Michigan State University is ranked No. 1 in the world for education, according to one widely used international ranking of universities.
The Shanghai Global Ranking of Academic Subjects, released in Aug. 2019, is compiled by the ShanghaiRanking Consultancy, an independent organization focused on higher education research. MSU moved up to No. 1 from the No. 4 position.
More than 1,800 universities are ranked each year in the ShanghaiRanking based on indicators related to academic papers authored by the institution, including the total number, impact, number published in top journals and percentage that are internationally co-authored. Awards in the subject area are also considered.
MSU also ranks highly in other international rankings, joining a short list of U.S. institutions known around the globe for excellence in the education field. The 2020 Times Higher Education World University Rankings, just released in Nov. 2019, places MSU at No. 12 on the education list.
“These rankings are based largely on how frequently other scholars are seeing our faculty’s work in leading research journals, and using that work in their own publications,” said Robert Floden, dean of the MSU College of Education.
“The high rankings demonstrate the impact we are having on the growth of knowledge about how to address key problems in education.”
Recognizing excellence
According to the Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings by Subject, which last came out in April 2019, MSU ranks No. 18 for education. Those rankings are “based upon academic reputation, employer reputation and research impact.”
The MSU College of Education is perhaps best known for being ranked No. 1 in the United States for both elementary and secondary teacher education for 25 consecutive years by U.S. News & World Report. Currently, MSU also ranks No. 1 nationally for curriculum and instruction and for rehabilitation counseling.
Additionally, five other program areas are ranked in the nation’s top-12 through U.S. News.
Learn more about all of the graduate program rankings.