U.S. News & World Report today released its 2024 Best Graduate Schools Rankings, in which the University of Colorado Denver School of Public Affairs is ranked number 28 in the nation overall for public affairs programs, alongside Johns Hopkins University, Rutgers University – Newark, and Texas A&M University – College Station, up one position from the 2023 rankings.

U.S. News also released its 2024 rankings for public affairs specialties, in which the School of Public Affairs continues to be ranked highly in six specialty rankings: number 9 for Environmental Policy and Management, number 18 for Nonprofit Management, number 18 for Public Finance & Budgeting, and number 18 for Public Management & Leadership, number 21 for Local Government, and number 29 for Public Policy Analysis. This year’s overall ranking and specialty rankings maintains the school’s position as the top-ranked school of public affairs in Colorado.

“We are very pleased to have again been ranked well in the U.S. News & World Report assessment of public affairs programs, and indeed, to have moved up in most of them. This is a testament to the hard and smart work of our faculty, staff, students, and alumni.,” said Paul Teske, dean of the School of Public Affairs at CU Denver. “I am particularly happy that many of our subfield rankings continue to be in the Top 20 in the nation. And, while this new U.S. News ranking gets the most attention, we are also pleased that our criminal justice programs earn strong national rankings as well.”

In February 2023, the Master of Public Administration program was ranked number 3 for Top Master of Public Administration (MPA) Online Programs according to OnlineMastersDegrees.org, and in January, the school’s Master of Criminal Justice program was ranked number 21 in the nation according to U.S. News & World Report’s Best Online Master’s in Criminal Justice Programs rankings. In March, Best Accredited Colleges ranked the Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice program #23 on its list Best Bachelor of Criminal Justice Degrees.

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 solely on peer assessment survey results. In fall 2022 and early 2023, U.S. News surveyed deans, directors, and department chairs representing 269 master's programs in public affairs and administration. Two surveys were sent to each school. The rankings of programs in public affairs specialty areas are based solely on ratings by educators at peer schools. Public affairs schools' deans and other academics were asked to nominate up to 15 programs for excellence in each specialty.

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 2024 Best Graduate Schools rankings
#1 Best Public Affairs Program Colorado (#28 in the nation)
#1 in Environmental Policy and Management in Colorado (#9 in the nation)
#1 in Local Government in Colorado (#21 in the nation)
#1 in Nonprofit Management in Colorado (#18 in the nation)
#1 in Public Finance and Budgeting in Colorado (#18 in the nation)
#1 in Public Management and Leadership in Colorado (#18 in the nation)
#1 in Public Policy Analysis (#29 in the nation)