Four WMU grad programs among nation's top 50 in U.S. News ranking

Contact: Cheryl Roland
Photo of a WMU sign.

Two programs were assessed as the best of their kind in Michigan.

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—The latest annual U.S. News & World Report ranking of the top graduate programs in the nation shows Western Michigan University with seven programs ranked among the top 100 in their disciplines, four in the top 50 and two programs assessed as the best of their kind in Michigan.

In the latest round of rankings released March 16, WMU's occupational therapy program based in Kalamazoo was ranked at No. 32 nationally, making it the state's highest ranking program in that discipline. The University's speech language pathology program, at No. 46 nationally, is tied for recognition as that discipline's best such program in Michigan.

Top programs

WMU graduate programs ranked among the nation's top 100 are:

  • Occupational Therapy, Kalamazoo—No. 32.
  • Rehabilitation Counseling—No. 37.
  • Speech-Language Pathology—No. 46.
  • Audiology—No. 48.
  • Physician Assistant—No. 57.
  • Occupational Therapy, Grand Rapids—No. 58.
  • Social Work—No. 71.

All seven of WMU's top-100 programs are part of the University's celebrated College of Health and Human Services. Another eight WMU graduate programs also were highly ranked among graduate programs at the nation's more than 650 colleges and universities that confer master's and doctoral degrees. The additional ranked WMU programs are in: Earth Sciences/Geosciences (113), Public Affairs (115), English (125), History (125), Education (126), Art (131), Clinical Psychology (135) and Psychology (141).

"We have a long history of programs in the health and human service disciplines that enjoy international reputations for quality," says Dr. Susan Stapleton, dean of the WMU Graduate College. "While those programs continue to garner top rankings, we're also pleased to see our graduate programs in several other disciplines moving quickly up the ranking lists. Our graduate program in public affairs, for instance, moved up 34 spots in this year's rankings and is now very close to top-100 status."

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