Facts and Figures

In the 2026 edition of Best Graduate Schools, U.S. News and World Report ranked 24 University of Delaware graduate programs among the best in the nation, with 13 programs ranked among the top 50. 

Two of UD’s programs remained in the elite top 10, and over half of the programs ranked this year are in the top 50.

Physical therapy regained its #1 ranking, and chemical engineering is ranked #8. Joining them in the top 50 are: 

• Nonprofit Management, 16

• Public Management and Leadership, 18

• Public Finance and Budgeting, 21

• Public Affairs Schools, 27 (up from 34)

• Curriculum and Instruction, 30 (UD newly ranked in 2026)

• Education Schools, 31 (up from 34)

• Speech-Language Pathology, 32

• Materials Engineering, 35 (up from 40)

• Engineering Schools, 37 (up from 38)

• Mechanical Engineering, 42 (up from 50)

• Clinical Psychology, 45

Also ranked this year are:

• Biomedical Engineering/Bioengineering, 51

• Civil Engineering, 58

• Computer Engineering, 58

• Electrical/Electronic/Communications Engineering, 61

• Psychology, 62 (up from 68)

• Computer Science, 71

• English, 72 (up from 82)

• History, 75

• Sociology, 76 (up from 79)

• Political Science, 87

• Economics, 97

The preceding list only includes subject areas evaluated in this year's edition; other UD graduate programs have been ranked in previous years. The full listing of UD graduate programs ranked by U.S. News and World Report is available on the Institutional Research and Effectiveness Rankings webpage. Please note that the programs and specialties used by U.S. News might vary slightly from the names of degree programs used by UD.

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Five University of Delaware online graduate degree programs are ranked among the best in the nation by U.S. News & World Report in its 2025 U.S. News Best Online Programs, with two programs in the top 20.  

UD’s online master’s of business administration (MBA) ranked No. 20 out of 355, with the master’s in education ranked No. 20 out of 313. 

In only the second year of UD being ranked among the online master’s in computer information technology programs, UD rose to No. 41, jumping from No. 50. 

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The 2025 edition of U.S. News and World Report’s Best Graduate Schools has ranked the University of Delaware's engineering program at #38 nationally, a jump of four spots. Additionally, UD’s consistently top-ranked chemical engineering graduate program remained in the top 10 nationally at #7.

“This momentum in the rankings reflects the outstanding work of our dedicated faculty, staff and students, as well as the strategic investments that the University has made to strengthen our intellectual capital, expand our academic programs, enhance our research capacity and provide unique opportunities to learn and grow,” said UD President Dennis Assanis. “UD’s top-notch engineering program is educating the workforce of the future and driving the growth of the Delaware region’s economy while also solving critical problems around the world."

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The 2025 edition of U.S. News and World Report’s Best Graduate Schools has ranked the University of Delaware's engineering program at #38 nationally, a jump of four spots. Additionally, UD’s consistently top-ranked chemical engineering graduate program remained in the top 10 nationally at #7.

“This momentum in the rankings reflects the outstanding work of our dedicated faculty, staff and students, as well as the strategic investments that the University has made to strengthen our intellectual capital, expand our academic programs, enhance our research capacity and provide unique opportunities to learn and grow,” said UD President Dennis Assanis. “UD’s top-notch engineering program is educating the workforce of the future and driving the growth of the Delaware region’s economy while also solving critical problems around the world."

The complete list of rankings for engineering graduate programs reflects an upward trajectory in six areas:

• Chemical engineering, 7
• Engineering schools, 38 (up from 42)
• Materials engineering, 40 (up from 42)
• Biomedical engineering, 50
• Mechanical engineering, 50
• Civil engineering, 51 (up from 55)
• Electrical and computer engineering, 53 (up from 66)
• Computer engineering, 55 (up from 57)
• Computer science, 70 (up from 77)

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