L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs

L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs

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Wilder School receives top national accolades in U.S. News and World Report graduate program rankings

U.S. News & World Report ranks the Wilder School public affairs program at No. 39, which places us in the top 15% of more than 250 schools across the United States, as well as top-50 rankings in four program specialty areas.
U.S. News & World Report ranks the Wilder School public affairs program at No. 39, which places us in the top 15% of more than 250 schools across the United States, as well as top-50 rankings in four program specialty areas.

by Susan Gooden

As dean of the Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs, I’m proud to announce we have earned Top-50 recognitions across five specialty program areas as ranked by the U.S. News & World Report 2023-2024 Best Graduate Schools rankings, which were released today. It’s a reflection of our spirit of the Wilder School and exemplifies the values of excellence and service inspired by our namesake, 66th Governor of Virginia, L. Douglas Wilder.

U.S. News & World Report ranks our school’s public affairs program at No. 39, which places us in the top 15% of more than 250 schools across the United States.  

We are also ranked in the following specialty areas:

  • Public management and leadership program - ranked No. 19 in the U.S. and No. 1 in Virginia
  • Public policy analysis - ranked No. 36 in the U.S.
  • Social policy -  ranked No. 16 in the U.S. and No. 1 in Virginia
  • Urban policy - ranked No. 17 in the U.S. and No. 1 in Virginia

Susan T. Gooden, Ph.D., dean and professor of the Wilder School, is an internationally recognized expert on social equity and most recently released,

"Leading Virginia schools in three categories, these rankings are a recognition we are proud of and one that supports our trifold mission of education, research and public service. They reflect a collective commitment to academic and reputational excellence of which we are all proud." – Susan Gooden, Wilder School Dean

These rankings provide additional evidence of the Wilder School's national reputation and the unparallelled impacts of our research, public service and career-focused student opportunities. Our exponential growth in the number of top ranked programs across our school is based on the collective judgment of our national peers that our reputation within the field is first-class. 

Encompassing an unprecedented five total areas, including this year’s additions of Urban Policy and Public Policy program specialties, these rankings reveal our commitment to the intersectionality of research. The rankings elucidate both our broad faculty collaboration across disciplines and our instructors’ leading approaches to create a comprehensive foundation for students’ experiential learning.   

Leading Virginia schools in three categories, these rankings are a recognition we are proud of and one that supports our trifold mission of education, research and public service. They reflect a collective commitment to academic and reputational excellence of which we are all proud. 

I extend my gratitude to an extensive network of faculty, staff, students, alumni, philanthropic supporters, policy researchers, volunteer ambassadors, community organizations and other stakeholders. Thanks to each of you for your many contributions to this very impressive record.