U.S. News Recognizes Grad School Programs
UNC’s School of Information and Library Science remains a top-three program nationally among schools, degree programs and specialty areas newly ranked by U.S. News & World Report’s 2018 edition of “America’s Best Graduate Schools.”
Ratings of the other programs ranked annually were little-changed.
U.S. News ranks business, education, law, nursing and medicine programs annually, while other disciplines and specialties in the sciences, social sciences, humanities and other areas, including selected health specialties, are ranked only periodically.
Following are the complete rankings and specialty listings that will be available in the “Best Graduate Schools 2018” guidebook and usnews.com/store in March and on newsstands in April.
School of Medicine
Overall:
- Primary care, second (second in 2016, 2015, 2014; first in 2013; second in 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008 and 2007)
- Research, 24th (tied for 22nd in 2016, 2015, 2014 and 2013; tied for 21st in 2012 and for 20th in 2011; also was 20th in 2010 and 2009)
Specialty Areas:
- Family medicine, sixth (second in 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012 and 2011; third in 2010)
- Rural medicine, tied for second (tied for second in 2016; fifth in 2015; tied for sixth in 2014; fifth in 2013; sixth in 2012 and 2011; seventh in 2010)
Library & Information Studies
Overall:
- Third (master’s degree) (second in 2013; tied for first in 2009 and 2006)
Specialty Areas:
- Digital librarianship, tied for first
- Health librarianship, tied for first
- Archives and preservation, tied for third
- Law librarianship, third
- Services for children and youth, third
- Information systems, seventh
- School library media, eighth
School of Nursing
Overall:
- 17th (master’s degree) (tied for 21st in 2016)
- Tied for 20th (doctor of nursing practice) (tied for 21st in 2016)
Specialty Areas:
- Nurse practitioner: Family, tied for 11th (tied for 10th in 2016)
Health Disciplines:
- Audiology, tied for fourth
- Occupational therapy, tied for ninth
- Speech-language pathology, tied for 12th
- Physical therapy, tied for 15th
Kenan-Flagler Business School
Overall:
- 18th (MBA programs) (tied for 16th in 2016; 18th in 2015; 19th in 2014; 20th in 2013; tied for 19th in 2012 and 2011; tied for 21st in 2010)
Specialty Areas:
- Executive MBA, 11th (10th in 2016 and 2015; tied for ninth in 2014 and 2013; 11th in 2012; 10th in 2011 and 2010)
- Accounting, tied for 9th (10th in 2016, 2015 and 2014; tied for ninth in 2013; 10th in 2012 and 2011; tied for 10th in 2010)
School of Law
- Tied for 39th (tied for 38th in 2016; tied for 34th in 2015; tied for 31st in 2014 and 2013; 38th in 2012; 30th in 2011; tied for 28th in 2010)
School of Education
- 31st (tied for 35th in 2016; 33rd in 2015; tied for 36th in 2014; 37th in 2013; tied for 34th in 2012; 29th in 2011; 30th in 2010)
Social Sciences & Humanities
- Economics, tied for 29th
- English, tied for 18th
- History, tied for 11th
- African-American history, tied for second (specialty)
- Political science, 11th
- Psychology, tied for 13th
- Sociology, tied for sixth
- Sociology of population, third (specialty)
The most recent rankings of program not ranked this year are:
- Eshelman School of Pharmacy, first in 2016 (second in 2008)
- School of Social Work, tied for seventh in 2016 (master’s program) (tied for 8th in 2008)
- School of Government, tied for 25th in 2016
- Gillings School of Global Public Health, tied for second in 2015 (master’s and doctoral programs), (tied for second in 2007)
U.S. News first ranked graduate programs in 1987 and has done so annually since 1990. Its annual business, education, engineering, law, nursing and medicine rankings are based on expert opinion on program excellence and statistical indicators that measure the quality of a school’s faculty, research and students, according to U.S. News officials. Its periodic rankings of additional disciplines and specialties in the sciences, social sciences, humanities, health and other areas are based solely on the ratings of peer academic experts, including deans, program directors and faculty.
The data come from statistical surveys sent to administrators at more than 1,970 graduate programs and from reputation surveys sent to more than 16,500 academics and professionals in the disciplines. Surveys for the 2018 rankings were conducted during the fall of 2016 and in early 2017.
