home to the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB), a user facility operated for the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science, as well as the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory. MSU belongs to the Association of American Universities, and its teams compete in the Big Ten Conference.
Domains taught:
Agriculture, AI and Machine Learning, Data Analytics, Engineering, Life Sciences, Logistics, Software Engineering
Diplomas*:
Bachelor, Doctor, Master, MBA
Status:
Public
Partnerships:
Pioneer land-grant institution. One of the largest US universities by enrollment. Strong programs in agriculture, education, communication, and hospitality business. Member of Big Ten Academic Alliance and AAU.
Research:
A leading research university with strengths in agricultural science, nuclear physics (Facility for Rare Isotope Beams – FRIB), education, communication, and supply chain management. Very high research activity.
Famous Alumnis:
Magic Johnson, Eli Broad, James Caan, Gretchen Whitmer, Draymond Green
International recognition**:
Number of staff***:
12000
Current students***:
50000
Foreign students***:
10%
Cumulative former students***:
550000
Pros
Large comprehensive university with diverse programs, strong research in specific fields like nuclear physics and agriculture, vibrant campus life and athletics.
Cons
Very large student population, East Lansing is primarily a college town, some older facilities.
Best For
Students seeking a large, comprehensive public university with strong programs in agriculture, education, communication, or supply chain management, often valuing a spirited campus environment and Big Ten athletics.
Those interested in supply chain management can compare University of Tennessee, Knoxville, public and known for supply chain management, nuclear engineering and forensics.
Purdue University, West Lafayette, is a public university in West Lafayette with aerospace engineering, engineering and agriculture among its main fields.
Most Similar Schools Abroad
Wageningen University & Research in the Netherlands is a public institution in Wageningen focused on food science, environmental sciences and life sciences.
University College Dublin, a public university in Ireland, is based in Dublin and lists agriculture, food science and engineering as main fields.
In Australia, University of Queensland is a public university in St Lucia whose fields include agriculture next to medicine, engineering, science, business and law.
Laval University is a public university in Québec City, Canada, with agriculture and food sciences among a wide list of faculties.
Hokkaido University in Japan, public and based in Sapporo, offers agricultural sciences, environmental and earth sciences, and civil and materials engineering.
*our own picks (our criteria: a mix between domains, diploma delivered, reputation and size), but obviously too many criteria for an apple-to-apple ranking.
FAQ
When did Michigan State open its doors?
The state chartered the Agricultural College of the State of Michigan on 12 February 1855, and teaching began in 1857. The institution became Michigan State University in 1964.
What does land-grant status mean for MSU?
The Morrill Act of 1862 gave states land to fund colleges of agriculture and the mechanic arts, and MSU is regarded as a prototype for that system. Its roots in agriculture are still visible in its research and extension work.
How large is the East Lansing campus?
It covers about 5,200 acres in East Lansing, Michigan. The university's facts page counts 51,838 students and 5,696 faculty and academic staff.
Which research facilities operate at MSU?
The Facility for Rare Isotope Beams is a user facility operated for the Department of Energy Office of Science and studies rare isotopes, nuclear astrophysics and applications. The National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory is another well-known facility on campus.
Does the university belong to the AAU?
Yes, MSU is a member of the Association of American Universities, a group of research-intensive universities in North America. This is one of several markers used to describe its research standing.
Which athletic conference do the university teams join?
*: without any judgment of the quality, readers are strongly encouraged to check the official status of the exact diploma envisioned as many universities have a mix of recognized diplomas, not recognized, “co-delivered,” “equivalent to”, “some pathways” (…), can change over time, and can be named differently from one country to another.
**: international reputation: is based on some criteria that do not mean much in some domains or specialties (number of researchers, of scientific publications, on budget ….). Our approximate 1-4 scale:
known locally
known locally and internationally
is listed in some of the world university’s classifications
is listed among the 20 firsts in some of world university’s classifications
***: estimated numbers, based on online sources and/or feedbacks. The numbers can vary greatly depending on school organisation (ex.: school is part of a group, it employs internal staff or external consultants or has public staff without employing them …). Refer to all the links provided to have accurate and updated numbers.
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