For 31 straight years, Michigan State University has been ranked #1 in the nation for elementary and secondary teacher education according to U.S. News & World Report. In 2025, MSU showed continued strength as nine educational program areas were ranked in the nation’s top 10 based on a survey of education deans.
“We are honored to once again be recognized as the nation’s top college for elementary and secondary education,” said Jerlando F. L. Jackson, dean and MSU Research Foundation Professor of Education. “This accolade reflects the deep commitment of our faculty, staff and students to excellence in teaching and learning. We are fortunate to prepare educators who are not only ready to meet the challenges of today’s classrooms but are leading the way in shaping the future of education.”
Here is the full list of MSU College of Education programs listed in the 2025-2026 U.S. News edition of “Best Graduate Schools:”
- Elementary Teacher Education – #1
- Secondary Teacher Education – #1
- Educational Administration – #1
- Higher Education Administration – #1
- Rehabilitation Counseling – #2
- Curriculum & Instruction – #3
- Education Psychology – #4
- Education Policy – #6 (tied)
- Special Education – #9
- Student Counseling – #11 (tied)
MSU earned its first-ever ranking in Student Counseling in 2025. Overall, MSU is tied for #22 in the nation. The overall rankings are assessed based on data such as degrees granted, student-to-faculty ratio and more.
Sustained excellence
Recognition in the annual Best Graduate School rankings is one of many ways Michigan State University and the College of Education continue to be honored for their leadership in the field. Earlier in 2025, four of the college’s online master’s program areas were ranked among the nation’s top ten in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Online Master’s in Education Programs.
In 2023, the National Academy of Kinesiology also celebrated MSU by listing its doctoral program in Kinesiology in the nation’s top 11, marking a 12-point increase from the previous rankings in 2020.
Worldwide, MSU is recognized as:
- #3 in the 2024 Global Ranking of Academic Subjects (Education) by ShanghaiRanking
- #18 in the 2025 World Rankings by Subject (Education & Training) by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS)