Graduate School Rankings 2012

As an undergrad, choosing your graduate school is one of the biggest decisions you’ll ever make. The right school can mean higher-paying jobs, a great alumni and career network, many financial aid programs, and a place you feel comfortable, while the wrong school can lead to academic problems and unfulfilled career goals. Rankings lists can help you decide which program is right for you.

There are a number of different organizations and publications that compile graduate school rankings. Some focus on schools in a certain location, while others look at specific kinds of programs. Still others rank graduate schools in general, without bias to type of program or location. All of these lists can help you determine which graduate schools are best for you.

US News Rankings

US News and World Report is one of the most respected sources for college rankings. Their annual ranking includes a graduate school list includes over 12,000 programs, and is divided according to type of study. They have lists for business schools, education schools, engineering schools, law schools, and medical schools, in addition to offering rankings for graduate schools that focus on the sciences, library and information studies, social sciences and humanities subjects, the fine arts, public affairs programs, and more.

BusinessWeek Rankings

If you’re interested in an MBA program, the list compiled by BusinessWeek is by far one of the best resources you can use to find out more about schools offering education in this area. They also have a list for undergraduate schools, as well as non-degree education, but as a graduate student to-be, you’ll likely be most interested in the part-time MBA program listing, the full-time MBA program listing, or the Executive MBA (EMBA) listing.

Law School Rankings

Along with US News’ rankings, you should also check out the Gourman Report and the Education Quality Rankings (EQR). While the Gourman Report doesn’t come out every year, it was the original ranking list for law schools, and it can still be useful, since many law programs are very old and haven’t changed much over the past several years. The EQR is also a list you should consider. Compiled by Professor Brian Leiter at the University of Texas law school, this listing looks at quality of faculty, quality of student body, and quality of teaching.

NRC Rankings

If you’re interested in school beyond a master’s degree program, check out the National Research Council (NRC) rankings, which lists doctorate programs in a number of subject areas. This list is only updated occasionally (the last report was in 1995), but it is by far one of the most comprehensive reviews of the doctorate programs available.

As an undergraduate student, you probably already realize that the right school can make or break your college experience and career success. You probably also already realize that the best school for you may not necessarily be the school at the top of any ranking list. Check out a number of colleges that offer graduate programs in your subject of choice, not only looking at their rank on various lists, but also talking to professors and students, visiting campuses, and more.

The Top Online Universities in America

The Internet has revolutionized education so that now you can earn a degree entirely online from the comfort of your home. This is perfect for working professionals or anyone who wants to get ahead in a career without having to go to a physical campus everyday.

	The University of Phoenix is world-renowned for being the largest online university. Phoenix boasts dozens of different degrees at all levels that students can choose from. In the last four years alone, the university produced 80,000 graduates in high-demand fields as nursing, health care, teaching and IT. In addition to its online access, the school has campus locations within 10 miles of 87 million Americans. Learn More About University of Phoenix
	Liberty University has the reputation of being the largest online evangelical Christian university in the nation. Founded in 1971 by the late Reverend Jerry Falwell, Liberty's original name was Lynchburg Baptist College. Liberty obtained university status in 1984. In athletics, Liberty is a member of the Big South Conference for 18 sports, including football, hockey, and basketball. Academically, Liberty offers majors in over 70 subjects, including aeronautics, business, nursing, and more. Learn More About Liberty University
	Kaplan is organized into ten different academic schools, including Arts & Sciences, Business, Criminal Justice, Education, Health Sciences, IS & Technology, Legal Studies, Nursing, Continuing Education, and Concord Law School. All told, Kaplan offers more than 125 degrees and programs both off- and online, with more than 70 campus-based locations nationwide. Learn More About Kaplan University
	In addition to a host of options for students needing to transfer existing bachelor's and master's coursework into one of its more-than three dozen degree programs, Post University also welcomes military personnel to join its student body. Post offers detailed opportunities for veterans, those participating in active duty, as well as military dependent students. Learn More About Post University
	Ashford is a private liberal arts university based in Clinton, Iowa. But thanks to the World Wide Web, students from all over the world can access their online coursework. Originally founded in 1918 as Mount St. Clare College, Ashford has Catholic roots and today its NAIA-level athletic teams are known as The Saints, which compete in the Midwest Collegiate Conference in over a dozen sports. Learn More About Ashford University
	DeVry has dozens of campuses nationwide and delivers its coursework via the Web to thousands of online students studying for their degrees. At DeVry University, all degree programs are career-focused to ensure that proper training is given to students pursuing a specific job or career path. Learn More About DeVry University
	American InterContinental University, also known as AIU, is a private school accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association. Founded in 1970 as the American College of Applied Arts, AIU today has seven campuses in the US and UK and runs its online program out of its Chicago offices. AIU offers degree programs in several subjects, including healthcare, business, education, criminal justice, and more. Learn More About American InterContinental University
	For students looking for flexible and affordable online education, Walden University offers both. As a leading accredited online university for more than 40 years, Walden has more than 42,500 students, from all 50 states and more than 100 countries. Nearly 85 percent of Walden students are satisfied with their university, and would be likely to recommend Walden to others. Learn More About Walden University
	In 1892, S. Irving Strayer founded Strayer's Business College. Today, this is known as Strayer University and has over 70 non-residential campuses with more than 50,000 students nationwide. Strayer is highly regarded as producing as many students with computer science degrees as any other school in the country. Learn More About Strayer University
	Grand Canyon University was founded in 1949 as Grand Canyon College, an Arizona Southern Baptist school. (It reached university status in 1989.) Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association, GCU is typically featured among the Top 10 online colleges as ranked by The Online Education Database (OEDb). Learn More About Grand Canyon University
	Founded in 1839, Boston University is one of the oldest and most trusted universities that offers online education. At Boston Online, students can study liberal arts, business, science, criminal justice, health, music, nursing, and more to become well-rounded and productive individuals. Moreover, online programs offer a better sense of flexibility and convenience. Learn More About Boston University
	Capella University was founded in 1991 by Stephen Shank, the former CEO of Tonka, who felt that working adults were underserved by traditional brick-and-mortar universities. While their offices are located in downtown Minneapolis, being an online university, the majority of learning takes place outside of campus and instead via the Internet. Their motto: "Knowledge is solving problems no one else can." Learn More About Capella University