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 education professionals.
The program was created by faculty members from multiple disciplines who shared a vision: that policy should be created with stakeholders through research thtat takes into account the real needs of teachers, administrators, students, families and communities.
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 research—qualitative and quantitative.
David Reid, program alum
The Spartan Difference
The Education Policy Ph.D. program is regularly ranked in the nation's top-programs for education policy and is housed in one of the top schools of education (according to U.S. News & World Report).
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 across the globe. Wherever they work, MSU scholars share a commitment to meet the educational needs of all learners, and particularly historically disadvantaged and underserved students.
Concentrations
Students may design an individual program of study that suits their specific scholarly and professional interests. These are the possible concentrations within our program.
- Economics and Finance of Education
- Educational Politics, Urban Education and Policy Analysis
- Social Analysis of Education Policy and Educational Reform
- Policy for Teaching and Teacher Education
- Assessment, Evaluation and Quantitative Analysis
- Comparative and International Perspectives on Education Policy
Meet Professor and Program Director Rebecca Jacobsen
Education Policy, Ph.D.
Fast Facts
<10
Students in each cohort
~39%
Program acceptance rate
#6
Rank (tied)according to U.S. News 7 World Report (2025)
11%
Area cost of living below national average
Beyond Our Borders
A strength to our program is our long-standing 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.
Benefits to Our Location
MSU is located only minutes from the state Capitol and access to policymakers, the state Department of Education and 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 policy research, such as the Education Policy Innovation Collaborative and the Office of K-12 Outreach.