FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — For a second year in a row, the graduate programs of the civil and industrial engineering departments at the University of Arkansas College of Engineering have been ranked by U.S. News and World Report in its newly released America’s Best Graduate Schools 2006.

The industrial engineering program was ranked 30th, along with programs at two other universities. The civil engineering department was ranked at the 78th position, along with programs at eight other universities. 

Programs at 185 engineering schools that grant doctoral degrees were surveyed, from a total of approximately 350 programs nationwide.

“While I am pleased, I am also certain that the rankings of these programs, as well as the excellent programs in our other departments, will continue to rise,” said Ashok Saxena, dean. “Many people are just discovering the high quality of our college.”

Robert Elliott, head of the civil engineering department said, “I am very proud of our faculty and staff. While I have to admit to being a bit disappointed by our ranking position, I am pleased to point out that our assessment score didn’t fall.”

The civil engineering program was ranked at 65th last year. Though its ranking was better last year, the program’s assessment score was actually unchanged.

Competition among the nation’s graduate engineering programs is notoriously tough, with only tenths of points separating those in the top 25 and the top 50.

“I think our ranking reflects the combined effects of the national prominence of our faculty, the quality of our student body and the efficiency of our staff,” said John English, head of the industrial engineering department, which ranked 30th last year as well. “We will definitely continue to build on our success, as shown in our increased assessment score.”

The specialty program rankings were based solely on assessments by department heads in each specialty area. Department heads in their specialty area rated the other schools that offered the specialty on a five-point scale.  Those schools with the highest average scores were ranked.