The College of Public Affairs at the University of Baltimore has once again received national recognition with a ranking of #72 in Best Public Affairs Programs in the 2026 edition of U.S. News and World Report’s rankings of graduate-level programs. Released April 7, the rankings evaluated 266 public affairs programs at public and private colleges and universities across the country, placing UBalt among the top third nationally.
The recognition highlights the college’s national standing among public affairs programs of widely varying size and scope. This year, the college is tied in the rankings with institutions including Northeastern University, Northwestern University, Auburn University and the University of Notre Dame.
“Being recognized among the nation’s Best Public Affairs Programs by U.S. News affirms the strength of the College of Public Affairs and our unwavering commitment to preparing the next generation of public service leaders,” said Ivan Sascha Sheehan, interim dean of the College of Public Affairs. “We are intentional about preparing students for real careers in public service—not just through rigorous coursework, but through hands-on, engaged experiences that connect learning to practice.”
Graduate programs in the College of Public Affairs include master's and doctoral degrees in Criminal Justice (M.S.), Cyber Forensics (M.S.), Global Affairs and Human Security (M.A.), Human Services Administration (M.S.), Negotiations and Conflict Management (M.S.) and Public Administration (M.P.A. and D.P.A.), along with graduate certificates in areas including diversity, equity and inclusion, nonprofit leadership, public safety leadership, trauma-informed practice and conflict resolution.
The college’s faculty includes nationally recognized scholars and practitioners whose distinctions include fellows of the National Academy of Public Administration, University System of Maryland Board of Regents’ Award recipients, a Fulbright Scholar, an endowed professor and leadership roles within national organizations dedicated to public service and governance.
The college is home to four applied research centers—the Schaefer Center for Public Policy, the Center for Public Safety Innovation, the Center for Advancing Prevention Excellence and the Center for Justice-Impacted Students—which connect scholarship, policy and practice through research, professional partnerships and community engagement initiatives across Baltimore and beyond.
Experiential learning opportunities also play a central role in the college’s approach to public service education. Through initiatives such as the Schaefer Center’s NextGen Leaders for Public Service program, students have completed more than 600 paid public service internships since 2022, gaining hands-on experience with government agencies, nonprofit organizations and community partners throughout the region.
The recognition follows the University of Baltimore’s recent designation as a recipient of the Carnegie Community Engagement Classification, a national distinction recognizing institutional commitment to community engagement and public impact. The work of the College of Public Affairs reflects that mission through applied research, public service partnerships and community-engaged learning opportunities designed to address complex social and civic challenges.
The ranking reflects the College of Public Affairs’ continued commitment to public service, applied learning and community impact. Through research, professional partnerships and experiential education, the college remains focused on preparing graduates to lead thoughtfully and effectively in complex public and nonprofit environments.