Trachtenberg School Ranked Among Highest Public Affairs Schools in Nation, Ranked in Top Ten in Three Specialty Areas


March 19, 2019

According to the 2020 (released in March 2019) U.S. News and World Report rankings of graduate programs, GW's Trachtenberg School of Public Policy & Public Administration is tied for 14th overall among 285 schools considered this year.

Additionally, the Trachtenberg School was ranked by peers in eight of 12 specialty areas, up from five last year. To be ranked in specialty areas, peers at other schools must list a program as an academic thought leader in that field.

“We are honored that our peers at other public affairs schools consider us among the best in so many of the specialty areas,” said Dr. Kathryn Newcomer, director of the Trachtenberg School. “Our peers decided we are among the top ten schools nationwide in both public management and leadership and public policy analysis. GW’s reputation in the area of international global policy resulted in another top ten ranking in that field.”

The Trachtenberg School’s specialty area rankings highlight the many areas of expertise among the faculty. The school is 8th in international global policy, 9th in public management and leadership, 10th in public policy analysis, 11th in public finance and budgeting, 12th in health policy, tied for 14th in homeland security and emergency management, 20th in nonprofit management and 20th in social policy.

“I selected GW partly because of its high rankings in U.S. News and World Report,” said Briana Taylor, MPP ’20. “You want to go to a school with a good ranking to have better opportunities post school. Once I got on campus and got to know the faculty and other students, it became clear to me how much care and attention is paid to the school beyond the ranking. It really does feel like a top-rate experience to be a student here.”