The University of Baltimore's College of Public Affairs has reached #61 nationally in the latest U.S. News & World Report's rankings of graduate-level programs. The college is tied with eight other institutions in the ranking, including Binghamton University-SUNY, Brandeis University, Portland State University, and others. The ranking represents a 9-point rise for the college, and puts it ahead of several larger institutions with public affairs programs, including research-focused campuses such as Penn State, Auburn University, and Louisiana State University. The ranking, covering dozens of graduate-level disciplines offered at public and private institutions across the country, was released on April 8.
In the 2019 edition of graduate rankings, the University's College of Public Affairs was listed at #64 nationally, placing the college in the top 25 percent of institutions with public affairs graduate programs.
"Our 2025 ranking is one of the highest we have achieved in many years," says CPA Dean Roger Hartley. "This rise is a testament to the growing national prominence of some of our most important programs, and an endorsement of our college’s service to Maryland at both the state and local level across the public sector—government, nonprofits, and so on. We are delivering on the promise of public service at a time when it is absolutely crucial to the progress of society overall."
Graduate programs in UBalt's College of Public Affairs include master's and doctoral degrees in Criminal Justice (M.S.), Cyber Forensics (M.S.), Global Affairs and Human Security (M.A.), Health Administration (M.S.), Human Services Administration (M.S.), Negotiations and Conflict Management (M.S.), and Public Administration (M.P.A.) and Public Administration (doctorate/ D.P.A.)
The college also offers graduate certificates in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Essential Conflict Resolution, Global Engagement, Health Systems Management, Human Services Administration, Nonprofit Leadership, Public Safety Leadership, and Trauma-Informed.
"The U.S. News rankings are driven by peer awareness and recognition of excellence," Dean Hartley says. "When we talk with leaders from other institutions, there's often a lot of interest in what we’re doing with our NextGen Leaders for Public Service initiative, and other areas where we can make a difference by encouraging students to consider public service as a career. Our faculty are driving some great conversations about what that field needs to look like, tomorrow, next year, and in the decades ahead. Our peers want to know what they can do in their own cities and states to shape that discussion."
Hartley points out that NextGen Leaders has placed more than 450 UBalt students in paid internships in local and state government in less than three years.
"We are excited to know that in the University's 2025 Centennial our college is looking to the future," Hartley adds. "We are leading the way in improving access in public service education. Our team has advanced in dual modality learning, where students can take classes online and in person at the same time. We have also created an array of graduate certificate programs that allow students a faster pathway to new skills and a credentials. Many of these certificates count toward one or more of our degrees. You can literally graduate with a certificate while also earning your degree."