March 17, 2020 – DENVER, Colorado – U.S. News & World Report today released its 2021 Best Graduate Schools Rankings, in which University of Colorado Denver School of Public Affairs maintains its position from last year: tied at number 25 in the nation for overall public affairs programs. The 2021 ranking positions the School of Public Affairs alongside Duke University, Florida State University, Georgetown University, University of Kentucky, University of Maryland–College Park, University of Nebraska–Omaha and University of Wisconsin–Madison. Additionally, the ranking sustains the school’s position as the top public affairs school in Colorado.

U.S. News also released its 2021 rankings for public affairs specialties, in which the School of Public Affairs rose in all four of its 2020 specialty rankings and is newly ranked in a fifth specialty category. The school is ranked number 10 – tied with Harvard University – for Environmental Policy and Management (up from number 11 last year); tied for number 11 in Public Finance & Budgeting (up from number 17 last year); tied for number 13 in Nonprofit Management (up from number 21 last year), and number 22 in the nation for Public Management & Leadership (up from number 23 last year). In addition, the school is tied for number 25 in Public Policy Analysis, a category in which the school was not ranked last year.

“U.S. News & World Report now ranks Public Affairs programs each year. So, I am delighted to see that the School of Public Affairs’ hard work is recognized again in these rankings by national reviewers. Overall, we have stayed tied for #25, alongside some other excellent programs,” says CU Denver School of Public Affairs Dean and Distinguished Professor Paul Teske. “This ranking is a tribute to our faculty’s hard work and expertise, to our staff efforts and to our excellent students. We are also pleased to see our main concentrations again recognized as among the very best in the nation.”

Methodology for U.S. News & World Report Best Graduate Schools rankings
Each year, U.S. News ranks professional school programs including public affairs. The methodology for Best Graduate Schools rankings is based on expert opinions about program excellence and statistical indicators that measure the quality of a school’s faculty, research and students. The data for the 2021 Best Public Affairs Programs rankings come from statistical surveys of deans, directors and department chairs representing 276 master’s programs in public affairs and administration, conducted in fall 2019 and early 2020.

About CU Denver School of Public Affairs
The University of Colorado Denver School of Public Affairs is creating the next generation of visionary leaders through its undergraduate and graduate programs in public affairs and criminal justice, taught by renown faculty whose expertise make them a go-to resource for state and national policy makers. The Master of Public Administration program is accredited by NASPAA, to global standard in public service education, and the school is ranked as the top public affairs school in Colorado and among the best in the nation.

U.S. News & World Report 2021 Best Graduate Schools rankings
#1 Best Public Affairs Program Colorado (tied for #25 in the nation)
#1 in Environmental Policy and Management in Colorado (tied for #10 in the nation)
#1 in Public Finance and Budgeting in Colorado (tied for #11 in the nation)
#1 in Nonprofit Management in Colorado (tied for #13 in the nation)
#1 in Public Management and Leadership in Colorado (#22 in the nation)
#1 in Public Policy Analysis in Colorado (tied for #25 in the nation)