Michigan State University College of Natural Science

What Michigan State University College of Natural Science does

The Michigan State University College of Natural Science is a constituent academic college of Michigan State University, a public land-grant research university founded in 1855 and headquartered at 288 Farm Lane, East Lansing, Michigan. The college delivers undergraduate and graduate education across biological, physical, and mathematical sciences, enrolling 1,200+ graduate students alongside a larger undergraduate cohort, and operates 40+ research centers and facilities. Core activity spans degree programs, faculty-led research supported by $77M in annual grants from NSF, NIH, DOE, and USDA, and stewardship of 380+ active endowments funding scholarships, faculty positions, and research programs. The college is led by Dean Eric L. Hegg and has been recognized with national top rankings in Nuclear Physics, Education and Educational Research, Data Science, and Plant and Animal Science.

The college's revenue model rests on three streams: tuition and fees (recurring) charged by MSU for enrollment in NatSci programs, federal and state research grants and contracts (project-funded) supporting faculty research, and private donations and endowments (charitable) from alumni, corporations, and foundations. The college does not operate a commercial product or software platform; its deliverables are academic degrees, research output, student services, and technology-transfer outcomes via the MSU Research Foundation partnership. Customer segments are primarily prospective and enrolled undergraduate and graduate students, with secondary engagement from industry partners seeking research collaboration, technology licensing, and access to scientific talent.

Recent strategic activity centers on infrastructure expansion and organizational buildout, including DOE approval of a $485M high transmission beam line at the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams, board-approved construction of a new Plant and Environmental Sciences Building, creation of a Department of Microbiology, Genetics and Immunology, renovation of the Mass Spectrometry and Metabolomics Core, and an active 2024-2025 cycle of senior faculty and institute director appointments. Marketing and distribution occur through the central MSU admissions office, the college's digital channels (website and Spartan Science Spotlight newsletter), alumni engagement events such as Classes Without Quizzes, and earned media coverage of faculty research.

Name

Michigan State University College of Natural Science

Legal name

Michigan State University College of Natural Science

Website

https://natsci.msu.edu

Company type

Public

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Michigan State University College of Natural Science is a public academic college delivering undergraduate and graduate education in biological, physical, and mathematical sciences to over 1,200 graduate students, supported by $77M in annual research grants and 40+ research centers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Research Universities with Comprehensive Graduate & Professional Schools (EDAHAAAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Research Universities with National Laboratories/Big Science Facilities (EDAHAAAJ), STEM Research & Inquiry Programs (Research Mentorship, Science Fair Prep) (EDAMABAC), Research & Lab-Based Short-Term Programs (Undergraduate/Graduate) (EDAIAIAF)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• Natural science research
• Undergraduate degree programs
• Graduate science education
• STEM academic programs

Headquarters

HQ city

East Lansing

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Revenue from undergraduate and graduate student tuition and mandatory fees assessed by Michigan State University for enrollment in College of Natural Science programs.
2. Research Grants and Contracts: Federal and state research funding from agencies including NSF, NIH, DOE, and USDA supporting faculty research activities across all departments.
3. Private Donations and Endowments: Philanthropic contributions from alumni, corporations, and foundations supporting scholarships, faculty positions, and research programs. The college has 380+ active endowments.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The College of Natural Science offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs in biological, physical, and mathematical sciences, supporting over 1,200 graduate students and a large undergraduate cohort. It operates 40+ research centers and facilities that conduct federally and privately funded scientific research ($77M in annual research grants), and provides academic advising, student support services, and faculty-led research mentorship across multiple science disciplines.

Product overview

The Michigan State University College of Natural Science is an academic college offering undergraduate and graduate educational programs in biological, physical, and mathematical sciences. The college does not operate a commercial product or software platform; its offerings consist of academic degree programs, research activities, student services, and faculty resources. Key program areas include undergraduate and graduate degrees across multiple science disciplines, research centers and facilities, and academic support services such as advising, career services, and student success resources.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Undergraduate Degree Programs Undergraduate degree programs in biological, physical, and mathematical sciences providing foundational education, undergraduate research opportunities, scholarships, and career preparation in STEM fields.
• Graduate Degree Programs Master's and PhD programs across biological, physical, and mathematical sciences with faculty mentorship, research funding, and access to world-class research facilities for over 1,200 graduate students.
• Research Collaboration and Technology Transfer Services Research collaboration, technology licensing, and tech-transfer services offered to industry partners and external organizations, supported by $77M in annual research grants and the MSU Research Foundation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Graduates become leaders in academia, industry, and research institutions worldwide

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• MSU Research FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe MSU Research Foundation supports the commercialization of university research and technology transfer, helping turn Spartan discoveries into real-world impact through grant funding and commercialization support for faculty innovations.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Penn State Eberly College of Science: Penn State's dedicated science college offering parallel undergraduate and graduate programs in biological, physical, and mathematical sciences with comparable size and research output.
• University of Michigan College of Literature, Science, and the Arts: Direct Big Ten peer offering comprehensive undergraduate and graduate programs across natural sciences, mathematics, and physics with similar research-intensive mission and overlapping faculty competition.
• University of Minnesota College of Science and Engineering: Midwest public research university college with parallel natural science and engineering programs, competing for regional STEM talent and federal research funding.
• Ohio State University College of Arts and Sciences: Major public research university college with comprehensive natural science departments, similar graduate student populations, and direct competition for federal research grants.
• University of Wisconsin-Madison College of Letters & Science: Another large public Big Ten college covering biological, physical, and mathematical sciences with comparable research funding scale and National Lab adjacencies.
• Purdue University College of Science: Public Big Ten science college with comparable biological, physical, and mathematical sciences programs and a similar land-grant research university identity.
• University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign College of Liberal Arts & Sciences: Public Big Ten LAS college with strong STEM emphasis, particularly in physics and mathematics, competing for the same federal research funding and STEM talent pool.

Broad incumbents

• University of California, Berkeley College of Letters and Science: Top-tier public research university college with comprehensive natural science programs and large federal research funding, comparable in scale and research output to MSU's NatSci.
• Indiana University College of Arts and Sciences: Public Big Ten academic college covering natural sciences with a broader arts-and-sciences scope, comparably sized and serving overlapping Midwest student populations.
• Michigan State University (Parent Institution): The parent public research university that encompasses the College of Natural Science alongside other colleges; provides governance, shared facilities, and is the overarching brand under which the college operates.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/msucollegeofnatsci

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Michigan State University College of Natural Science