College of Social Science at Michigan State University

What College of Social Science at Michigan State University does

The College of Social Science at Michigan State University is a constituent college of Michigan State University, a public research university established in 1855 and headquartered in East Lansing, Michigan. The college delivers undergraduate and graduate instruction across 14 degree programs spanning social science disciplines including Anthropology, Chicano/Latino Studies, Criminal Justice, Economics, Environmental Science & Policy, Geography, History, Human Development & Family Studies, Human Resources & Labor Relations, Political Science, Psychology, Social Work, Sociology, and the Center for Integrative Studies. It serves approximately 6,880 students and employs 390+ faculty members, supported by an 78-person administrative staff at Berkey Hall.

The college's product portfolio extends beyond degree programs into a structured ecosystem of student-success and leadership offerings. Core programs include the Women's Leadership Institute (a year-long cohort leadership development program with corporate executive board representation), the Social Science Scholars Program (an honors program founded in 2013), the Office of Student Success (providing PAL peer tutoring, Economics Help Rooms, and first-year seminars such as SSC 290), and the Office of Institutional Access (OIA) which administers multiple Dean's Access programs including the Research Associates Postdoc Program, Small Grants Program, Senior Scholars Program, and Fellows Program. Experiential learning is delivered through study abroad programs in Africa (Ghana, Zambia, Tanzania), study away domestic programs, and internship pathways. Research activity is organized around five thematic areas: Coastlines and People, Consortium for Sexual and Gender Minority Health, Future of Work initiative, MSU Youth Equity Project, and Minority Politics Project, though College-level financial support for these clusters concluded at the end of Academic Year 2024-2025.

The revenue model combines tuition and fees from undergraduate and graduate enrollment (subscription/recurring), philanthropy and donations through the MSU 'Uncommon Will, Far Better World' campaign (notably supporting the Social Science Scholars Program and the Gerson Mental Health Initiative), and external research grants. As a constituent of a public state university, the college is funded through state appropriations, tuition, grants, and private donations, with no private equity or venture capital ownership. Go-to-market motion is community-led and event-driven, relying on university recruitment through alumni networks and outreach to prospective students. Marketing is distributed across the official website, social platforms (Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube), email newsletters, events such as the Blanchard Public Service Forum, and alumni programs.

Name

College of Social Science at Michigan State University

Legal name

College of Social Science at Michigan State University

Website

https://socialscience.msu.edu

Company type

Public

Founded year

1855

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The College of Social Science at Michigan State University is a public academic college delivering 14 degree programs across social science disciplines, serving 6,880+ students and 390+ faculty through degree programs, honors cohorts, and leadership institutes in East Lansing, Michigan.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Social Sciences & Public Policy Research Universities (EDAHABAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Public Research Universities with Multi-Campus Systems (EDAHAAAI)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• Social science degrees
• Undergraduate programs
• Graduate research programs
• Academic student support

Headquarters

HQ city

East Lansing

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Revenue generated from undergraduate and graduate student tuition and fees for degree programs in social science disciplines.
2. Philanthropy and Donations: Donations and gifts from alumni and supporters through the MSU campaign 'Uncommon Will, Far Better World' supporting student access, research, and leadership programs.
3. Research Grants and Funding: External research funding from grants supporting thematic research areas including Coastlines and People, Consortium for Sexual and Gender Minority Health, Future of Work initiative, MSU Youth Equity Project, and Minority Politics Project.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The College of Social Science at Michigan State University delivers undergraduate and graduate degree programs across 14 social science disciplines (Anthropology, Criminal Justice, Economics, History, Political Science, Psychology, Social Work, Sociology, and others). It complements these academic programs with student support services such as the Women's Leadership Institute, the Social Science Scholars honors program, the Office of Student Success (tutoring, Help Rooms, First Year Seminar), and the Office of Institutional Access, serving approximately 6,880 students.

Product overview

The College of Social Science at Michigan State University offers a portfolio of academic programs and student support services. Core offerings include 14 degree programs across disciplines (Anthropology, Chicano/Latino Studies, Criminal Justice, Economics, Geography, History, Human Development & Family Studies, Human Resources & Labor Relations, Political Science, Psychology, Social Work, Sociology, and others), the Women's Leadership Institute for leadership development, the Social Science Scholars honors program, and the Office of Student Success providing tutoring and academic support. The college serves approximately 6,880 students and 390+ faculty members.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Women's Leadership Institute (WLI): An institute designed to support and empower women students with leadership aspirations, igniting women leaders with a vision of advancing leadership equity for women globally through thought leadership, creating a sustainable community, and providing high quality programming.
• Social Science Scholars Program
• Office of Institutional Access (OIA)
• Office of Student Success

Products and services

• Women's Leadership Institute (WLI)
• Social Science Scholars Program
• Office of Student Success
• First Year Seminar (SSC 290)
• Office of Institutional Access (OIA)

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 100 students have graduated from the Social Science Scholars Program
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Tanzania Partnership Program (TPP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term collaboration among MSU, local organizations, and international organizations designed to improve local livelihoods and promote community resiliency in Tanzania. Students participate in the program for experiential learning and cultural exchange.
• Enslaved.orgcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative project housed at MSU involving scholars at University of Maryland and Harvard University. The project documents people involved in and victimized by the slave trade, humanizing the study of slavery by centering individuals who were enslaved.
• Fledge OrganizationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Fledge organization in Lansing for the Daniella and Charlie Sunshine Garden community outreach program, transforming blighted property into a vibrant community garden.
• TechSmithminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner hosting WLI events including orientation sessions. Michelle Massey, VP Community Outreach and Customer Operations at TechSmith, serves on the WLI Executive Board.
• McDonald's CorporationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGloria Santona, Exec. VP and General Counsel of McDonald's Corp., serves on the WLI Executive Board providing corporate governance and leadership expertise.
• EconEdge, LLCminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAlejandra Loaiza Delgado, Managing Director of EconEdge LLC, serves on the WLI Executive Board providing economic expertise.
• Worth Workplace Training LLCminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnita Khushalani, Founder and Managing Director, serves on the WLI Executive Board providing workplace training expertise and mentoring.
• Stride Executive CoachingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerStacy Sollenberger, Founder & Executive Coach, serves on WLI Executive Board supporting leadership development.
• ITC Holdings Corp.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerChristine Mason Soneral, Senior VP and General Counsel, serves on WLI Executive Board. The Mason Soneral Faculty Fellow position was established in her honor.
• Sharing ConnexionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCherie Talbert, Executive Director, serves on WLI Executive Board providing community outreach expertise.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• University of Florida College of Liberal Arts and Sciences: Major public research university college offering comprehensive social science, humanities, and science programs. Comparable in enrollment scale and public research university structure.
• Penn State College of the Liberal Arts: Big Ten peer institution's primary liberal arts college encompassing social sciences, humanities, and arts. Comparable in mission, scale, and public research university structure.
• Indiana University College of Arts and Sciences: Big Ten peer's central college offering social science and humanities programs at a public research university. Comparable in structure and academic breadth.
• UC Berkeley College of Letters and Science: Elite public research university college offering social science and humanities programs. Comparable in academic rigor and disciplinary breadth, though operating in a different state funding environment.
• University of Michigan College of Literature, Science, and the Arts: Michigan's other flagship public university college offering undergraduate and graduate degrees across social sciences, humanities, and sciences. Directly comparable in scale, structure, and academic mission to MSU's College of Social Science.
• Ohio State University College of Arts and Sciences: Another Big Ten public research university with a large college offering social science, humanities, and science degree programs. Comparable in enrollment scale, faculty size, and Big Ten peer positioning.
• UCLA College of Letters and Science: Top-ranked public research university college offering comprehensive social science and humanities programs. Comparable in scale and academic mission, though serving a larger and more diverse student body.
• University of Illinois College of Liberal Arts and Sciences: Big Ten public research university college offering comparable social science and humanities programs. Direct peer in academic mission and structure.
• University of Minnesota College of Liberal Arts: Big Ten public research university college offering comparable social science and humanities degree programs. Direct peer in academic scope and similar enrollment scale.
• University of Wisconsin-Madison College of Letters & Science: Big Ten peer institution offering a comprehensive liberal arts and social science college within a public research university. Directly comparable in size, disciplinary breadth, and research mission.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MSU_SocSci
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCx0LW1D_FHSYt4mZ-l56KFQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/MSUSocialScience
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/college-of-social-science-at-michigan-state-university
• Instagraminstagram.com/msu.socialscience

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 College of Social Science at Michigan State University