UAlbany Programs Rank Highly Among U.S. News 2024 Best Graduate Schools

Two students walk on the grass in front of UAlbany's Downtown Campus on a sunny day.

Students walk from class in front of UAlbany's Downtown Campus. (Photo by Mark McCarty)

ALBANY, N.Y. (April 15, 2024) — Several programs at the University at Albany have once again been ranked among the top in the nation by the U.S. News & World Report’s 2024 “Best Graduate Schools” rankings.

UAlbany’s Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy was recognized as a national leader among public affairs colleges in the latest U.S. News rankings, rising two spots from last year to No. 26 overall, the top within SUNY, as well as in the top 25 nationally for five public affairs specialties:

5th in Information and Technology
7th in Homeland Security
17th in Public Management & Leadership
18th in Local Government Management
21st in Nonprofit Management
31st in Public Policy Analysis

Rockefeller College has been recognized continuously as one of the nation’s premier schools of public affairs since the inception of the U.S. News rankings 29 years ago.

“It’s wonderful to see this external recognition for the great work taking place at our college,” said Rockefeller College Dean, Professor and Collins Fellow Julie Novkov. “Our peers see how our faculty’s critical insights make sense of a rapidly changing world of public affairs and provide guidance for positive interventions. We also appreciate the acknowledgment that we continue to produce outstanding graduates who will lead us into the future with their substantive expertise and their commitment to serving the public good, no matter where they go.”

The School of Social Welfare also moved up three spots among the best social work programs to No. 43 nationally, second among SUNY schools.

“This rise in the 2024 U.S. News rankings is a reflection of the excellent community-engaged research of our faculty as well as their commitment to students in the classroom,” said Vicky Rizzo, interim dean of the School of Social Welfare. “Our longstanding field education program offers specialized training in critical fields including healthy aging and mental health. At the school level, we are embracing the potential of artificial intelligence to enhance the field of social work. This fall, we are excited to launch our new online MSW program. We also recently added a ‘Studies in Social Justice’ minor for undergrads, with plans to soon offer a ‘Studies in Social Justice’ major. We are constantly working to evolve as a school to ensure our students receive training on the cutting edge of our field.”

In addition, the School of Public Health ranked No. 68 among the best public health schools, the School of Education ranked No. 86 among the best education schools and the Massry School of Business ranked No. 115-124 for its MBA program and No. 157 for its part-time MBA program.

Each year, U.S. News ranks a rotating list of graduate school programs based on measures such as expert opinion about program excellence and statistical indicators that measure the quality of a school's faculty, research and students and their post-graduate outcomes. Read each program's specific methodology for more detailed explanations.

The U.S. News 2024 “Best Colleges” rankings, published in October, listed UAlbany at No. 70 nationally among public institutions and No. 133 overall, up 48 spots from last year.

UAlbany was also again recognized by U.S. News as a top performer in social mobility, at No. 31 nationally, up seven spots from last year, and within the top 10 percent of all ranked institutions.