KU's health, education programs rise in rankings


More Information

LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas remains a leader in the region and measures well against its national peers in preliminary 2013 U.S. News & World Report rankings of graduate programs. Almost 50 KU programs are included in the report released today, including 35 ranked in the top 40 among public institutions.

“The university and the state can take pride in this recognition for our outstanding graduate programs,” Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little said. “When we compare ourselves to our peers among the nation’s public international research universities, it demonstrates our strengths while also indicating areas where our strategic plan will guide our progress toward even greater success.”

KU is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities, the only member in Kansas and one of only five in surrounding states. One of the goals of Bold Aspirations, the university’s strategic plan, is to place 21 graduate programs in the U.S. News’ top 10 among public universities. Among programs ranked for 2013, KU has 12 in the top 10.

During her December presentation to the Board of Regents, Gray-Little said the goal for the School of Medicine is to be a top-25 school in rural medicine, which it met this year by tying for 12th overall. In addition, the school’s primary care ranking rose to 25th among public schools and 35th overall, while the family medicine program ranked 16th overall.

“I was especially pleased to see our rural medicine and family medicine programs on this list, and was happy that our primary care ranking improved by six places,” said Barbara Atkinson, executive vice chancellor of the University of Kansas Medical Center. “This year, the opening of our Salina campus and the expansion of our Wichita campus to a four-year medical school program increased recognition in areas where we have always been strong.”

The School of Education's special education program, long ranked first among public institutions, moved from second among both public and private institutions to a tie with Vanderbilt University as the top overall program. Special education joins city management and urban policy in earning a top overall ranking. The School of Education maintained its ranking of ninth among publics and 18th overall.

“Recognition from our peers is a testament to our outstanding faculty and staff and to our students who go on to successful careers,” said Rick Ginsberg, dean of the School of Education. “The success of the program is the result of hard work both in the classroom and out in the field.”

KU graduate programs ranked in the top 40 nationally among public universities are:

1. City Management and Urban Policy (Master)
1. Special Education (Master/Doctorate)
2. Occupational Therapy (Master/Doctorate)
3. Public Management Administration (Master)
4. Paleontology (Doctorate)
4. Public Affairs (Master)
5. Clinical Child Psychology (Doctorate)
6. Speech-Language-Pathology (Master)
7. Audiology (Doctorate)
9. Physical Therapy (Master/Doctorate)
9. School of Education (Doctorate)
9. Education Administration and Supervision (Doctorate)
12. Nursing-Midwifery (Master)
12. Rural Medicine
12. Public Finance and Budgeting (Master)
14. Family Medicine
15. Print Making (Master)
15. Social Work (Master)
17. Clinical Psychology (Doctorate)
20. Pharmacy (PharmD)
21. Nursing-Anesthesia (Master)
22. Healthcare Management (Master)
22. Psychology (Doctorate)
24. Nursing (Master)
25. Medicine, primary care (MD)
27. History (Doctorate)
29. Political Science (Doctorate)
30. Aerospace Engineering (Master)
37. Earth Sciences (Geology-Doctorate)
37. English (Doctorate)
38. Fine Arts (Master)
39. Medicine - Research
39. Biological Sciences (Doctorate)
40. Math (Doctorate)
40. Computer Engineering

Tue, 03/13/2012

author

Gavin Young

Media Contacts

Gavin Young

KU Office of Public Affairs

785-864-7100