Most recent U.S. News Graduate program rankings, by department
(Editor’s note: Updated in July 2022)
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 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.
Biostatistics: 11th overall (two-way tie). Last ranked in 2023 edition.
Business: 47th for full-time MBA (two-way tie); 23rd for part-time MBA (two-way tie); ranked specialties include 41st in accounting (three-way tie), 22nd in marketing (four-way tie) and fifth in real estate (two-way tie). Last ranked in 2023 edition.
Chemistry: 14th overall (three-way tie). Ranked specialties include sixth in analytical (two-way tie), 14th in biochemistry, 10th in inorganic, 11th in organic (two-way tie), 10th in physical (two-way tie) and 13th in theoretical. Last ranked in 2023 edition.
Computer Science: 17th overall (three-way tie). Ranked specialties include 12th in programming language, 23rd in artificial intelligence, 11th in systems and 27th in theory. Last ranked in 2023 edition.
Earth Sciences: 15th. Ranked specialties include geochemistry (eighth), geology (seventh). Last ranked in 2019 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: Fifth overall (two-way tie.) Ranked specialties include third in curriculum and instruction, second in educational administration (two-way tie), sixth in education policy, first in educational psychology, fifth in elementary teacher education, 10th in higher education administration (two-way tie), second in secondary teacher education, seventh in special education (two-way tie) and third in student counseling. Last ranked in 2023 edition.
Engineering: 29th overall. Ranked specialties include 15th in agriculture (two-way tie), 25th in biomedical (four-way tie), 12th in chemical (two-way tie), 17th in civil (eight-way tie), 13th in computer (two-way tie), 16th in electrical/electronic/communications (three-way tie), 16th in environmental (five-way tie), 10th in industrial (two-way tie), 14th in materials (six-way tie), 14th in mechanical (five-way tie) and eighth in nuclear. Last ranked in 2023 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.
Geology: 12th overall (seven-way tie). Ranked specialties include 12th in geochemistry and 11th in geology. Last ranked in 2023 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: 43rd overall (two-way tie). Ranked specialties include 41st in business – corporate law (three-way tie), 46th in clinical training (11-way tie), 35th in constitutional law (five-way tie), 23rd in contracts – commercial law (four-way tie), 32nd in criminal law (seven-way tie), 44th in environmental law (12-way tie), 48th in health care law (seven-way tie) and 36th in international law (three-way tie). Last ranked in 2023 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: 17th overall (four-way tie). Ranked specialties include 10th in topology (two-way tie) and 18th in analysis (two-way tie). Last ranked in 2023 edition.
Medicine: 20th overall in primary care (three-way tie). Research, 37th overall (four-way tie). Ranked research specialties include fifth in family medicine. Primary care ranked specialties include 41st in medical schools with the most graduates practicing in rural area and 35th in most diverse medical schools (six-way tie). Last ranked in 2023 edition.
Nursing: 43rd in schools with a doctor of nursing practice degree. Last ranked in 2023 edition.
Physics: 23rd overall (five-way tie). Ranked specialties include 15th in elementary particles/field/string theory (five-way tie). Last ranked in 2023 edition.
Psychology: Ninth overall (three-way tie). Ranked specialties include eighth in developmental psychology. Last ranked in 2023 edition.
Political Science: 17th (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: 29th overall (six-way tie). Ranked specialties include 12th in health policy (two-way tie), 32nd in public management and leadership (four-way tie), 21st in public policy analysis and sixth in social policy. Last ranked in 2023 edition.
Public Health: 31st overall (14-way tie). Last ranked in 2023 edition.
Social Work: 16th overall (five-way tie). Last ranked in 2023 edition.
Sociology: Seventh (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.