U.S. News and World Report Recognizes UA Little Rock for Graduate Programs

U.S. News and World Report has recognized the University of Arkansas at Little Rock for its excellent graduate programs in public affairs and social work.

U.S. News rankings are widely recognized as symbols of excellence in higher education that are conferred by an unbiased trust agent. With more than 15 measures of academic quality, the U.S. News Best Colleges report provides data-driven information and guidance to help prospective students and their families understand their higher education options.

UA Little Rock's academic rankings in U.S. News and World Report 2024 Best Graduate Schools rankings include 99th in public affairs and 120th in social work.

Dr. Derek Slagle, director of the UA Little Rock School of Public Affairs, said that there are many factors contributing to the Top 100 ranking, including an increase in publications and conference presentations by students and faculty, increased service in the department, recognition for excellence in teaching through our accreditation processes, and continued participation in community programs.

"It is great to see our program being recognized by U.S. News and World Report," Slagle said. "The top 100 ranking for the School of Public Affairs for two consecutive years is a credit to our faculty and teaching staff, our school's academic scholarship and applied research impact, and the students in our programs. Our program ranking has steadily been increasing year to year regarding reputation and impact."

The MPA program at UA Little Rock provides professional management, analytical, and leadership skills, as the understanding of public policy issues needed for management and policy positions in national, state, regional, and local government, and the nonprofit sector.

"We are glad for the increasing recognition of what our MPA program alums have long known, that the MPA program prepares students for success in a wide variety of administrative professions," said Dr. Sarah Beth Estes, dean of the College of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, and Education. "Kudos to the faculty and staff for their consistent excellence."

The Master of Social Work program is a 60-hour program that focuses on clinical social work practice. Students learn contemporary, evidence-informed practice approaches that can be used across a wide range of settings and with diverse individuals, families, and groups.

"We are pleased with our ranking," said Dr. Kim Jones, interim co-director of the School of Social Work. "One of the things that makes our program unique is our well qualified faculty who bring real world social work practice experience into the classroom. We also offer two concentrations: one clinical and one macro-oriented. We pride ourselves on our excellent faculty and fully accredited programs."