The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has again been named one of the top graduate schools in the country, with several academic programs receiving recognition as part of U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 Best Graduate Schools rankings announced April 8.
UT was recognized for its top graduate programs in engineering, business, law, nursing, communication and education. Not all disciplines are ranked every year.
“These graduate program rankings are a testament to the dedication of our faculty, the excellence of our students, and the impact of our research,” said Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor John Zomchick. “They reflect a campus-wide commitment to excellence, and they are indicators of a university on the rise. We take great pride in preparing the workforce and thought leaders for the good of our community, state, and nation — now and in the future.”
Nuclear Engineering Rises to No. 2, Supply Chain Remains in Top 5 Among Public Universities
Two of UT’s most highly regarded programs remained in the top five among public universities—nuclear engineering rose to second and supply chain management ranked fifth. UT’s nuclear engineering graduate program, which ranked third nationally on this year’s list, has long been viewed as one of the best in the country among public and private institutions. The faculty are among the world’s top nuclear experts, and the program benefits from the university’s partnership with nearby Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the robust nuclear energy industry in the region.
Overall, the Tickle College of Engineering ranked 29th among public universities and 52nd overall.
“The Tickle College of Engineering is in the best position it has ever been, which is a credit to all the work being done by the faculty and students along with strategic investments that have enhanced our research enterprise,” said Matthew Mench, dean and Wayne T. Davis Dean’s Chair, Chancellor’s Professor and Condra Chair for the college. “I believe the best is yet to come, and our success is a direct reflection of a university on the rise.”
The Haslam College of Business remains a leader in supply chain at sixth in the country. This marked the seventh straight year that the program ranked in the top five among public institutions and the 10th year it has been ranked in the top 10 overall.
“In all our programs, our faculty commit themselves to promoting the strongest student outcomes by developing cutting-edge yet pragmatic course content, nurturing industry partnerships and performing applicable research,” said Stephen L. Mangum, dean and Stokely Foundation Leadership Chair for the college. “Haslam’s supply chain graduate and executive education programs’ presence in U.S. News’ top five indicates that the supply chain department is a leader in its field. We also are pleased to see the accounting and marketing graduate programs ranked in the top 15 among public institutions.”
Seven other business and engineering graduate programs were ranked among the best in public universities:
● No. 11 Marketing
● No. 13 Accounting
● No. 19 Biosystems engineering, which is housed in the Herbert College of Agriculture
● No. 21 Materials science
● No. 23 Full-time MBA
● No. 26 Industrial and systems engineering
● No. 34 Civil engineering
Nursing, Law, Education, and Library and Information Sciences Programs Receive Recognition
Other top graduate programs across the university were recognized on this year’s list.
UT’s information sciences program, housed in the College of Communication and Information, ranks 13th among public universities and 16th overall.
“The School of Information Sciences continues to excel in preparing future leaders, and we are proud to see our information sciences graduate program ranked among the top in the country,” said Dean Joseph Mazer. “Our college remains committed to innovation, excellence, creating a best-in-class student experience, and research and creative activities that impact communities in a positive way.”
The College of Law’s full-time program ranks 29th among public institutions and 55th nationally, while several specialty programs also saw gains in public university rankings that reflect the college’s overall reputational rise:
● No. 7 Clinical training
● No. 10 Business-corporate law
● No. 22 Contracts-commercial law
“The College of Law is known for and deeply committed to producing influential scholarship, serving the public good and providing exceptional preparation to talented students who will be future leaders within the profession,” said Lonnie T. Brown Jr., dean of the college and Elvin E. Overton Distinguished Professor. “We are gratified that our dedication to these important ideals continues to distinguish the college and rightly situates us among the best law schools in the country.”
The College of Nursing’s doctoral program ranks 22nd among public institutions and 33rd overall, continuing its upward trajectory over the past four years.
“We are incredibly proud that the College of Nursing has been recognized in the top 25 among publics,” said Victoria P. Niederhauser, dean of the college. “This achievement reflects our commitment to excellence in nursing education and our mission to prepare the next generation of advanced practice nurses who will lead and innovate in health care.”
The College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences’ graduate education program rose to 43rd among public schools and 54th overall.
“Our teacher educators are not just dedicated to getting more teachers into vacant positions each year, but they are committed to producing quality teachers,” said Ellen McIntyre, dean of the college. “The rankings reflect this work as well as their high-impact research and community engagement.”
Amy Cathey, interim vice provost and dean of the Graduate School, said the rankings are a reflection of UT’s continuing commitment to excellence in graduate education and the quality of the Volunteer experience across colleges and disciplines.
“We take great pride in our graduate students and in the incredible contributions they make through their work to their local and global communities,” she said.
About the U.S. News and World Report rankings
The Best Graduate Schools rankings are designed to guide prospective students seeking to pursue advanced education beyond the undergraduate level. The rankings assess programs across a range of disciplines including business, education, engineering, law and nursing.
U.S. News’ Best Graduate Schools rankings are based on two types of data: expert opinion about program excellence and statistical indicators that measure the quality of a school’s faculty, research and students.
—
MEDIA CONTACT:
Cindi King (865-974-0937, cking126@utk.edu)