U.S. News & World Report lists 48 KU graduate programs in top 50 among public schools in 2020 rankings


Andy Hyland, Office of Public Affairs

LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas has 11 graduate programs ranked in the top 10 and 48 programs in the top 50 among public universities in the latest rankings from U.S. News and World Report, released today.

Last year, the university had nine top 10 and 46 top 50 programs among public schools.

“We look to rankings as one way to track our progress, and these U.S. News rankings highlight the many different ways we contribute to the state and region,” said Chancellor Douglas A. Girod. “As a leading research university, our graduate programs are an important part of who we are. We remain focused on our broader mission and goals to help elevate these efforts across our university.”

KU’s special education program remained at No. 1 among public schools and its local government management program retained its top spot among all universities. The city management program has been in that spot since 1998.

Programs that saw the highest increases among public schools include KU’s part-time MBA, law, aerospace engineering and public affairs programs. The part-time MBA program went up eight spots among public schools while the law, aerospace engineering and public affairs programs each increased their public ranking by four.

Graduate programs at KU ranked in the top 50 among public universities include:

1. Local Government Management
1. Special Education
4. Occupational Therapy
5. Speech-Language-Pathology
5. Public Management and Leadership
8. Public Affairs
9. Petroleum Engineering
9. Urban Planning and Policy
9. School of Education
9. Physical Therapy
10. Family Medicine
12. Clinical Child Psychology
14. Nursing-Midwifery
14. Nursing-Anesthesia
16. Dispute Resolution (J.D.)
19. Curriculum and Instruction
20. Pharmacy
20. Audiology
20. History
21. Public Finance & Budgeting
21. Clinical Psychology
22. Social Work
25. Trial Advocacy (J.D.)
26. Medicine – Primary Care
29. Aerospace Engineering
30. Psychology
32. Healthcare Management
34. Environmental Law
35. Law
36. Medicine – Research
37. Fine Arts
38. Earth Sciences (Geology)
38. Political Science
38. Part-time MBA
38. Intellectual Property Law
39. Mathematics
40. English
40. Biology
41. International Law
42. Tax Law
43. Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering
43. Legal Writing
43. Clinical Training (J.D.)
44. Economics
44. Chemistry
45. Civil Engineering
45. Electrical Engineering
50. Chemical Engineering