Three of West Virginia University’s colleges made significant advances in the annual U.S. News and World Reports rankings of graduate programs released Tuesday (March 11).

The magazine’s 2015 Best Graduate Schools guide ranks the College of Law a top law school for the third consecutive year, jumping to 83 from 91 last year and 101 just three years ago.

The College of Business and Economics moved into the top 100, climbing from 104 to 92. The College of Education and Human Services also moved up in this year’s rankings, from 111 to 106.

“Congratulations to Dean Joyce McConnell and the faculty, staff and students at the College of Law for this significant jump in the US News rankings,” said President Gordon Gee. “I know how hard they have worked to become leaders in various legal disciplines – from practice-ready skills to energy and sustainable law to immigration law and so many other areas. All this, while undergoing major renovations that will give our College the quality facilities we need for the future.”

Gee also saluted the other ranked WVU programs, especially those which broke into the top 100.

Those programs ranked as being among the top 100 by in U.S. News’ latest guide are:

  • Rural Medicine: 11
  • Aerospace/Aeronautical/Astronautical Engineering: 48
  • Industrial/Manufacturing/Systems Engineering: 56
  • Medical Schools/Primary Care: 68
  • Computer engineering: 84
  • Medical Schools/Research: 84
  • Electrical/Electronic/Communications Engineering: 89
  • Mechanical Engineering: 97
  • Civil Engineering: 99

“This is exceptional news and we are very happy to see WVU Law continue to rise in these national rankings,” Dean McConnell said. “This recognition speaks to the fine work being done by our faculty and staff to ensure a high-quality legal education and it wouldn’t be possible without the support of alumni, friends, university leadership, and the law community.”

Dean Lynne Schrum said, “The College of Education and Human Services is gratified to see the U. S. News and World Report recognizes our progress toward becoming the best college of its kind in the nation. We hope that this positive trajectory will increase student matriculation from West Virginia, other states, and throughout the world. I am extremely proud of our faculty, staff and students and recognize their outstanding effort.”

B&E Dean Jose V. Zito Sartarelli noted that the school has climbed from 124 just a few years ago to its top-100 ranking now, and is in the top 50 among public universities.

“One of our values has been excellence, so this ranking reflects that effort that we are making,” he said. “Great students, great professors and great programs are being recognized by the outside world and we believe that this is a reflection of where we are in the quality of our programs.”

Other updated graduate school rankings for WVU released today are:

  • Engineering: 102
  • Earth Sciences: 110
  • Physics: 111
  • Computer Science: 112
  • Chemistry, 117
  • Math: 134
  • Biological Sciences: 175

U.S. News does not update all rankings each year. Programs previously ranked, which will be included in the latest edition, are:

  • 2013: Psychology, 78; English, 106; History, 118.
  • 2012: Ceramics, 18; Pharmacy, 26; Clinical Psychology, 42; Physical therapy, 63; Audiology, 64; Fine Arts, 72; Speech-language pathology: 84; Public affairs, 104; Social Work, 104; Occupational Therapy, 116.
  • 2011: Rehabilitation counseling, 30; Nursing: 99.

Other WVU programs and schools included in other U.S. News rankings are:

Overall: Public schools, 94; national universities, 170; undergraduate business program, 141; undergraduate engineering programs, 104; high school counselors, 215; best colleges for veterans, 41.

Online: Graduate Business, 23; Graduate Education; 31; Graduate Engineering, 54; Graduate Nursing, 65.

-WVU-

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