Georgia State University’s Andrew Young School of Policy Studies broke into the top 20 public affairs graduate schools and the College of Education & Human Development continued its rapid ascent up the U.S. News & World Report magazine rankings of higher education graduate programs, placing 40^th in this year’s survey.

The Andrew Young School rose seven spots to No. 18 overall in the public affairs degree programs, tying with Columbia, Duke, American and Ohio State universities.

The College of Education & Human Development ranked 59^th two years ago and jumped to 48 last year.

Rankings of graduate schools are based on qualitative and quantitative measures. Rankings of individual programs are based on peer assessments.

The College of Law held steady at 65 this year. The college’s health law program moved up four spots to third after ranking seventh last year. The college’s part-time program rose from 11 last year to 10 in this year’s survey. Clinical education ranked 31st.

The Robinson College of Business’ part-time Master of Business Administration program rose to 32nd this year from 46^th last year in a six-way tie with other institutions. Its information systems program ranked 17th, down six spots since last year.

The Master of Science in Nursing program in the Byrdine F. Lewis College of Nursing and Health Professions ranked 117^th in this year’s rankings, down five spots from last year. The Doctor of Nursing Practice ranked 132th, tied with Pacific Lutheran and University of Southern Indiana.

The Andrew Young School took top 10 places in two of five new specialty rankings announced this year: urban policy and local government management. Four of the school’s six specialty rankings placed it among the nation’s top 10 schools.

• 3 – Urban Policy

• 5 – Nonprofit Management

• 8 – Public Finance & Budgeting

• 8 – Local Government Management

• 22 – Public Management & Leadership

• 29 – Public Policy Analysis

“The Andrew Young School is proud to be ranked among the top schools of public affairs in the nation,” said interim dean Sally Wallace. “Our research and teaching are recognized for their impact on policy development as we continue to prepare the next generation of researchers and leaders for the world’s challenges.”

U.S. News & World Report ranked Georgia State’s Department of Economics No. 59 in the country, 13 points up from its ranking last year. The School of Social Work rose to No. 59, the highest ranking for a social work school or program that does not have a doctoral degree program.

In Arts and Sciences, Biology ranked 140^th, tied with 17 other institutions. Chemistry ranked 114th, tied with seven schools and Physics ranked 110^th, tied with eight other institutions.