U of A Graduate Programs Continue to Rise in U.S. News Rankings

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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – University of Arkansas graduate programs had a strong showing in the rankings of the 2019 edition of U.S. News & World Report Best Graduate Schools. Programs in the College of Education and Health Professions, the Sam M. Walton College of Business and the College of Engineering ranked in the top 50.

“I’m delighted to see so many of our graduate programs are ranked highly on the U.S. News & World Report list,” said Kim Needy, dean of the Graduate School and International Education. “Strengthening graduate education is one of the university’s top priorities, so seeing our programs receive such strong rankings is an encouraging sign that we are making progress.”

The Doctor of Nursing Practice program in the College of Education and Health Professions ranked at No. 34 among public institutions. The program is at No. 52 overall, which is a jump of 24 places from last year’s rankings. The University of Arkansas began offering the degree in 2013.

In addition, the Master of Science in Nursing graduate degree program also moved up in the rankings. The program is ranked at No. 50 among public institutions, rising 28 places from last year’s ranking, and coming in at No. 74 overall.

As a whole, U.S. News ranked the College of Education and Health Professions graduate programs as the No. 36 school of education among public institutions and No. 46 overall. That’s a leap of 14 and 20 places respectively from last year’s list.

“This is a wonderful recognition of our students, faculty and programs,” said Michael Miller, dean of the College of Education and Health Professions. “As an academic community, we are continuously looking for opportunities to make our curriculum relevant and progressive in the preparation of both educators and health professionals, especially nurses. An important part of this recognition also needs to be given to our community partners, such as Washington Regional Medical Center and the Fayetteville and Springdale public schools where so many of our students learn their profession first-hand.”

The Sam M. Walton College of Business also performed well in the rankings. U.S. News ranked the full-time Master of Business Administration program at No. 34 among public institutions and No. 65 overall. The college’s graduate program in supply chain management is ranked at No. 11 among public institutions and No. 19 overall.

“The quality of the Walton College M.B.A. program has again been recognized as among the best in the nation at a public business college,” said Matthew A. Waller, dean of Walton College. “And our redesigned M.B.A. curriculum that will launch in fall 2019 will continue to build on the quality and success of this program.”

Two programs in the College of Engineering received favorable placement on the U.S. News list as well. The biological and agricultural engineering program is ranked at No. 18 among public institutions and No. 19 overall, while the industrial engineering program came in at No. 27 among public institutions and No. 34 overall.

“Our graduate students are at the heart of our research mission,” said John English, dean of the College of Engineering. “They come to us from across the country and around the world, bringing critical new perspectives that drive our research forward. I’m glad to see the hard work of our faculty, staff and students reflected by these rankings that put our programs among the best in the nation.”

Program rankings are determined by such measures as quality assessment — determined by surveying officials at higher education institutions — student selectivity, faculty resources, research activity and placement success.

U.S. News & World Report does not issue new rankings every year for all graduate programs.

About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs. The university contributes new knowledge, economic development, basic and applied research, and creative activity while also providing service to academic and professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Arkansas among only 2 percent of universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Arkansas among its top American public research universities. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention and close mentoring.