NYU Wagner Remains No. 1 in Urban Policy, Retains Top-10 Rankings in Six Specialties in Latest U.S. News and World Report Rankings

Ranked #1 in Urban Policy

With New York City as our students’ living laboratory, NYU’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service was once again named the No. 1 graduate urban policy program in the nation in the latest U.S. News and World Report Graduate School Rankings, released on April 8, 2025. Additionally, Wagner retained its top-10 ranking in five more specialities.

The Wagner specialties ranked in the top 10 include: 

  • #1 - Urban Policy
  • #3 - Health Policy and Management
  • #7 - Nonprofit Management
  • #7 - Public Finance
  • #8 - International / Global Policy and Administration
  • #10 - Social Policy

Wagner also retained the same rankings from the previous cycle in all remaining specializations, including Local Government (#13), Public Management and Leadership (#15), and Public Policy Analysis (#19). Wagner also preserved its role as the top-ranked public affairs school in the New York metropolitan area and remained within the top 4 percent of the best public service institutions in the nation, ranking 11th overall. 

With the help of our new home on 17th Street, Wagner is committed to empowering public services leaders to take action for the public good. We thank the deans, directors, and department chairs of master’s programs around the country whose votes have affirmed our dedication to this mission.