The Graduate School of Public and International Affairs (GSPIA) at the University of Pittsburgh has moved up in the 2024 edition of U.S. News & World Report’s Public Affairs Graduate Schools rankings. GSPIA has consistently ranked in the top 15% of programs nationwide, and this year moved up five places to #34, sharing the spot with University of Virgina’s Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy, University of Delaware’s Biden School of Public Policy and Administration, University of Illinois—Chicago’s Public Affairs School and Cornell University’s Brooks School of Public Policy.
GSPIA also achieved rankings in three specialized fields, advancing in various specialties, demonstrating the expanding range and depth of the school's expertise across numerous disciplines within public affairs.
Specialty areas include:
- #6 in International Global Policy & Administration, up three places from last year, and remaining the #1 Public University in the specialization
- #16 in Urban Policy, up six places from last year
- #31 in Public Policy Analysis, a new recognition this year for the school
"We're grateful to be recognized by U.S. News and our peers across the country," shared Dean Carissa Slotterback. "The upward momentum of the school reflects the collective efforts of our graduates, faculty, staff, and students, and recognizes the efforts that we are making to engage and collaborate with peers in our fields of public and international affairs. Our progress underscores the relevance and impact of our work in addressing the most pressing challenges facing communities locally, nationally and globally.”
The rankings by U.S. News & World Report are generated through assessment surveys. In early 2024, surveys were conducted among deans, directors, and department chairs representing 270 master's programs in public affairs and administration. They were tasked with rating the academic caliber of each program on a scale ranging from marginal to outstanding. The rankings for specialty areas are also determined by assessments provided by educators at peer institutions.
“In an era that requires leaders to be ready to tackle society’s greatest challenges, our graduates are at the forefront of positive change in diverse fields and sectors,” shared Dean Slotterback. “We’re what comes next for students who share our vision for driving meaningful change and we invite them to join us at the University of Pittsburgh.”