U.S. News & World Report Includes School of Law, Walton College Among '2014 Best Graduate Schools'

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Arkansas received a double dose of top-20 recognition in the U.S. News & World Report’s 2014 Best Graduate Schools rankings released this month. The Sam M. Walton College of Business earned a No. 1 ranking for the number of full-time Master of Business Administration graduates employed at graduation – an impressive 90.5 percent, while the rehabilitation counseling program in the College of Education and Health Professions is ranked 16^th nationally. In addition, the University of Arkansas School of Law is ranked in the top tier of law schools for the fifth consecutive year and continues its steady climb in the rankings.

“Obtaining the top spot in the country for placing our M.B.A. students in impactful careers is a testament to our talented faculty, truly dedicated and hardworking staff, and to our students who make us proud every day,” said Eli Jones, dean of the Walton College.

Walton College’s Executive M.B.A. program is 32^nd among public business schools and its full-time program is 37th, according to U.S. News.

The rehabilitation counseling program in the department of rehabilitation, human resources and communication disorders has been ranked in the top 20 nationally for the past decade and has been ranked 16^th since 2011, the last year rehabilitation counseling programs were ranked.

The University of Arkansas School of Law is ranked in the top tier of law schools for the fifth consecutive year and continues its steady climb in the rankings. The School of Law tied for 36^th place among public law schools and tied for 68^th place overall.

“We pride ourselves on being a great value,” said Stacy L. Leeds, dean of the School of Law. “The Law School is known nationally for its strong job placement and low tuition, which gives our graduates maximum flexibility in this market.”

The U.S. News ranking methodology for law schools includes a peer assessment score, an assessment by lawyers and judges, student/faculty ratio, bar exam passage rates, post-graduation employment rates, and other measures. For this year’s employment placement ratings, more weight was given to jobs that require or prefer a Juris Doctor degree for employment.

The School of Law has the lowest tuition of any of the top 68 law schools in the U.S. News ranking. It also fared very well in job placement, with nearly 93 percent of the class of 2011 employed or seeking higher education within nine months of graduation.