The Â鶹ӳ»'s College of Education & Human Development, has achieved a significant milestone, climbing 18 spots to secure the 81st position in the U.S. News & World Report's 2025 rankings for Best Graduate Education Programs. This advancement underscores the College's dedication to academic excellence and its commitment to preparing future educators. This ranking places the College firmly in the company of some of the country's best and most prestigious institutions.
"We are incredibly excited about our new ranking, which clearly indicates that our faculty, students and programs are recognized among world-class graduate programs across the country," said Donald Easton-Brooks, Ph.D., dean of the College of Education and Human Development. "It is a notable accomplishment that we are consistently ranked as a 'top graduate program for education' and that our rankings continue to soar. Importantly, it is our local community and state who will benefit from these quality efforts the most."
The College of Education & Human Development offers top-tier graduate programs that provide its students comprehensive instruction, mentorship and research opportunities, contributing to the University's status as an R1 institution. Further demonstrating its leadership in the field, the College ranks among the top 10 in research expenditures among colleges of education and human development in the western United States. This achievement underscores the institution's dedication to advancing educational research and innovation.
The U.S. News & World Report ranking was released on April 8, 2025. A combination of factors, including research contributions, peer assessments, educational professional assessments, teacher-student ratio, degrees granted and acceptance rates, influence the rankings.
Earlier this year, the College's online graduate programs were ranked 63rd in the nation. This 25-place improvement from the previous year highlights the institution's efforts to expand and enhance its online educational offerings, providing students with flexible and high-quality learning opportunities.
"The college has a top-notch quality online education program as recognized by metrics that look at the level of instruction, student engagement and attention to access," Easton-Brooks said.
The College has also earned full seven-year accreditation from the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP), making it the only institution in Â鶹ӳ» to hold this distinction. This accreditation reflects the University's unwavering commitment to excellence in educator preparation. Moreover, the College boasts a 95% Praxis Core pass rate, the highest in the state, reflecting the effectiveness of its programs in equipping students with the necessary skills and knowledge for successful careers in education.
"Being the first and only nationally and fully accredited teacher education program in Â鶹ӳ» speaks to the commitment our college has to provide quality educators to our communities," Easton-Brooks said. "This rigorous process shows our community that we are committed to producing quality teachers to reduce achievement gaps, provide our young learners an opportunity for upward mobility, and provide our schools with educators who are ready to engage all students."
These accomplishments highlight the College of Education & Human Development's ongoing commitment to fostering academic excellence, pioneering research and the professional success of its graduates.
