UNCW Grad Programs Ranked Among Nation's Best

Various UNCW graduate programs are among the best in the country, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 Best Graduate Schools rankings. 

UNCW is ranked #68 in the Healthcare Management category, tied with four other institutions. This is the first year UNCW has been ranked in this category. The university is tied for #121 with seven other institutions in the Public Affairs category, up three spots from last year. UNCW is ranked #209 in Education.

“UNCW’s continued recognition in the U.S. News & World Report rankings reflects our commitment to academic excellence and student success,” said Chancellor Aswani Volety. “Being ranked among the nation’s best graduate programs, especially with our debut in Healthcare Management, is a testament to the dedication of our faculty, staff and students. We are proud of this achievement and remain focused on advancing opportunities for our graduate students.” 

The Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) program launched in fall 2020. It is designed to provide early to mid-level healthcare professionals with foundational knowledge and skills to serve as effective managers and administrators in a variety of healthcare organizations. UNCW’s MHA program is accredited by the Commission of Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME). 

“Our Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) being ranked among the top healthcare administration programs in the country, just five years after our launch, is a testament to the passion and dedication of our faculty, the quality of our students, the success of our alumni, and our commitment to developing effective healthcare leaders through transformative learning,” said Dan Fisher, MHA program coordinator. “We’re honored by this recognition and inspired to keep building toward an even brighter future.” 

U.S. News & World Report bases the rankings on expert opinion about program excellence and statistical indicators that measure the quality of a school's faculty, research and students and their post-graduate outcomes. Some categories, including Healthcare Management and Public Affairs, are ranked by peer assessment only. More than 2,000 graduate programs across the country are evaluated for the rankings.