Graduate Programs Earn Top 10 Rankings

Posted on April 11, 2024

UNC’s Eshelman School of Pharmacy has been ranked the top pharmacy school in the nation for the third consecutive time, joining 19 other Carolina graduate programs ranked in the Top 10 nationwide, according to the recent Best Graduate Schools List compiled by U.S. News & World Report.

The Gillings School of Global Public Health ranked second out of 213 U.S. public health schools and programs. It was the school’s seventh consecutive time being ranked No. 2, and it has been named among the top schools since the magazine initially ranked public health schools in 1987. U.S. News & World Report doesn’t rank all graduate programs each year.

“Carolina’s graduate programs are exceptional and it’s no surprise that our schools are ranked so highly among peer institutions by U.S. News and World Report, as well as other measures,” Interim Chancellor Lee Roberts said in a statement.

Twenty-three programs increased their rankings, including the School of Nursing, the School of Education, Kenan-Flagler Business School, UNC School of Law and multiple programs in the Gillings School of Global Public Health.

Provost Chris Clemens said the rankings reflect the hard work of the UNC faculty, staff and students. “Even more than in the rankings, the proof of their work is the quality of our students and our passionate alumni who lead in so many fields,” he said.

The School of Social Work moved up three spots in the rankings to tie for fourth overall and is also tied for second among public universities.

UNC School of Law reached its highest overall ranking, No. 20 out of 196 law schools. The law school is ranked seventh among all public law schools.

Beth Mayer-Davis, dean of The Graduate School and the Cary C. Boshamer Distinguished Professor of nutrition and medicine, told the Review that graduate and professional students drive much of the innovation that is reflected in the top rankings.

“The research, teaching, and substantial service to our communities that happens from the No. 1 ranked Eshelman School of Pharmacy, the top ranked Gillings School of Global Public Health and the No. 4 ranked School of Social Work is truly amazing and inspiring every day — and this inspiration is the context in which our students can thrive,” she wrote in an email.

For a complete list of UNC rankings, visit the U.S. News & World Report website.

— Laurie D. Willis ’86