Several University of Florida graduate programs ranked among the nation’s best in the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings, released April 7. The rankings assessed graduate programs nationwide in business, education, engineering, fine arts, health, law, medicine, nursing, public affairs and science.
UF’s College of Education ranked No. 2 among the country’s top education schools, climbing four spots from No. 6 last year. The program tied with Northwestern University’s School of Education and Social Policy and the University of Michigan’s School of Education.
U.S. News surveyed 476 institutions offering doctoral degrees in education. Of those, 258 schools responded and provided enough information to be included in the rankings. Schools were scored on a 100-point scale using nine factors across four categories: research activity, quality assessment, faculty resources and student selectivity.
Research activity — which includes research funding and faculty research output — accounted for 50% of a school’s overall score. Quality assessment made up 25% of the ranking, followed by faculty resources at 20% and student selectivity at 5%.
The University of Wisconsin–Madison’s School of Education ranked No. 1 nationwide. Florida State University’s education school placed No. 16, tying with the University of Kansas and the University of Oregon.
UF’s Warrington College of Business ranked No. 39, tying with Brigham Young University, the University of Miami and the University of Utah. UF’s Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering tied with Iowa State University at No. 46.
UF’s Levin College of Law tied at No. 34 with Florida State University’s law school and three other programs.
U.S. News evaluates medical schools using a tiered system. UF’s College of Medicine was classified as Tier 1, the highest performing tier.
“These rankings reflect the University of Florida’s continued momentum as we strengthen graduate education across disciplines,” said UF Interim Provost Joe Glover in a press release. “Our colleges are advancing research, preparing future leaders and delivering real-world impact in Florida and beyond.”
The University of Florida ranked No. 7 among public universities nationwide in U.S. News’s 2026 Best Colleges rankings.
Despite interim President Donald Landry’s stated goal of filling vacant leadership roles across the university, several colleges have gone months — and in some cases more than a year — without permanent deans. UF currently has interim deans leading the Levin College of Law, the College of the Arts, the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The interim dean of the College of Medicine, Jennifer Hunt, announced earlier this month that she will step down to become dean of Dartmouth’s Geisel School of Medicine.
The university launched its search for a permanent president late last year. Landry, who became interim president in September 2025, has expressed interest in remaining in the position permanently.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: UF earns top marks in latest U.S. News graduate program rankings
Reporting by Chelsea Long, Gainesville Sun / The Gainesville Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
