March 12, 2019 – DENVER, Colorado – U.S. News & World Report today released its 2020 Best Graduate Schools Rankings, in which University of Colorado Denver School of Public Affairs advanced nine places since the 2018 rankings to tie for the number 25 position in the nation for overall public affairs programs. The 2020 ranking sustains the school’s position as the top public affairs school in Colorado.

U.S. News also released its 2020 rankings for public affairs specialties. CU Denver School of Public Affairs is ranked number 11 (tie) in the nation for Environmental Policy (up from number 12 in the 2019 rankings); ranked number 17 (tie) in the nation for Public Finance & Budgeting (up from number 23 in 2019); and ranked number 23 (tie) in the nation for Public Management & Leadership (up from 29 in 2019). This year, the Nonprofit Management specialty, which had not been ranked in the 2019 rankings, is tied for the number 21 spot in the nation.

“I am very pleased to see the School of Public Affairs’ hard work recognized in these rankings by national reviewers, as we move up into the Top 25 programs in American, along with some other first-rate programs and universities,” says CU Denver School of Public Affairs Dean and Distinguished Professor Paul Teske. “This ranking is a tribute to our faculty’s expertise and our staff efforts. We are also pleased to see our strong concentrations recognized as among the very best in the nation — including Environmental Policy, Public Finance, Nonprofit Management, and Public Management and Leadership.”

In January, the school’s Master of Criminal Justice program was ranked number 19 (tie) in the nation, according to U.S. News’ Best Online Graduate Criminal Justice Programs rankings for 2020. This position is maintained from the 2019 rankings, but places the school’s program as the top-ranked online Master of Criminal Justice program in Colorado.

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 2020 rankings come from statistical surveys of more than 2,000 programs and from reputation surveys sent to more than 22,000 academic professionals, conducted in fall 2018 and early 2019.

About CU Denver School of Public Affairs

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 2020 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 #11 in the nation)
#1 in Public Finance and Budgeting in Colorado (tied for #17 in the nation)
#1 in Nonprofit Management in Colorado (tied for #21 in the nation)
#1 in Public Management and Leadership in Colorado (tied for #23 in the nation)
#1 Best Online Graduate Criminal Justice Programs in Colorado (tied for #19 in the nation)