History of Michigan State University in Timeline
Michigan State University (MSU) is a public, land-grant research university established in 1855 in East Lansing, Michigan. Initially founded as the Agricultural College of the State of Michigan, it holds the distinction of being the first agricultural college in the U.S. Following the Morrill Act of 1862, it became the nation's first land-grant college in 1863. MSU transitioned to coeducation in 1870. With a widespread presence throughout Michigan and a vast alumni network exceeding 634,000, MSU continues its legacy as a leading educational institution.
1910: Formal Establishment of College of Veterinary Medicine
Though Michigan State had offered courses in veterinary science since its founding, the College of Veterinary Medicine was not formally established as a four-year, degree-granting program until 1910.
1916: Engineering Building Fire and Start of Endowment
In 1916, the Engineering Building at MSU burned down, leading to the start of the university's endowment.
1925: Name Change to Michigan State College
In 1925, Michigan Agricultural College broadened its curriculum leading to a name change to Michigan State College of Agriculture and Applied Science (MSC), also known as "Michigan State".
1941: John A. Hannah Becomes President
In 1941, John A. Hannah, who was the Secretary of the State Board of Agriculture, became the president of Michigan State College.
1945: Post-War Expansion Begins
In 1945, after World War II, President Hannah initiated the largest expansion in the institution's history, aided by the G.I. Bill to support veterans' education.
1950: Enrollment Reaches 15,000
By 1950, enrollment at Michigan State College had increased to 15,000 students as part of Hannah's expansion strategy.
1950: Establishment of the College of Nursing
In 1950, the Michigan State University College of Nursing was founded.
1955: Designated as a University
In 1955, during its centennial year, Michigan State College was officially designated as a university by the State of Michigan and became Michigan State University of Agriculture and Applied Science.
1955: Establishment of College of Communication Arts and Sciences
In 1955, the College of Communication Arts and Sciences was established, being the first of its kind in the United States.
1956: Founding of the MSU Honors College
In 1956, the MSU Honors College was founded to provide individualized curricula to MSU's top undergraduate students.
1957: Co-founded Michigan State University-Oakland
In 1957, John A. Hannah co-founded Michigan State University–Oakland, which is now known as Oakland University, with Matilda Dodge Wilson.
1957: Affiliation with Oakland University
In 1957, MSU became affiliated with Oakland University, which was founded as Michigan State University-Oakland.
1964: Governing Body Name Change
In 1964, after the ratification of the Michigan Constitution, the governing body of the university changed its name from the State Board of Agriculture to the Michigan State University Board of Trustees.
1965: Start of Justin Morrill College
In 1965, Justin Morrill College, MSU's first residential college, was established with an interdisciplinary curriculum.
1965: Enrollment Increases to 38,000
In 1965, enrollment at Michigan State College reached 38,000 students, a significant increase from 15,000 in 1950, due to Hannah's expansion plans and dormitory construction strategy.
1967: Establishment of James Madison College
In 1967, James Madison College was established as a smaller residential college featuring multidisciplinary programs in the social sciences.
1970: Oakland University Gained Independence
In 1970, Oakland University gained institutional independence from MSU.
1979: Closure of Morrill College
In 1979, Michigan State University closed Justin Morrill College.
1991: Increase in Music Major Enrollment
Between 1991 and 2004, Michigan State University's music program experienced substantial growth, with music major enrollment increasing more than 97%.
1999: MSU Joins Michigan Life Sciences Corridor
In 1999, Michigan State University joined the Michigan Life Sciences Corridor. This consortium aims to develop biotechnology research within the State of Michigan.
2004: Increase in Music Major Enrollment
Between 1991 and 2004, Michigan State University's music program experienced substantial growth, with music major enrollment increasing more than 97%.
2004: Endowment Reaches $1.325 Billion
In 2004, MSU's endowment had risen to $1.325 billion.
2004: Discovery of Ge-60 Isotope and SOAR Telescope Groundbreaking
In 2004, scientists at the Cyclotron produced and observed a new isotope of germanium called Ge-60. Also in 2004, Michigan State broke ground on the Southern Astrophysical Research Telescope (SOAR) in Chile, in consortium with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the government of Brazil.
September 2005: Simon Calls for Global Leadership
In September 2005, President Lou Anna Simon announced plans for Michigan State to become the global model leader for land-grant institutions by 2012, including creating a new residential college and increasing NIH grants.
October 21, 2005: Founding of the Residential College in the Arts and Humanities (RCAH)
On October 21, 2005, Michigan State University founded the Residential College in the Arts and Humanities (RCAH). This new college provides around 600 undergraduates with an individualized curriculum in the liberal, visual, and performing arts.
2005: Endowment Ranking Among Big Ten Schools
At the close of fiscal year 2004–2005, MSU's endowment was sixth among the 11 Big Ten schools, valued at $1.325 billion.
2005: Communication Doctoral Program Ranked
In 2005, The communication doctoral program was ranked No. 4 in a separate category of communication in The Chronicle of Higher Education's 2005 Faculty Scholarly Productivity Index, published in 2007.
2005: New Spartan Statue Erected
In 2005, a new bronze statue of The Spartan was erected at the intersection of Chestnut and Kalamazoo, just south of the Red Cedar River, as part of the master plan. This replica replaced the original modernist terra cotta statue.
2006: Creation of the University Research Corridor
In 2006, Michigan State, the University of Michigan, and Wayne State University created the University Research Corridor. This alliance aims to strengthen Michigan's economy by speeding up technology transfer, making resources more accessible, and attracting new jobs.
2007: Nobel Prize Awarded to Albert Fert
In 2007, Albert Fert, an Adjunct professor at MSU, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics together with Peter Grünberg.
2007: Dubai Campus Attracts 100 Students
In 2007, MSU's education center in Dubai attracted 100 students in its first year, becoming the first American university with a presence in Dubai International Academic City.
2007: Application Pool Increase
In 2007, The Class of 2007 received 24,436 applications, doubling the applicant pool in recent decades.
2007: Media and Information Studies Doctoral Program Ranked
In 2007, the College of Communication Arts and Sciences' Media and Information Studies doctoral program was ranked No. 2 by The Chronicle of Higher Education in the category of mass communication.
2007: Establishment of the MSU College of Music
In early 2007, the growth of MSU's music program led the university board of trustees to establish it as its own college unit: The MSU College of Music.
2008: Expansion of College of Osteopathic Medicine Approved
In 2008, the Michigan State University Board of Trustees approved a resolution endorsing the expansion of the College of Osteopathic Medicine to two sites in southeast Michigan.
2010: MSU Closes Dubai Program and Campus
In 2010, MSU closed its program and campus in Dubai after being unable to achieve the 100–150 new students per year needed for the program to be viable.
2010: Completion of the Secchia Center
In the Fall of 2010, the new Secchia Center was completed. This expansion into the Grand Rapids area is expected to fuel the growing medical industry in that region.
2011: Added Master's Program in Public Health in Dubai
In 2011, MSU's campus at Dubai Knowledge Village added a master's program in Public Health.
2011: Veterinary College Ranked No. 9 in the Nation
In 2011, the Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine was ranked No. 9 in the nation.
2012: Target Date for Global Leadership
By 2012, President Lou Anna Simon called for Michigan State to become the global model leader for land-grant institutions.
2012: Eli Broad Graduate School of Management Ranking
In 2012, Businessweek magazine ranked the Eli Broad Graduate School of Management 35th in the nation and 14th among public institutions.
2012: Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum Opens
In 2012, the Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum, designed by Zaha Hadid, opened as MSU's primary art gallery, featuring art from MSU's permanent collection as well as from graduate students on campus.
2014: Construction begins on Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB)
In 2014, construction began on the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) at Michigan State University. This $730 million facility, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, aimed to attract top researchers to conduct experiments in nuclear science, astrophysics, and isotope applications.
2016: College of Osteopathic Medicine and Human Medicine Rankings
According to U.S. News & World Report's 2016 rankings, the College of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O. degree) ranked tied for 12th among U.S. medical schools for primary care, and the College of Human Medicine (MD degree) was ranked 70th among the U.S. medical schools for primary care.
2016: College of Education Programs Ranked
In 2016, U.S. News & World Report ranked several of the College of Education's graduate programs in the top five nationally.
2017: Solar Project Construction Begins
In early 2017, construction began on a $22.5 million solar project across five parking lots on the MSU campus, designed to deliver a peak power of 10.5 Megawatts.
October 2018: Vote to Fully Integrate College of Law
In October 2018, MSU's board of trustees voted to fully integrate the College of Law into the university, converting it from a private to a public law school.
2018: Accounting Program Rankings
According to the 2018 Public Accounting Report's Annual Survey of Accounting Professors, the Eli Broad College of Business undergraduate accounting program is ranked 22nd, the master's accounting program is ranked 15th, and the doctoral program is ranked 18th.
2018: Solar Project Recognized with Award
In 2018, the MSU solar carport project was recognized at the Smart Energy Decisions Innovation Summit, earning the Onsite Renewable Energy award for “The Largest Carport Solar Array in North America”.
2019: Eli Broad College of Business Ranking
In 2019, the Eli Broad College of Business was ranked No. 39th nationally by Bloomberg Businessweek, with ninety-two percent of the school's graduates receiving job offers.
August 2020: Full Integration of College of Law into MSU
By August 2020, the College of Law had become fully integrated into Michigan State University.
2020: Sponsors National Merit Scholarship Program
In 2020, Michigan State is one of the seven college-sponsors of the National Merit Scholarship Program in the state. The university sponsored 30 Merit Scholarship awards.
2020: "2020 Vision" Master Plan
In 2020, The "2020 Vision" Master Plan proposed replacing parking lots with parking ramps and green space. These plans were projected to take many years to reach fruition.
2020: Dean Appointed to Statewide Task Force
In 2020, the dean of the College of Nursing, Randolph Rasch, was appointed to a statewide task force by the governor to help establish an implicit bias training initiative for all health care workers in the state.
2020: U.S. News & World Report Graduate Program Rankings
In its 2020 edition, U.S. News & World Report ranked several MSU graduate programs number one in the country, including elementary and secondary teacher education, African history, curriculum and instruction, industrial and organizational psychology, nuclear physics, rehabilitation counseling, and supply chain management/logistics.
June 30, 2021: MSU's Endowment Market Value
As of June 30, 2021, Michigan State University's endowment had a market value of $4.4 billion.
2021: Test-Optional Admissions Begin
In fall 2021, the university started test-optional admissions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2021: National Merit Scholars Enrolled
In the 2020–2021 academic year, 38 first-year students were National Merit Scholars.
2022: Partnership with Apple
In 2022, MSU began a partnership with Apple, creating the Apple Developer Academy.
2022: Completion of Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB)
In 2022, construction was completed on the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) at Michigan State University. This $730 million facility, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, has a goal to attract top researchers from around the world to conduct experiments in basic nuclear science, astrophysics, and applications of isotopes to other fields.
2022: U.S. News & World Report Ranking
In 2022, the annual ranking of U.S. News & World Report categorized MSU as "more selective."
2022: Academic Ranking of World Universities
Michigan State ranks 151st in the world for 2022, according to the Academic Ranking of World Universities.
June 13, 2023: MSU Purchases Stake in Detroit's Fisher Building
On June 13, 2023, MSU purchased a majority stake in Detroit's iconic Fisher Building.
2023: College of Law Admissions Statistics
For Fall 2023, the Michigan State University College of Law received 1,458 applications and accepted 574 (39.37%). Of those accepted, 203 enrolled, a yield rate of 35.75%. The College of Law had a middle-50% LSAT range of 157-161 for the 2023 first year class.
2023: Freshmen SAT and ACT Scores
In 2023, 51% of enrolled freshmen submitted SAT scores with a middle 50 percent Composite scores of 1110–1320, and 14% submitted ACT scores with a middle 50 percent Composite score between 24 and 30.
2024: Freshmen Applications and Acceptance Rate
For freshmen enrolled fall 2024, Michigan State received 62,138 applications and accepted 52,690 (84.8%).
2024: Value of Olds' Gift in 2024 Dollars
In 1916, Automobile magnate Ransom E. Olds helped the program stay afloat with a gift of $100,000, equivalent to $2.89 Million in 2024.
2024: Washington Monthly National Ranking
Washington Monthly ranks MSU 43rd nationally for 2024.
2025: Test-Optional Admissions Extended
In fall 2025, the university has extended test-optional admissions.
2025: Times Higher Education World University Rankings
In its 2025 rankings, Times Higher Education World University Rankings ranked MSU 122nd in the world.
Mentioned in this timeline
The United States of America is a federal republic of...
An apple is a widely cultivated round edible fruit from...
World War II - was a global conflict between the...
Dubai is the most populous city in the United Arab...
News encompasses current events disseminated through various media including oral...
North Carolina located in the Southeastern United States is the...
Trending
40 minutes ago Katie Ledecky Dominates Tyr Pro Series with Historic Performance; Eyes Future Success.
40 minutes ago Eddie Vedder Achieves Solo Success and Headlines Ohana Festival 2025 with Earthlings.
40 minutes ago Brian Hernandez Jr. aims for second Derby-Oaks double at 2025 Kentucky Derby.
40 minutes ago Phillies Secure Win Over Diamondbacks, Schwarber Slugs, Castillo Returns to Mound.
41 minutes ago Xavier Legette attends Kentucky Derby before joining Panthers; Social media buzz.
2 hours ago Mike Tirico Abruptly Leaves Kentucky Derby Broadcast Due to Illness: Updates and Coverage
Popular
Ronald Reagan the th U S President - was a...
Pope Francis is the current head of the Catholic Church...
Michael Jordan also known as MJ is an American businessman...
Cristiano Ronaldo often nicknamed CR is a highly decorated Portuguese...
LeBron James nicknamed King James is a professional basketball player...
Bill Gates is an American businessman and philanthropist most famous...