Most recent U.S. News Graduate program rankings, by department
(Editor’s note: Updated in April 2023)
U.S. News & World Report issues its “Best Graduate Schools” rankings annually, but not all programs are ranked in a given year.
Some disciplines are surveyed annually, while others are on a rotating cycle. The most recent ranking year released is the 2023-2024 edition, with the year before being the 2023 edition.
Following are the most recent U.S. News Graduate rankings for each UW–Madison graduate program, and the ranking year that it was issued:
Biology: 17th overall (six-way tie). Ranked Specialties include 13th in cell biology (three-way tie), fourth in microbiology, 12th in ecology/evolutionary biology (four-way tie), ninth in genetics and 11th in biochemistry/biophysics/structural biology (two-way tie). Last ranked in 2023 edition.
Business: 40th (two-way tie) for full-time MBA; 33rd for part-time MBA; ranked specialties include 26th in accounting (three-way tie), 20th in marketing (three-way tie) and sixth in real estate (two-way tie). Last ranked in 2023-2024 edition.
Chemistry: 14th overall (two-way tie). Ranked specialties include eighth in analytical, 16th in biochemistry (three-way tie), seventh in inorganic (three-way tie), 12th in organic, ninth in physical (four-way tie) and 10th in theoretical (two-way tie). Last ranked in 2023-2024 edition.
Computer Science: 12th overall (two-way tie). Ranked specialties include 10th in programming language (two-way tie), 23rd in artificial intelligence, 10th in systems (two-way tie) and 19th in theory. Last ranked in 2023-2024 edition.
Earth Sciences: 20th overall (four-way tie). Ranked specialties include 10th in geochemistry and 16th in geology (two-way tie). Last ranked in 2023-2024 edition.
Economics: 14th overall (four-way tie). Ranked specialties include 10th in econometrics, 14th in international economics (two-way tie), 13th in industrial organization, ninth in labor economics, 15th in macroeconomics, 12th in microeconomics and 14th in public finance (two-way tie). Last ranked in 2023 edition.
Education: Third overall (three-way tie) and second among publics. Ranked specialties include fourth in curriculum and instruction, sixth in educational administration (two-way tie), fourth in education policy, second in educational psychology, fourth in elementary teacher education, 13th in higher education administration, second in secondary teacher education, 10th in special education and fifth in student counseling. Last ranked in 2023-2024 edition.
Engineering: 27th overall (three-way tie). Ranked specialties include 12th in agriculture (two-way tie), 25th in biomedical (three-way tie), 12th in chemical (two-way tie), 16th in civil (three-way tie), 16th in computer (two-way tie), 16th in electrical/electronic/communications (seven-way tie), 17th in environmental (four-way tie), 10th in industrial (four-way tie), 13th in materials (two-way tie), 17th in mechanical six-way tie) and third in nuclear (four-way tie). Last ranked in 2023-2024 edition.
English: 24th (two-way tie). Last ranked in 2022 edition.
Fine Arts: 15th (eight-way tie). Ranked specialties include printmaking (first). Last ranked in 2021 edition.
Health Specialties: audiology, listed as University of Wisconsin AuD Consortium (34th in a two-way tie), clinical psychology (fifth in a three-way tie), physical therapy (25th in a nine-way tie), occupational therapy (17th in a six-way tie), pharmacy (seventh in a six-way tie), speech-language pathology (third in a three-way tie). Last ranked in 2021 edition.
History: 11th (five-way tie). Ranked specialties include first in African history, 12th in cultural history (three-way tie), 12th in European history (two-way tie), 14th in Latin American history (two-way tie), 13th in modern U.S. history (three-way tie) and second in women’s history. Last ranked in 2022 edition.
Law: 40th overall (three-way tie). Ranked specialties include 44th in business – corporate law (three-way tie), 59th in clinical training (10-way tie), 29th in constitutional law (six-way tie), 24th in contracts – commercial law (four-way tie), 36th in criminal law (nine-way tie), 44th in environmental law (11-way tie), 67th in health care law (12-way tie), 81st in intellectual property law (seven-way tie), 90th in Legal Writing (eight-way tie), 42nd in international law (five-way tie), 31st in tax law (five-way tie), and 108th in trial advocacy (18-way tie).
* The University of Wisconsin Law School has created a webpage with information to help prospective students navigate data in light of its decision to withdraw from the U.S. News & World Report rankings survey in 2023.
Last ranked in 2023-2024 edition.
Library and Information Studies: 11th (three-way tie). Ranked specialties include eighth in archives and preservation, and ninth in services for youth and children (three-way tie). Last ranked in 2022 edition.
Mathematics: 16th overall (four-way tie). Ranked specialties include 11th in algebra (two-way tie), 20th in analysis (three-way tie) and 22nd in applied math (two-way tie). Last ranked in 2023-2024 edition.
Medicine: 26th overall in primary care (four-way tie). Research, 36th overall (seven-way tie). Ranked research specialties include ninth in family medicine (two-way tie). Primary care ranked specialties include 32nd in medical schools with the most graduates practicing in rural areas, 49th in medical schools with the most graduates practicing in health professional shortage areas, 18th in medical school diversity (four-way tie), and 83rd in the percent of graduates practicing in primary care (four-way tie). Last ranked in 2023-2024 edition.
Nursing: 45th in schools with a doctor of nursing practice degree (two-way tie). Last ranked in 2023-2024 edition.
Physician Assistant: 27th overall (13-way tie). Last ranked in 2023-2024 edition.
Physics: 21st overall (seven-way tie). Ranked specialties include 12th in elementary particles/field/string theory (three-way tie). Last ranked in 2023-2024 edition.
Psychology: Ninth overall (three-way tie). Ranked specialties include eighth in developmental psychology. Last ranked in 2023 edition.
Political Science: 17th overall (two-way tie). Ranked specialties include 16th in American politics, 16th in comparative politics (two-way tie), and 14th in international politics (two-way tie). Last ranked in 2022 edition.
Public Affairs: 25th overall (three-way tie). Ranked specialties include 12th in health policy, 28th in public management and leadership (two-way tie), 19th in public policy analysis and fifth in social policy. Last ranked in 2023-2024 edition.
Public Health: 3rd overall (seven-way tie). Ranked specialties include 17th in biostatistics (two-way tie). Last ranked in 2023-2024 edition.
Rehabilitation Counseling: First overall. Last ranked in 2023-2024 edition.
Social Work: 16th overall (five-way tie). Last ranked in 2023 edition.
Sociology: Seventh overall (four-way tie). Ranked specialties include eighth in economic sociology (two-way tie, eighth in historical sociology (two-way tie), ninth in sex and gender (two-way tie), third in sociology of population (two-way tie) and second in social stratification. Last ranked in 2022 edition.
Statistics: 13th overall (six-way tie). Last ranked in 2023 edition.
Veterinary Medicine: Seventh overall (three-way tie). Last ranked in 2023-2024 edition.