University of Georgia graduate programs remained among the best in the nation, according toU.S. News & World Report’s 2011 edition of America’s Best Graduate Schools. The School of Law tied for 28th and the College of Education tied for 39th.

In specialty rankings, College of Education graduate programs ranked among the top 14 in the nation in 8 of 10 possible categories. Six of those programs ranked among the top 8.

“The standard at the University of Georgia is excellence, and rankings such as these demonstrate that our graduate programs are among the best in the country,” said UGA President Michael F. Adams. “The credit for this recognition goes to the faculty, the deans and the staff, who devote their time and energy to developing top-quality academic programs for the students who choose UGA for graduate and professional education. The graduates of these programs will be successful in their careers, successful as citizens and the drivers of Georgia’s economic recovery.”

Maureen Grasso, dean of the UGA Graduate School, said, “These rankings are evidence of the quality of our graduate programs and the excellence of our faculty and students at the University of Georgia. We are proud of our outstanding graduate education programs, which have a critically important role in securing Georgia’s economic future and global competitiveness.”

The College of Education ranked 39th overall in a tie with William and Mary, but was ranked 27th among public universities in the nation. The college was ranked 4th among public universities in the South and had the fourth largest graduate enrollment in the nation with 2,413 students.

“To be recognized among the best education colleges in the country is a tribute to the hard work and excellence of our faculty, staff and students,” said Arthur M. (Andy) Horne, dean of the College of Education. “But ultimately, our most important commitment is to make a positive difference in the lives of children and families in Georgia and elsewhere by preparing world-class education and health professionals.”

Six of the College of Education’s specialty programs remain ranked in the top 10 and two more among the top 14 in the nation. Remarkably, UGA education graduate programs are ranked among the top 14 in the nation in 8 out of 10 possible categories. Below are the programs ranked with last year’s ranking in parentheses:

3rd Elementary Education (4)
3rd Secondary Education (4)
3rd Vocational Technical (1)
4th Counseling/Personnel Services (3)
6th Higher Education Administration (6)
8th Curriculum/Instruction (8)

13th Special Education (14)
14th Educational Psychology (16)

Health Programs
46th Speech-Language Pathology (ranked in 2008)

In addition to ranking 28th overall, the School of Law ranked among the top 10 public universities and tied for second among the public universities in the Southeast (tied with William and Mary and the University of North Carolina).

“Rankings are an imperfect indicator of success in legal education, but I am pleased that our school is earning increased national recognition for its excellence,” said Rebecca H. White, dean of the School of Law. “This past year, we were able to enroll an incoming class with record academic credentials, hire three outstanding professors for our faculty and graduate another class that is well prepared for the practice of law. This fall, an impressive number of our graduates, 24, will begin a federal or state judicial clerkship.”

The biology program, within the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, tied for 46th.

The School of Public and International Affairs’ master of public administration degree program continues to be ranked 4th in the nation, and the 2nd best among public universities. SPIA also continues to have two highly ranked specialty programs. Both the specialization in public finance and budgeting as well as the specialization in public management and administration continue to be ranked 2nd in the nation.

Other programs with current rankings include: clinical psychology tied for 33rd, master of fine arts tied for 37th, and psychology tied for 50th.

The rankings, with the methodology, are available online at www.usnews.com. Highlights of the graduate school rankings are scheduled for publication in the May print issue of U.S. News & World Report magazine, available for newsstand purchase April 27.

See additional COE rankings.