For the sixth consecutive year, Auburn University's College of Education has been ranked by U.S.News and World Report for the quality of its graduate programs, faculty achievement and research efforts. In its 2009 Best Graduate Schools publication published in March 2008, the college was ranked 77th among the 250 schools evaluated by U.S.News. The ranking places the college in the top third of schools nationwide.

Besides being ranked 77th, the College of Education is ranked 57th among public institutions included in the rankings published online at www.usnews.com. In addition, the college was the highest-ranked school of education—public or private—in Alabama.

"Beyond the recognition of being ranked in the top third of schools this year is how the rankings system contributes to our college's assessment and evaluation system," said Dean Frances Kochan. "As we strive to evaluate our college's efforts in a meaningful way, the process of collecting this data on an annual basis and having it to compare to our regional and peer institutions is part of our overall assessment efforts."

Each fall, college administrators complete a survey from U.S.News that reports the college's research funding, GRE scores and acceptance rates for entering doctoral students, and the number of faculty and graduate students in the college.

Data from these metrics account for 60 percent of the college's overall score. U.S.News adds to that a reputational score based on feedback from a national survey of education and university administrators at colleges and universities, as well as a national sampling of school superintendents, all who rate the college's reputation on a one-to-five scale.

 Learn more about all the college's measures of excellence