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MSU & Michigan

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Welcome to Michigan State University!

Michigan State University Spartans work to advance the common good with the uncommon will. The nation's pioneer land-grant university, MSU began as a bold experiment that democratized higher education and helped bring science and innovation into everyday life. Today, MSU is one of the top research universities in the world and home to a diverse community of dedicated students, scholars, athletes, artists, scientists, leaders. 

Campus Profile

  • Located in East Lansing, five kilometers east of Lansing (Michigan’s capital) and 130 kilometers from Detroit (Michigan’s largest city)
  • MSU has a 5,200-acre campus with 545 buildings and another 2,100 acres in existing or planned development.
  • There are also approximately 19,600 acres throughout Michigan used for agricultural and natural resources research and education by MSU faculty, staff, and students.
  • One of the largest single-campus housing systems in the country, with 27 residence halls and three apartment communities, housing 17,000 resident students.
  • MSU libraries house the 29th largest academic library system in North America with over 4.9 million volumes and the MSU Main Library is home to the world's largest comic book collection.
  • Read more about MSU here!

 

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Programs and Academics

  • More than 200 programs of undergraduate, graduate, and professional study

  • More than 275 study abroad programs in more than 60 countries on all continents

  • Among the top-producers of Fulbright Scholars in the U.S. (2018-19)

  • Member of the prestigious 62-member Association of American Universities

Spartan Community

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  • The Spartan community consists of 49,695 students (38,491 undergraduate; 10,633 postgraduate and professional) from across the United States and 138 countries as of fall 2020.

  • MSU is a proud supporter of diversity with 20.6 percent students of color and 9.1 percent international students; 51.86 percent are women and 48.14 percent are men.

  • MSU employs approximately 5,703 faculty and academic staff and 7,201 support staff.

  • There are over 576,000 living alumni worldwide.

Top Global Research University

  • External research expenditures totaled $725.7 million for 2019

  • Top US government funding agencies: Department of Energy, National Science Foundation, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Agriculture, U.S. Agency for International Development, Department of Defense, and the Department of Education

  • Currently under construction, the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) (a $730 million scientific user facility) will advance understanding of rare isotopes and provide research opportunities for scientists and students globally.

  • MSU is the only university in the U.S. with three medical schools on one campus: human, osteopathic, and veterinary. McLaren Health Care is building a new hospital on campus that will house more than 1,000 physicians, researchers and educators, opening in 2022.

  • First postsecondary institution in the U.S. to teach scientific agriculture. Today, Michigan State’s AgBioResearch funds the research of more than 300 scientists who conduct research in on-campus facilities and at 14 outlying research centers across the state

MSU World Rankings

U.S. News & World Report ranks MSU:

  • 84th among the world's top 100 universities
  • 34th among the nation's public universities
  • 1st in the nation for 25 consecutive years for graduate programs in elementary and secondary education
  • 1st in the nation for graduate programs in African history, higher education administration, nuclear physics, organizational psychology, rehabilitation counseling, and supply chain management
  • 1st in the nation for undergraduate program in supply chain management

One of the top 70 universities in the world, according to the Times Higher Education World Reputation Rankings 2019; MSU is among a group of 53 universities Times Higher Education calls “international powerhouses.”

  • Ranks 53rd among public universities for in-state students in Kiplinger’s 2018 edition of Best Values in Public Colleges
  • Ranks 38th in Washington Monthly’s college ranking (2019), which measures a school’s contribution to the public good in three broad categories: social mobility, research and service
  • Ranks in the top 30 in the world in plant and animal science (#9), agricultural sciences (#18), economics and business at (#28), and environment/ecology (#34)

International Engagement

  • Average annual funding of $82 million for international work over past five years
  • Received $45 million from The Mastercard Foundation in support of a nine-year partnership to provide talented yet financially disadvantaged youth from Africa with access to quality education
  • Ranks No. 8 in the U.S. for education abroad participation and in the Top 25 for international student enrollment (2019)Approximately 1,400 faculty and staff members engaged in international research and teaching
  • More than 325 international institutional partnership agreements with postsecondary institutions and organizations in 80 countries
  • More than 30 internationally focused centers and institutes, including MSU offices in Beijing and Istanbul

Location and Lifestyle

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Living on campus, or living near MSU in the East Lansing, Okemos, or Haslett areas will offer you and your family  affordable and safe living. According to Town and Country Magazine, Okemos is the fourth best place to live in America, reflecting several key factors including the quality of local schools, crime rates, housing trends, employment statistics, and access to amenities. Our neighboring K-12 systems (elementary, middle, and high schools) are among the top in Michigan and the U.S. Housing and living costs are moderate compared to big cities in the U.S. and there are many grocery and retail stores, restaurants, banks, libraries, museums, and parks and recreation facilities.

MSU's campus is only three miles away from Lansing, Michigan’s capital city, home to the state government. Capital Regional International Airport (LAN) is located in Lansing and provides daily flights to the nation's busiest travel hubs (like Detroit, Chicago, and Minneapolis). Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW) is less than two hours driving distance, and the Michigan Flyer bus provides easy access from DTW to East Lansing. Chicago, the third largest city in the U.S., is only four hours driving distance. Close to the East coast, you can easily visit New York City, Washington D.C. and Florida by car or plane.

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Pure Michigan

Michigan State University is located in East Lansing, Michigan. Michigan is a mid-western U.S. state with a population of 10 million people. Nicknamed the “Great Lakes State,” Michigan borders four Great Lakes, including Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, Lake Eerie, and Lake Huron. Lake Michigan is the largest body of fresh water in the United States and the world’s fifth largest lake. Michigan also has more than 11,000 inland lakes which spread across its lower and upper peninsulas. Michigan’s lakes provide not only clean and fresh water to its residents but also recreational activities such as swimming, fishing, sailing, and many other water sports.

There are 103 state parks and recreation areas in Michigan, and Michigan residents are never more than an hour away from a state park or recreation area. Michigan’s combined natural wonders of lakes, beaches, forests, waterfalls, and sand dunes attract over one hundred million visitors annually. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Mackinac Island, Sleeping Bear Dune National Lakeshore, Isle Royale National Park, and Tahquamenon Falls are all top vacation destinations in Michigan. 

Michigan's Economy

Michigan's business climate is stronger than ever and its automobile industry is booming again. Michigan is number one in automotive-related jobs and businesses and a leader in the global mobility community. As the center of the U.S. automotive industry, it is the home to US's three major automobile companies - General Motor, Ford, and Chrysler. In addition to advanced manufacturing, Michigan has developed a diverse economy including aerospace, agribusiness, cybersecurity, and defense.