Twenty UCF programs were ranked Tuesday among the top 100 in their fields by U.S. News & World Report in its Best Graduate Schools 2017 guidebook. The survey reviewed more than 800 public and private institutions with graduate schools.
Repeating from last year, the Counselor Education program earned UCF’s highest ranking, moving up a notch to No. 9 nationally. The program prepares students for careers as counselors and practitioners in schools, community mental health agencies, hospitals, institutions and private practice.
“This ranking exemplifies the hard work of our Counselor Education faculty and staff and the progress we have achieved,” said Pamela S. Carroll, dean of the College of Education and Human Performance. “What an honor to be listed in the top 10 in the nation in this field.”
The next highest UCF rankings were No. 14 for the atomic, molecular and optical sciences programs in the College of Optics & Photonics, and No. 17 for the Nonprofit Management program in the College of Health and Public Affairs, a jump of eight places.
Two more programs in the College of Health and Public Affairs were ranked in the top 50 – Criminal Justice (26) and Healthcare Management (38) – and Industrial Engineering was ranked at No. 39.
Others in the top 100 were: Communication Sciences and Disorders (53), Public Administration (63), Computer Engineering (64), Materials Science and Engineering (65), Electrical Engineering (66), Civil Engineering (75), Environmental Engineering (75), Social Work (78), College of Engineering & Computer Science (82), Physics (85), Medical Research (88), Computer Science (90), College of Education & Human Performance (91), and Doctor of Nursing Practice (100).
The Best Graduate Schools 2017 edition will be available on newsstands April 5.
The U.S. News rankings were announced one day after The Princeton Review and PC Gamer magazine named UCF’s Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy the best video game graduate school in North America.