ASU public affairs graduate programs rise to No. 11 in nation in US News & World Report’s 2025 rankings


Watts College, sign, Downtown Phoenix campus, Arizona State University

Photo by Mark J. Scarp/ASU

|

Arizona State University rose to No. 11 nationwide for best graduate public affairs programs in U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 rankings, the magazine announced.

The ranking, released April 8, demonstrates that graduate studies offered at the ASU School of Public Affairs continue to be among the nation's finest. The school’s new overall ranking — ahead of Georgetown, Ohio State and UCLA — rose two spots from last year's list.

The school’s graduate programs have ranked among the nation’s top 15 each year since 2021.

Related story

See the full ASU rankings

School Director and Professor Shannon Portillo said the programs’ rising status is a product of its faculty’s striving to exemplify the university’s core values.

“Our rise in the rankings demonstrates our commitment to our mission: living the ASU Charter by preparing students and professionals for ethical, inclusive and effective public service; conducting cutting-edge research of public value; and engaging locally, nationally and internationally with the communities we serve,” said Portillo, the Lattie and Elva Coor Presidential Chair. “Our faculty, staff and alumni are committed to ensuring a bright future for public service, and that commitment is reflected in our rise in the rankings.”

Nine specializations within the school’s graduate program were most recently ranked in 2024. All nine are in the top 20 nationally, while seven are in the top 10. They are:

  • No. 2 in homeland security and emergency management.
  • No. 3 in information and technology management.
  • No. 3 in local government management.
  • No. 5 in nonprofit management.
  • No. 5 in public management and leadership.
  • No. 9 in urban policy.
  • No. 10 in environmental policy and management.
  • No. 16 in public finance and budgeting.
  • No. 17 in public policy analysis.

The School of Public Affairs is part of the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions.

More University news

 

people jog on a park trail

ASU community exceeds goal, raises $835K for Valley of the Sun United Way

The Arizona State University community stepped up and raised over $835,266 for the Valley of the Sun United Way — exceeding the $800,000 goal for 2024.Of the total, $802,192.17 was raised through…

Arizona State University PhD student Andrea Brenner aboard the RV Atlantic Explorer (RVAE) at the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences

ASU launches online ocean futures undergraduate degrees

Our oceans make up three quarters of the planet’s surface and contain most of its biodiversity. Due to rapid and global changes, they are endangered — making more urgent a deeper knowledge of ocean…

Two people on laptops in a law library

ASU graduate programs ranked among top 10 nationwide

Six graduate programs at Arizona State University are in the top 10 nationwide, according to U.S. News & World Report’s Best Graduate Programs 2025 rankings released today.A total of 17 programs…