Michigan State University

Founded in 1855, Michigan State University resides just 3 miles from the state capitol, in East Lansing, Michigan.  MSU is the eighth-largest university in the United States, home to over 36,000 undergraduate students, 10,000 graduate students, 5,000 faculty and academic staff, and over 420,800 living alumni worldwide.  Recognized worldwide as a top research institution, MSU is considered to be one of America’s Public Ivy institutions.  More Rhodes Scholars have come from MSU than from any other institution in the Big Ten, and at least six MSU alumni have won the Pultizer Prize.

The Michigan State University campus sits on 5,200 acres, comprising 676 buildings that are home to over 200 programs of study by 17 degree-granting colleges.  It is home to the largest single-campus residence hall system in the country.  The student body at MSU represents all 83 counties from the state of Michigan, all 50 states from around the country, and about 130 countries worldwide.

As the recognized leader in study abroad programs in the country, Michigan State has over 250 study abroad programs on all seven continents and more than 60 countries.

Michigan State University is the country’s pioneer land grant institution established by the Morrill Act of 1862, and served as the prototype for land grant colleges that followed around the rest of the country. It is the first higher-learning institution in the United States to teach scientific agriculture.

There are 12 intercollegiate varsity athletic programs for men and 12 programs for women at Michigan State University, competing in the Big Ten Conference.  Sparty, the official mascot for the school, has been recognized as the national top collegiate mascot in 2004, 2005 and 2007.  MSU is home to the 2007 NCAA Men’s Hockey national champions, and the 2000 NCAA Men’s Basketball national champions.  The men’s basketball team has been to six Final Fours in the last 12 seasons.