For the third year in a row, Michigan State University has been named #2 in the world for education, according to one widely used international ranking of universities.
“These rankings illuminate the dedicated, impactful work of scholars across our college and institution who are addressing challenges in global education,” said Jerlando F. L. Jackson, dean of the MSU College of Education and MSU Foundation Professor of Education. “We are proud of and grateful to be recognized consistently among peer institutions in this way.”
The ShanghaiRanking Global Ranking of Academic Subjects was created in 2017. In nearly every iteration, MSU has ranked among the top in the world for education. In 2018, the university was ranked #4 in the world for education, followed by #1 in 2019 and #2 in 2020 and 2021.

The rankings, released in July, use a variety of data, including research output and quality, international academic awards and more for the methodology. Across the various subjects, more than 1,900 higher education institutions in 96 countries and regions are listed.
“Our college values our active engagement internationally in education in all facets of our work—scholarship, teaching, and outreach,” said Lynn Paine, associate dean and director of the Office of International Studies in Education. “We are committed to purposeful collaborations to create and share knowledge with a global reach. It’s gratifying to see, from these rankings, that the work we are doing is valued.”
The ShanghaiRanking Global Ranking of Academic Subjects is one of several rankings that places MSU among the top institutions in the field of education, including:
- Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject (Education), places MSU at #12 for the third year in a row in 2022. The rankings are calculated using 13 performance indicators, such as citations, research productivity and staff-to-student ratio.
- Quacquarelli Symonds (#19) World University Rankings by Subject (Education and Training), places MSU at #19 in 2022. The rankings are calculated using indicators such as citations-per-faculty, international student and international faculty ratio.
- U.S. News & World Report‘s annual Best Graduate Schools has recognized MSU as #1 in the nation for elementary and secondary teacher education for 28 straight years. MSU was also named #1 in curriculum and instruction.
The rankings for education build upon recognition across other parts of the university. In 2022, ShanghaiRanking Consultancy named seven MSU disciplines in the top-25 in the world.