ICYMI: Here’s How NC Grad Schools Rank Among Top Programs

CHARLOTTE, NC — U.S. News & World Report released its 2020 rankings of the best graduate schools in the country and several North Carolina schools made the annual list.

The rankings for 2020 evaluate programs in business, law, medicine, engineering, education and nursing, according to U.S. News. The publication explained the rankings are unique for each field.

U.S. News says government data shows that both master’s’-level and doctorate-level jobs are forecast to increase in the near future.

“Whether you’re looking to pursue a degree in law, medicine or business, the best graduate schools rankings offer the in-depth data and information you need to start your search,” Anita Narayan, managing editor of education at U.S. News, said in a press release. “You can compare data on factors that most interest you — whether that’s how many law students pass the bar and are employed at graduation, or the student-faculty ratio and research expenditures at engineering schools.”

Here’s how North Carolina schools ranked for each program evaluated by U.S. News:

Business
Here’s how North Carolina schools ranked for full-time MBAs:

• Duke University (No. 10)
• University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill (No. 19)
• North Carolina State University (No. 85)

Below are the top schools in the U.S. for full-time MBA:

• University of Pennsylvania (Wharton) (No. 1)
• Stanford University (No. 2)
• University of Chicago (Booth) ( No. 3)
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Sloan) (No. 3)
• Harvard University (No. 3)

Law
Here’s how North Carolina schools ranked for law:

• Duke University (No. 10)
• Wake Forest University (No. 31)
• University of North Carolina — Chapel Hill (No. 34)

Below are the top schools in the U.S. for law:

• Yale University (No. 1)
• Stanford University (No. 2)
• Harvard University (No. 3)

Medical
Here’s how North Carolina schools ranked for medical research:

• Duke University (No. 13)
• University of North Carolina — Chapel Hill (No. 23)
• Wake Forest University (No. 50)

Below are the top schools in the U.S. for medical research:

• Harvard University (No. 1)
• Johns Hopkins University (No. 2)
• University of Pennsylvania (No. 3)
• Stanford University (No. 3)

Engineering
Here’s how North Carolina schools ranked for engineering:

• Duke University (No. 24)
• North Carolina State University (No. 25)
• University of North Carolina — Charlotte (No. 134)

Below are the top schools in the U.S. for engineering:

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1)
• Stanford University (2)
• University of California-Berkeley (3)

Nursing
Here’s how North Carolina schools ranked for nursing:

• Duke University (No. 2)
• University of North Carolina — Chapel Hill (No. 11)
• University of North Carolina — Greensboro (No. 79)
• University of North Carolina — Charlotte (No. 81)
• East Carolina University (No. 90)
• University of North Carolina — Wilmington (No. 139)
• University of North Carolina — Pembroke (No. 185)

Below are the top schools in the U.S. for nursing:

• Johns Hopkins University (No. 1)
• Duke University (No. 2)
• University of Pennsylvania (No. 3)

Education
Here’s how North Carolina schools rank for education:

• University of North Carolina — Chapel Hill (No. 27)
• North Carolina State University — Raleigh (No. 45)
• University of North Carolina — Greensboro (No. 75)
• University of North Carolina — Charlotte (No. 78)
• Appalachian State University (No. 110)
• Western Carolina University (No. 152)
• East Carolina University (No. 163)
• University of North Carolina — Wilmington (No. 163)

Below are the top schools in the U.S. for education:

• Harvard University (No. 1)
• University of Pennsylvania (No. 2)
• University of California-Los Angeles (No. 3)
• Stanford University (No. 3)
• University of Wisconsin-Madison (No. 3)

U.S. News says in its methodology that the rankings are based on two types of data: expert opinions and “statistical indicators that measure the quality of a school’s faculty, research and students.” Statistical indicators include inputs like admission test scores and outputs like starting salaries. (You can read the full methodology here.)