UW College of Education No. 4 in U.S. News rankings of top public education schools

The University of Washington College of Education has tied for No. 4 among the nation’s best public education schools — and tied for No. 11 among education schools overall — in U.S. News & World Report’s 2024 Best Graduate Schools rankings, released today.

“Although we are pleased to be recognized as a top public school of education, we know these rankings don’t tell the full story about our community’s values and fierce commitment to transforming inequitable systems of education,” Dean Mia Tuan shared. “Our innovative community partnerships that connect research with practice, dedication to great teaching and unwavering focus on educational justice are a source of tremendous strength, and power our shared work of ensuring all children receive an outstanding education.”

“We are exceptionally proud of our students, staff, faculty, alumni and partners for the positive impact they are making every day on our campus and in our communities,” Dean Tuan continued. “Our impact as a school will always be most clearly demonstrated through their remarkable work building partnerships, innovating inside and outside the classroom, closing opportunity gaps and advocating for policies that center children and families furthest from educational justice.”

U.S. News sent surveys to 459 schools granting education doctoral degrees in fall 2022 and early 2023, with 276 providing data. A change for this edition was that schools with active programs that reported data the previous year but not in 2022-23 were still ranked using previous year’s statistical data. U.S. News derived each school’s overall rank by scoring it on nine distinct ranking factors that fall within four broad categories: research activity, quality assessment, faculty resources and student selectivity.

This year, U.S. News methodology placed an increased emphasis on research activity, and a reduced emphasis on reputation and admissions selectivity. The increased emphasis on research activity now accounts for 50% of a school’s overall score, whereas it previously accounted for 30%. Research activity includes total research expenditures and average expenditures per faculty member.

Education specialty rankings remain based on nominations by education school deans and deans of graduate studies at education schools from the list of schools surveyed. School leaders select up to 15 top programs in each area, and schools receiving the most nominations in each specialty area are numerically ranked in descending order of nominations.

In the latest rankings of education specialty programs, the UW has six programs ranked among the top 10 public schools of education and five programs ranked among the top 10 nationally. The UW’s ranked programs are:

• Curriculum and Instruction: No. 7 public (tie); No. 10 overall (tie)
• Educational Administration: No. 6 public (three-way tie); No. 10 overall (three-way tie)
• Education Policy: No. 8 public; No. 14 overall
• Elementary Teacher Education: No. 4 public; No. 5 overall
• Secondary Teacher Education: No. 4 public; No. 5 overall
• Special Education: No. 8 public; No. 9 overall

Education is among several major disciplines ranked annually by U.S. News. These disciplines are the graduate programs with the largest enrollments and, in addition to education, include business, engineering, health, nursing, public affairs, science, law and medicine.

View the College’s U.S. News profile page for more information.

Contact:

Charleen Wilcox, Director for Marketing & Communications, wilcoxc@uw.edu