Top marks for UD graduate programs

The University of Delaware has been ranked among the 2026 Best Graduate Schools by U.S. News & World Report.

This year's rankings reflect UD's continued national recognition across a wide range of graduate programs with two programs featured prominently. Physical Therapy retained the No. 1 spot (out of 278) and Chemical Engineering rose to No. 7 (out of 136).

Overall, 14 of UD's ranked graduate programs and schools placed in the top 50. Nearly one-third of UD's previously ranked programs and schools improved their position over the past year.

The University of Delaware has also shown steady upward momentum in U.S. News' Best Education Schools and Best Engineering Schools rankings over the past five years. Education climbed to No. 26 (up from 31) among 270 schools, while Engineering ranked No. 36 out of 195 schools. These rankings are based primarily on statistical indicators, with research activity accounting for 50% of the methodology. Additional factors include quality assessments, faculty resources and student selectivity.

UD's Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration rose to No. 25 in the Best Public Affairs Schools rankings, out of 266 institutions. Unlike many other categories, public affairs rankings are based solely on peer assessments by academic experts. Within speciality public affairs areas UD saw strong performance, with Homeland Security and Emergency Management ranked No. 8, Nonprofit Management ranked No. 12, Public Management and Leadership ranked No. 20, and Public Finance and Budgeting ranked No. 31.

Top programs

UD's Physical Therapy program consistently ranks No. 1 in U.S. News & World Report, reflecting its strength in academics, faculty expertise and robust research enterprise. A defining feature of the program is UD's Physical Therapy Clinic, which advances the University's teaching and research mission while delivering high-quality care to the community - an approach rarely found outside large healthcare systems. Graduates of the program serve as ambassadors worldwide, with alumni working across elite settings including the NFL, U.S Soccer and at the most recent Winter Olympics.

UD's Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering is also regularly recognized by U.S. News & World Report among the nation's top programs, underscoring its leadership in research, education and applied innovation. The Ph.D. program is internationally recognized for its accomplished faculty, distinctive research infrastructure and strong connections to the Mid-Atlantic's industry network, creating a training environment that integrates scientific discovery with real-world application. As a hub for innovation in developing advanced materials, chemicals and biopharmaceuticals, the department continues to cultivate leaders whose work shapes industries and improves lives worldwide, while its alumni garner top recognition including election into the National Academy of Engineering.

Overall rankings in specialty areas

UD programs ranked among the top 50 specialty rankings include:

• Physical Therapy, 1

• Chemical Engineering, 7

• Homeland Security and Emergency Management, 8

• Nonprofit Management, 12

• Criminology, 18

• Public Management and Leadership, 20

• Public Finance and Budgeting, 31

• Speech-Language Pathology, 33

• Information Systems, 41*

• Materials Engineering, 47

• Clinical Psychology, 49

UD programs in the top 100 include:

• Chemistry, 51

• Mechanical Engineering, 51

• Biomedical Engineering, 52

• Business Analytics, 54*

• Civil Engineering, 57

• Electrical Engineering, 57

• Physics, 62

• Psychology, 62

• Earth Sciences, 64

• Computer Engineering, 69

• Computer Science, 69

• English, 72

• Finance, 72*

• International Business, 74*

• History, 75

• Sociology, 76

• Accounting, 84*

• Mathematics, 84

• Statistics, 85*

• Political Science, 87

• Economics, 97

U.S. News & World Report selects several factors, known as ranking indicators, to assess each program in the categories outlined above. A program's score for each indicator is calculated using data that the program reported to U.S. News in a statistical survey and from data collected in a separate peer assessment survey. Programs marked with an asterisk indicate newly ranked programs for UD.

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.

This latest ranking joins two other recent evaluations recognizing UD's excellence in graduate education. U.S. News & World Report ranked six UD online graduate degree programs among the best in the nation in its 2026 U.S. News Best Online Programs, released Jan. 27. Both UD's online master's in education and online MBA ranked among the top 10% of their respective programs, at No. 25 and 26, respectively. Also, the Poets&Quants 2026 Online MBA rankings placed UD's online MBA program at No. 32, up nine spots from last year.

Graduate education at UD

The University of Delaware currently offers 66 doctoral and 164 master's degree programs across its academic departments. UD boasts strong graduate student outcomes with 96% of master's degree graduates and 99% of doctoral degree graduates are employed or furthering their education within six months of graduation. UD is one of the top 100 institutions for federal obligations in science and engineering and interdisciplinary initiatives in energy science and policy, the environment and human health. Learn more at grad.udel.edu.