Most recent U.S. News Graduate program rankings, by department
(Editor’s note: Updated in April 2024)
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: 43rd for full-time MBA; 26th for part-time MBA; ranked specialties include 29th in accounting (six-way tie), and fifth in real estate (two-way tie). Last ranked in 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: 13th overall (four-way tie). Ranked specialties include 11th in programming language (three-way tie), 23rd in artificial intelligence, 10th in systems (two-way tie) and 19th in theory. Last ranked in 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: First overall (two-way tie) and first among publics. Ranked specialties include second in curriculum and instruction, second in educational administration and supervision, seventh in education policy (two-way tie), first in educational psychology, second in elementary teacher education, 13th in higher education administration, third in secondary teacher education (two-way tie), sixth in special education and eighth in student counseling (three-way tie). Last ranked in 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: 16th in audiology, listed as University of Wisconsin AuD Consortium (Madison & Stevens Point) (three-way tie), clinical psychology (7th in a 10-way tie), physical therapy (26th in a three-way tie), occupational therapy (16th in a three-way tie), pharmacy (9th in a three-way tie), speech-language pathology (2nd in a two-way tie). Last ranked in 2024 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: 36th overall (five-way tie). Ranked specialties include 40th in business – corporate law (two-way tie), 53rd in clinical training (five-way tie), 22nd in constitutional law (three-way tie), 24th in contracts – commercial law (five-way tie), 34th in criminal law (nine-way tie), 53rd in environmental law (12-way tie), 67th in health care law (seven-way tie), 82nd in intellectual property law (nine-way tie), 51st in legal writing (six-way tie), 26th in international law (three-way tie), 40th in tax law (nine-way tie), and 90th in trial advocacy (13-way tie). Last ranked in 2024 edition.
* 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.
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: 66th in schools with a doctor of nursing practice degree (six-way tie). Last ranked in 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: 23rd overall (three-way tie). Ranked specialties include fifth in social policy and 17th in public policy (two-way tie). Last ranked in 2024 edition.
Public Health: 9th overall (nine-way tie). Ranked specialties include 18th in biostatistics (two-way tie), 24th in epidemiology and 20th in health policy and management (two-way tie) Last ranked in 2024 edition.
Rehabilitation Counseling: First overall. Last ranked in 2023-2024 edition.
Social Work: 20th overall (four-way tie). Last ranked in 2024 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.