The University of Colorado Denver’s School of Public Affairs (SPA) has once again been recognized among the nation’s top Public Affairs graduate programs, earning No. 20 (tied) in the U.S. News & World Report 2026 Best Graduate Schools rankings.

These results position SPA as the strongest contributor to CU Denver’s statewide recognition this year, accounting for five of the university’s nine No. 1 graduate program rankings in Colorado. Nationally, SPA programs demonstrated notable momentum, with several rising significantly in rank and one appearing for the first time.

“We are proud to build on this strong foundation,” said Interim Dean and distinguished professor Christopher M. Weible. “These rankings affirm the impact of our programs and reinforce our focus on supporting students and faculty as SPA continues to serve the public good at every level of governance.”

Public Affairs Programs Ranked Among the Nation’s Best

SPA’s overall Public Affairs graduate program rose sharply in the national rankings, moving from No. 27 last year to tie for No. 20 out of 266 programs nationwide. The program also ranked:

• No. 1 in Colorado
• No. 1 in the Rocky Mountain Region
• Top 5 in the West Region (tied)
• Top 10 among public universities nationally (tied)

This improvement reinforces SPA’s standing as a leader in public service education at the state, regional, and national levels.

No. 1 in Colorado Across Five Disciplines

In addition to Public Affairs overall, five SPA specialty areas earned top statewide rankings, all placing among the top 20 nationally:

Public Finance and Budgeting

Ranked No. 7 nationally (up from No. 19 last year), Public Finance and Budgeting achieved No. 1 rankings in Colorado and the Rocky Mountain Region and placed in the top four among public universities nationwide, SPA’s highest‑ranked specialty area this year.

Environmental Policy and Management

Ranked No. 9 nationally, the program improved from last year and held No. 1 positions in Colorado and the region.

Local Government Management

Making a reappearance in the rankings from its previous ranking of 21st in 2023, Local Government Management debuted at No. 12 nationally (tied), earning No. 1 in Colorado and ranking strongly among peer public institutions.

Nonprofit Management

Ranked No. 18 nationally (tied), the program maintained its position from last year while continuing to lead statewide and perform competitively regionally and nationally.

Public Management and Leadership

Ranked No. 19 nationally, the program again earned No. 1 in Colorado and remained among the top public university programs in the country.

Collectively, these results affirm SPA’s breadth of excellence across public, nonprofit, and environmental governance disciplines.

Leading CU Denver’s Statewide Impact

Across CU Denver, nine graduate programs and/or specialties were ranked No. 1 in Colorado, with SPA accounting for two‑thirds of those distinctions.

The strongest showing came from SPA, with the Business School also earning three top statewide rankings. Several programs in engineering, education, and the sciences improved or held their national positions as well. (Read the full story from CU Denver News).

“These rankings speak to the outstanding faculty, staff, and students who define the School of Public Affairs,” said former Dean and distinguished professor Paul Teske “SPA’s strength has always come from its commitment to public service, applied scholarship, and preparing leaders who make a difference in communities across Colorado and beyond.”

Why the Rankings Matter

The U.S. News & World Report Best Graduate Schools rankings are widely used by prospective students to compare programs based on academic reputation, student outcomes, and faculty resources. Not all programs are reviewed every year, and 2026 introduced several new program categories, making SPA’s performance across both established and newly ranked disciplines particularly noteworthy.

A School Built for Public Impact

As Colorado’s public affairs school in the heart of Denver, SPA prepares students to lead in government, nonprofits, and policy organizations at the local, national, and global levels. These rankings reflect not only academic quality, but SPA’s real-world relevance and its commitment to public service and community impact.