Michigan State jumps ahead in annual college ranking

Lansing State Journal
Updated ·2 min read

EAST LANSING — Michigan State University moved up 17 spots and received its best overall ranking yet from the annual U.S. News & World Report’s 2024 edition of Best Colleges.

The school tied with several others, including Brandeis University in Massachusetts and Santa Clara University in California, at No. 60, according to the annual ranking released Monday.

University officials said it was the greatest one-year improvement for the campus.

They gave credit in MSU Today, an online campus publication, to U.S. News & World Report’s new methodology. They said the ranking agency dropped several metrics, like alumni giving and undergraduate class size, for greater emphasis on student outcomes including first-generation student graduation rates.

MSU also tied for No. 28 in the Top Public Schools category.

“Student success is our highest priority, as a college degree is the best route to individual opportunity,” Interim President Teresa Woodruff said. “MSU continues to present highly ranked undergraduate and graduate programs that support student outcomes and provide personalized educational experiences.”

U.S. News & World Report has been touting “the most significant methodological change in the rankings’ history.”

Dealing with years of scrutiny, U.S. News said its latest rankings would be more equitable. Greater emphasis would be placed on social mobility and outcomes for graduating college students − aligning the magazine with the practices of other rankings lists.

A good chunk of public state schools saw their numbers rise — some incrementally and others by a lot. Texas A&M University moved up 20 spots. Rutgers University in New Jersey got a boost, too. So did many of California's public colleges.

MSU’s undergraduate supply chain management program within the Broad College of Business achieved its No. 1 ranking for the 13th consecutive year, according to MSU Today.

“Reaching 13 years as the No. 1 undergraduate program in supply chain management is an honor and something that we’re extremely proud of,” Judith Whipple, interim dean of the Broad College, said.

Other MSU undergraduate programs ranked as follows.

  • No. 1: Supply chain management

  • No. 3: Production/operations

  • No. 10: Management

Among research universities, MSU ranked No. 36 for best colleges for veterans, which was up from No. 46, and No. 38 for most innovative schools, up from No. 41 last year, MSU officials said.

MSU officials have touted a record preliminary fall enrollment of more than 51,000 students, including 40,400 undergraduate students. The tally reflects the number of students enrolled as of Sept. 6. Final enrollment numbers will not be available until late September after the tuition refund deadline.

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Michigan State climbs 17 spots in annual U.S. News & World Report ranking