Florida State University’s academic degree programs in library & information studies and law are among the best graduate and professional programs in the nation, according to new rankings in U.S. News & World Report’s 2018 edition of “Best Graduate Schools” published March 14.
Florida State’s school library media program ranked No. 1 in the nation for the fifth year, and its services for children and youth program ranked 7th nationally. Both are programs of study offered within FSU’s Master of Science in Information degree program, which moved up one place to 12th in the nation overall.
“These rankings are a testament to the commitment and dedication of our faculty and staff who provide students with outstanding academic programs,” said Larry Dennis, dean of the FSU College of Communication & Information.
“The FSU iSchool continues to strive for excellence in connecting people with information and technology, and we’re very proud of this recognition of the achievements of our faculty, students and staff,” said Lorri Mon, director of FSU’s School of Information.
Florida State’s College of Law moved up two places to rank as the nation’s 48th best law school overall. It ranks as the nation’s 24th best public law school. U.S. News also ranks Florida State’s environmental law program the nation’s 14th best, up from 18th last year.
“We are thrilled that U.S. News continues to rank us among the nation’s top law schools and that we are improving in these rankings,” said FSU College of Law Dean Erin O’Connor.
The overall ranking reflects the College of Law’s strong employment and student selectivity numbers. No other law school in the state ranks higher in the percentage of 2015 graduates employed 10 months after graduation in full-time, long-term, bar passage-required or J.D.-advantage jobs.
Other programs at Florida State also made significant improvements in this year’s U.S. News graduate rankings. The College of Nursing’s master’s and doctor of nursing practice programs jumped 30 spots and 29 spots respectively, and the history department’s graduate program climbed 23 places. FSU’s graduate programs in economics and English also improved.
“We are very pleased, and proud of all of our highly ranked graduate programs. We congratulate our colleagues in law and information,” said Sally McRorie, provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs. “Once again, this level of excellence speaks to our preeminence as a top research university.”