The University of Connecticut's graduate education ranks among the top in the nation across a variety of disciplines and specialties, according to new U.S. News & World Report rankings.
The Neag School of Education and School of Business programs received high marks, as did the School of Law and School of Social Work. This recognition highlights UConn's commitment to student excellence and support overall, as well as the special efforts of the individual schools and colleges recognized in the ranking.
Neag School receives Excellence Award
Four graduate programs within the UW-Neag School of Education have been ranked among the best in the nation for the first time by U.S. News & World Report's 2024 Best Education Schools.
Additionally, the Neag School has been ranked as one of the top 25 public education graduate schools in the United States for nine consecutive years, ranking tied for 24th place. Neag School is tied for 34th place.
“I am extremely proud of the hard work and dedication of our faculty, staff, and students that led to such an impressive ranking,” says Dean Jason G. Irizarry. “Having four of our programs named to the specialty list is a testament to the high standards we set across all of the Neag School's departments and ranks us among the nation's top public education graduate schools. We are very happy to be recognized as one again.”
Each of the Neag School's three departments is listed in the 2024 Professional Education Program Rankings.
Neag School's special education program has been ranked previously, moving up four spots from last year's 17th place, while three other programs are new to the ranking this year.
The verdict is in: university law is on the rise.
UW School of Law rose 16 points to No. 55 in the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings, and the school's part-time evening program rose nine points to No. 10 in the nation.
The overall ranking in the magazine's 2024-25 Best Law Schools list reflects the particular strength of UW Law graduates in bar exam passing and employment performance.
94% of 2022 graduates were employed 10 months after graduation, and 13% of them were employed as state and federal judicial clerks.
The accomplishments of the Class of 2023 are equally impressive. Among UW Law graduates who took the Connecticut bar exam for the first time in July 2023, 84% passed, 17 points above the state average. These achievements are the result of the efforts of our outstanding students, staff, and faculty, supported by the support of our outstanding alumni.
“Everyone at UConn Law strives for excellence and works tirelessly to support the success of our students and the law school,” says Dean Eboni S. Nelson. “While no ranking can truly reflect the results of their efforts or capture the many strengths of our campus community, we are pleased with this recognition.”
Last year, UConn Law School was one of many law schools to withdraw from active participation in U.S. News & World Report's ranking process. U.S. News has since modified its approach and made more data available to prospective students for free. This factored into UConn Law's decision to resume participation this year.
UConn Social Work is a national leader
On April 9, U.S. News & World Report released its national rankings for graduate schools of social work, ranking the University Convention School of Social Work (SSW) at No. 28. The University Convention School of Social Work (SSW) was ranked 28th, up from 36th in its ranking. SSW ranks in the top 9% of graduate social work programs in the nation.
With this ranking, UConn SSW continues to lead the way among graduate social work programs in Connecticut and is a top choice for students nationwide.
“The UW School of Social Work holds a strong position among graduate social work programs nationwide,” says Laura Curran, dean and professor. “Building on our more than 75-year history, we have a growing research portfolio, innovative academic programs, and long-term partnerships that impact our local and global communities.”
UConn SSW is the first public university in Connecticut to offer bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees. degree in social work, and his research doctorate is the only official social work doctorate. Regional programs. Her areas of expertise include child and youth welfare, health and behavioral health, LGBTQ youth and families, aging, policy practice and community organizing, and global social work.
In 2023, UConn SSW expanded its national footprint with the addition of the Innovation Institute, an interdisciplinary translational research center. SSW is actively involved in a growing number of interdisciplinary collaborations within the university, including UConn Health and the Gladstein Family Human Rights Institute, and has extensive collaborations with public and private human services agencies.
Earlier this year, SSW launched a new fully online MSW program to increase access to aspiring social workers across the state and region.
More than 8,800 SSW graduates play critical roles in planning, managing, and delivering social and mental health services in Connecticut, the region, and beyond.
Business is good at UConn
U.S. News & World Report has once again ranked UConn School of Business' part-time MBA program, known as the FLEX MBA, as one of the nation's top graduate business programs.
According to the new rankings, the UConn program is now ranked 33rd in the nation, up from 37th last year and a significant jump from 70th in 2018-2019.
Mia Hawk, executive director of the MBA program, attributes the rise in rankings to a commitment to the student experience, innovative course creation, and faculty dedication.
“It’s really amazing to see our rankings rise so much in six years,” she says. “We are in a similar position to private universities, but delivering the same level of excellence at a much lower cost.”
“Our programs are never stagnant. We have recently added innovative courses that address sustainability in business, artificial intelligence for managers, emotional intelligence in business, and innovative technologies. I did,” she said. “These are just a few of the many ways we differentiate ourselves from our competitors.”
Professor Jose M. Cruz, associate dean for graduate programs in the School of Business, said it is an honor to be ranked so highly in such a competitive hierarchy.
“The UConn MBA program has always defined the pinnacle of excellence in a fiercely competitive environment,” said Cruz. “Known for its rigorous curriculum, active student engagement, emphasis on critical leadership development, and strong career support, this program is a leader in quality and innovation.”
The FLEX MBA program is offered in-person and online at Hartford and Stanford. The program currently has approximately 600 students.
