American University’s School of Public Affairs (SPA) is ranked No. 9 overall in the latest U.S. News & World Report Best Public Affairs Schools rankings, four spots higher than last year and the highest ranking the school has received since the publication began rating public affairs programs in 1995.

“We are gratified to see our significant improvement this year in the U.S. News rankings,” said SPA Interim Dean Alison Jacknowitz. “Our inclusion within the Top Ten reflects the significant investment we have made to attract and retain talented faculty, and to build graduate programs that evolve to meet the moment and build the skills that our students need to succeed.”

SPA remains the top-ranked school in Washington, D.C. – the fifth year in a row that the school has held this distinction – and it received special recognition in several specialty areas, including three that earned recognition among the top five programs nationwide. Specialty areas include No. 4 for Public Management & Leadership (the highest ranked program of its kind in Washington, D.C.); No. 4 for Nonprofit Management (also the highest ranked program of its kind in D.C.); No. 5 for International Policy & Global Administration; No. 12 in Public Policy Analysis; No. 13 in Public Finance & Budgeting; and No. 22 in Urban Policy.

The U.S. News & World Report rankings are compiled through peer assessment surveys. Deans, directors, and department chairs representing 285 master’s programs in public affairs and administration were surveyed in fall 2024. Respondents were asked to rate the academic quality of a master’s program on a scale of marginal to outstanding. Rankings of specialty areas are based on ratings by educators at peer schools.