ISU Colleges Included in U.S. News and World Report Rankings

Illinois State University’s College of Education and College of Fine Arts are once again included in the U.S. News and World Report 2009 rankings of the top graduate schools in America.

The College of Education was ranked 90th and the College of Fine Arts ranked 134th. The College of Education was third in the Illinois public universities rankings, with the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and University of Illinois at Chicago leading the way.  The College of Fine Arts ranking was fifth in Illinois public universities. 

“I am pleased that our graduate programs in Education and Fine Arts received this important external validation from U.S. News and World Report,” President Al Bowman said.  “Although Illinois State is best known for its undergraduate programs, our graduate programs are attaining the national recognition they so richly deserve.”

The Master of Fine Arts program rankings are based on the results of a peer assessment survey conducted in 2007.  The graduate education program rankings are based on quality assessment, student selectivity, faculty resources and research activity.  Illinois State’s College of Education increased their scores in six areas for their ranking.  The areas were mean GRE (graduate record examinations) verbal score, mean GRE quantitative score, Ph.D. and Ed.D acceptance rate, student/faculty ratio, funded research and funded research per faculty member. 

“We are delighted that the graduate programs in the College of Education have once again been recognized for the outstanding work of our faculty and graduate students,” Dean Deborah Curtis said. “Although public recognition of one's work is always gratifying, these professionals take very seriously their obligation to the public to prepare the very best teachers and school leaders for our state and nation.  As our newly developed college five-year plan states, Illinois State University's College of Education will lead the nation in transforming 21st century learning. It is the dedication to this ambitious mission that characterizes this talented group of educators.  This acknowledgment is a genuine testimony to their hard work and commitment.”

“The ranking of graduate programs in Fine Arts acknowledges externally what we have known for some time: Illinois State University excels in graduate as well as undergraduate education in the Fine Arts,” said Dean James Major.  “This is yet another indicator of the superb faculty and high quality students found in the College of Fine Arts.”