U.S. News & World Report today released its 2022 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. The 2022 ranking positions the School of Public Affairs alongside Florida State University, Texas A&M University—College Station, University of Kentucky, University of Maryland—College Park, and University of Nebraska—Omaha.

U.S. News also released its 2022 rankings for public affairs specialties, in which the School of Public Affairs was ranked highly in all five of its 2021 specialty rankings and is newly ranked in a sixth specialty category. The school is ranked number 9 for Environmental Policy and Management, number 14 for Nonprofit Management, number 14 for Public Finance & Budgeting, number 22 for Public Management & Leadership, and number 32 for Public Policy Analysis. The school also is now ranked number 30 for Urban Policy, a category in which the school was not previously ranked. This year’s overall ranking and specialty rankings maintains the school’s position as the top-ranked school of public affairs in Colorado.

“CU Denver is Colorado’s only public urban research university, so it is exciting that our School is now ranked nationally for urban policy. Our number 9 ranking for Environmental Policy and Management is the highest sub field ranking we have ever earned from U.S. News & World Report. And, I am excited that our areas of excellence are explicitly recognized, as we are now ranked highly in six of the 11 sub-fields that U.S. News & World Report assesses,” said CU Denver School of Public Affairs Dean and Distinguished Professor Paul Teske. “All of this is a tribute to our superb faculty and staff, and to the excellent students that we get to teach.” 

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 are based solely on peer assessment survey results. In fall 2020 and early 2021, U.S. News surveyed deans, directors, and department chairs representing 285 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 2022 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 Nonprofit Management in Colorado (tied for #14 in the nation)
#1 in Public Finance and Budgeting in Colorado (tied for #14 in the nation)
#1 in Public Management and Leadership in Colorado (#22 in the nation)
#1 in Public Policy Analysis in Colorado (#32 in the nation)
#1 in Urban Policy in Colorado (#30 in the nation)