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Economics Program Among Best in Region
ATLANTA — Georgia State University’s Andrew Young School of Policy Studies (AYSPS) again ranks No. 16 among the nation’s Best Graduate Schools in Public Affairs, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 Best Graduate Schools issue, released today (April 8). The ranking places the Andrew Young School’s program among the top 20 for a fifth consecutive year and among the top 6 percent overall among the colleges and universities ranked.
Additionally, Georgia State’s graduate programs in economics, including its master’s and Ph.D. programs, rose three places to No. 61 in the U.S. News national rankings. Its M.A. in economics also recently rose two places in the TFE Times national rankings to No. 12, continuing its first-place ranking among public universities in Georgia and the Southeast. The program ranks second only to Duke University in the Southeast.
“These rankings reflect the transformative impact of our faculty, students and alumni who are shaping policy and driving change across the globe,” said Thomas J. Vicino, dean of the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies. “Recognition at this level affirms our commitment to excellence in public service and our role as a national leader in evidence-based policy education.”
Four AYSPS specializations named in the Public Affairs ranking appear among the top 10: Urban Policy, Public Finance and Budgeting, Nonprofit Management, and Local Government Management.
All AYSPS specialization rankings for 2025 are:
- No. 3 – Urban Policy
- No. 5 – Public Finance and Budgeting
- 6 – Nonprofit Management
- No. 9 – Local Government Management
- No. 14 – Public Management and Leadership
- 26 – Public Policy Analysis
Additionally, the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings for other graduate programs in the Andrew Young School, for the most recent years the programs were surveyed, are No. 18 in Criminology (2021) and No. 51 in Social Work (2024).
“Our newest rankings, both for public affairs in general and for all six of our specializations, demonstrate the continuous commitment of our faculty, staff, students and alumni toward advancing evidence-based management and policy solutions in the classroom, the academy and the community,” said Professor Cathy Yang Liu, chair of the Department of Public Management and Policy. “It’s a pleasure to see our vision and efforts so recognized.”
U.S. News & World Report bases its annual rankings of public affairs programs on peer-assessment surveys of deans, directors and department chairs representing nearly 270 master’s programs in public affairs and administration.