Michigan State University

What Michigan State University does

Michigan State University is a public, land-grant research university chartered in 1855 and located on a 5,200-acre campus in East Lansing, Michigan. As of the most recent reporting, it serves 51,838 students (41,415 undergraduates and 10,423 graduate and professional students) drawn from all 50 U.S. states and 133 countries, supported by 5,696 faculty and academic staff and 12,000+ total faculty, academic, and support staff. MSU delivers more than 400 academic programs across 16 degree-granting colleges, with nationally ranked programs in elementary/secondary education (31 consecutive years at #1), veterinary medicine, supply chain management, and communications.

The university operates as a multi-vertical research and education platform anchored by the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB), advanced agricultural research through the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and MSU AgBioResearch, and health sciences research spanning the Colleges of Human Medicine, Osteopathic Medicine, Nursing, and Veterinary Medicine. Core technology infrastructure includes FRIB's rare isotope research capabilities, 3,300+ faculty inventions, the breakthrough cisplatin chemotherapy drug, and applied AI/computer-vision systems such as the BioCoach exercise coaching platform developed with Drexel University. The university also operates WKAR public broadcasting, the Spartan Ventures athletic fundraising nonprofit, and joint Detroit initiatives including the Apple Developer Academy and Apple Manufacturing Academy.

MSU's revenue model is diversified across tuition and fees (51,838+ students across in-state, out-of-state, and international tiers), $992M in 2025 research expenditures funded primarily by federal grants (NIH, NSF, DOE, USDA) and state appropriations, athletic revenue (Big Ten media rights, ticket sales, corporate sponsorships including a 10-year MSUFCU jersey patch deal), philanthropic giving (highlighted by a $401M commitment from Greg and Dawn Williams), and healthcare services delivered through faculty practices. Distribution channels span on-campus delivery, online/distance learning, MSU Extension offices in all 83 Michigan counties, education abroad programs in 60+ countries, and a statewide clinical footprint. As a state-chartered constitutional entity owned by the State of Michigan and governed by an elected Board of Trustees, MSU is not a commercially investable enterprise, but functions as a large-scale public institution with material economic impact of $9.7B statewide.

Name

Michigan State University

Legal name

Michigan State University

Website

https://msu.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1855

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Michigan State University is a public land-grant research university in East Lansing, Michigan, serving 51,838 students across 400+ programs and generating $992M in annual research expenditures. It operates 16 colleges, the FRIB nuclear research facility, MSU Extension in all 83 Michigan counties, and a Big Ten athletics program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Higher Education and Research University

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)

akta.pro primary industry

Land-Grant Public Research Universities (EDAHAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Flagship Public Research Universities (R1/R2) (EDAHAAAA), Public Research Universities with National Laboratories/Big Science Facilities (EDAHAAAJ), Public Research Universities with Comprehensive Graduate & Professional Schools (EDAHAAAF)

Keywords

• Public higher education
• Land-grant research university
• Undergraduate and graduate programs
• Academic research services
• Extension and outreach services

Headquarters

HQ city

East Lansing

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Revenue from undergraduate and graduate tuition, mandatory fees, and program-specific charges for over 51,000 students across 400+ academic programs
2. Federal and State Research Funding: Competitive grants from federal agencies (NIH, NSF, DOE, USDA) and state appropriations supporting $992M in annual research expenditures
3. Athletic Revenue: Conference distributions, ticket sales, media rights, corporate sponsorships including jersey patch partnerships and stadium naming/commercial rights
4. Philanthropic Giving: Donations and gifts including the $401 million commitment from Greg and Dawn Williams supporting Spartan Ventures nonprofit for NIL and athletic fundraising
5. Healthcare Services: MSU Health Care provides clinical services through College of Human Medicine, Osteopathic Medicine, and Nursing faculty practices

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Michigan State University is a public land-grant research university that delivers undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree programs across more than 400 areas of study to over 51,800 students. It conducts $992 million in annual research expenditures through facilities such as the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB), provides clinical healthcare through MSU Health Care, fields 23 Big Ten varsity athletic programs, and operates a statewide MSU Extension service reaching all 83 Michigan counties.

Product overview

Michigan State University is an educational institution offering academic programs and research services rather than commercial products. The university's primary offerings include undergraduate and graduate education across more than 400 programs, research capabilities through facilities like the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB), and community outreach through MSU Extension. No distinct commercial product portfolio was identified in the provided source data.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Undergraduate Degree Programs More than 400 undergraduate degree programs offered on the East Lansing campus across 16 degree-granting colleges for in-state, out-of-state, and international students. Tuition priced by residency with merit and need-based aid, leading to bachelor's degrees.
• Graduate and Professional Degree Programs Master's, doctoral, and professional graduate programs (including medicine, law, and veterinary medicine) with college-specific tuition pricing; ranked #1 in elementary and secondary education for 31 consecutive years.
• Online and Distance Learning Programs Self-serve/online degree and certificate programs delivered by the MSU Online Programs division to students across geographies, with the same MSU credentials.
• Education Abroad Programs More than 300 study-abroad programs in 60+ countries delivered through MSU partnerships with international institutions, available to MSU undergraduate and graduate students.
• MSU Extension Outreach Services County-based agricultural extension, community health, youth development, and economic development programming delivered in all 83 Michigan counties, including plant and insect diagnostic labs.
• MSU Health Care Clinical Services Patient-facing clinical services delivered by faculty physicians and nurses from the Colleges of Human Medicine, Osteopathic Medicine, and Nursing across Michigan.
• Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) Research Services Sponsored research services, user-facility access, and scientific collaboration for nuclear physics research using rare isotopes, available to global scientists and students.
• MSU Spartans Intercollegiate Athletics 23 varsity sports programs (11 men's, 12 women's) competing in the Big Ten Conference, with associated ticketing, licensed merchandise, and corporate sponsorship inventory.
• Detroit Apple Developer Academy Free app design and creation training program in Detroit, operated jointly with Apple and the Gilbert Family Foundation; has trained more than 1,800 students since 2021.
• Apple Manufacturing Academy AI Training AI training and tooling program for U.S. small and medium-sized manufacturers delivered in partnership with Apple, including operational support for medical imaging and similar fields.
• Rx Kids Cash Transfer Program Cohort-based maternal health cash transfer intervention delivering $1,500 to expectant mothers and $500 monthly during the child's first year; operated by MSU with no-spending-restriction design and demonstrated impact on preterm and low birth weight rates.
• WKAR Public Broadcasting Public radio and television broadcasting operated as a wholly-owned subsidiary of MSU, serving mid-Michigan audiences.
• Spartan Ventures Athletic Fundraising Wholly-owned nonprofit organization supporting MSU athletic fundraising and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) opportunities, operating within the broader 'FOR SPARTA' $1B athletics initiative.

Quantifiable outcome

• 92% undergraduate placement rate within six months of graduation
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of TennesseecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 June 2026Five-year research collaboration developing turfgrass for 2026 FIFA World Cup across 16 stadiums in U.S., Canada, and Mexico. MSU turfgrass scientists worked on portable grass systems, seed blends, and testing equipment for consistent playing surfaces.
• MSU Federal Credit Union (MSUFCU)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 15 June 202610-year jersey patch partnership covering all 23 Spartan athletic programs. MSUFCU logo on game jerseys, practice attire, and football helmets beginning 2026-27. First jersey patch agreement for any Big Ten institution.
• NoMIS Power CorporationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 May 2026Industry partner in $2.5 million ARPA-E DC-GRIDS project led by MSU to develop high-voltage SiC-based power electronics for HVDC converters. NoMIS leads SiC device-level packaging and supplies 3.3 kV SiC MOSFETs.
• TransCode TherapeuticsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 April 2026Sponsored research agreement with MSU to accelerate development of RNA-based cancer therapeutics. Evaluation of lead therapeutic TTX-MC138 in combination with Seviprotimut-L. Dr. Anna Moore appointed as Chair of Scientific Advisory Board.
• Henry Ford HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023$19 million NIH grant for maternal health research partnership. Henry Ford Health + MSU Health Sciences studying ways to reduce pregnancy complications. Jennifer Johnson and Cristian Meghea as principal investigators.
• Corewell HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Co-partner with Henry Ford Health and MSU in maternal health research initiative targeting pregnancy complication reduction in Michigan.
• ApplecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2021Partnership through Apple Developer Academy in Detroit, offering free programs in app design and creation. The academy, only one of its kind in North America, has trained over 1,800 students since 2021. Apple and Michigan State also collaborate on Apple Manufacturing Academy providing AI training for U.S. manufacturers.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• University of Michigan: In-state Big Ten peer and fellow top-tier public research university with similar scale (~50,000 students) and R1 research profile; comparable in admissions competition, federal research funding, and athletic programs, and competes directly with MSU for Michigan talent and donor base.
• Ohio State University: Big Ten peer public research university with comparable enrollment scale, R1 research classification, and athletic prominence; competes directly with MSU for recruits, faculty, and conference positioning, and shares similar land-grant-adjacent mission.
• Penn State University: Big Ten peer land-grant public research university with similar statewide extension footprint and large undergraduate enrollment; directly comparable in land-grant mission, agricultural research, and Big Ten athletics competition.
• University of Wisconsin-Madison: Big Ten peer public research university with strong R1 research profile, similar federal research funding scale, and competitive Big Ten athletics; directly comparable on graduate programs, public mission, and Big Ten brand dynamics.
• Purdue University: Big Ten peer land-grant public research university with strong STEM/engineering focus; comparable in scale, land-grant mission, agricultural research portfolio, and engineering/applied sciences emphasis that overlaps MSU's engineering college.
• University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign: Big Ten peer public R1 research university with comparable research expenditure scale and STEM strengths; directly comparable on engineering, agricultural research, and graduate program breadth against MSU.
• Indiana University: Big Ten peer public research university with comparable enrollment scale and broad academic portfolio; directly comparable in conference athletics competition and Big Ten brand positioning.
• University of Minnesota Twin Cities: Big Ten peer public land-grant research university with comparable extension footprint, agricultural research, and R1 classification; directly comparable on land-grant mission delivery and statewide community engagement.
• University of Iowa: Big Ten peer public research university with comparable enrollment scale and R1 research classification; directly comparable in Big Ten athletics, public research mission, and similar Midwest talent competition.
• Northwestern University: Big Ten peer research university (private, in contrast to MSU) with top-tier research rankings and Big Ten athletics competition; comparable on research excellence and Big Ten positioning, though differentiated by private funding model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/michiganstateu
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCwFnbW4MKB9EIrnd04ybQsQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/spartans.msu
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/michigan-state-university
• Instagraminstagram.com/michiganstateu
• TikToktiktok.com/@michiganstateu

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds14 records

Investors10 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Michigan State University