Arizona State University finished in a tie for 14th in a peer-assessment ranking of the best public affairs schools by U.S. News that examined 285 campuses around the nation.
The Phoenix school’s peer-assessment survey score was 3.8. School deans, directors and other department leaders provided these assessments, which were based on a scale of marginal to outstanding (1 to 5).
The Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs and Administration and the Association (NASPAA) for Public Policy Analysis and Management provided the lists of schools to be surveyed by U.S. News.
Those who want further information about earning Master of Public Administration or Master of Public Policy degrees can go to the NASPAA’s website.
U.S. News conducted the surveys in fall of 2018
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Top Public Affairs Programs in the U.S.
| Rank | School | City | Peer Assessment Review |
| 1 (tie) | Indiana University-Bloomington (O'Neill) | Bloomington | 4.4 |
| 1 (tie) | Syracuse University | Syracuse, N.Y. | 4.4 |
| 3 (tie) | Harvard University | Cambridge, Mass. | 4.2 |
| 3 (tie) | University of Southern California | Los Angeles | 4.2 |
| 5 (tie) | University of Georgia | Athens | 4.1 |
| 5 (tie) | University of Washington | Seattle | 4.1 |
| 7 (tie) | New York University | New York City | 4.0 |
| 7 (tie) | University of California-Berkeley | Berkeley | 4.0 |
| 7 (tie) | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | Ann Arbor | 4.0 |
| 10 (tie) | Princeton University | Princeton, N.J. | 3.9 |
| 10 (tie) | University of Chicago | Chicago | 3.9 |
| 10 (tie) | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities | Minneapolis | 3.9 |
| 10 (tie) | University of Texas-Austin | Austin | 3.9 |
| 14 (tie) | American University | Washington, D.C. | 3.8 |
| 14 (tie) | Arizona State University | Phoenix | 3.8 |
| 14 (tie) | Carnegie Mellon University | Pittsburgh | 3.8 |
| 14 (tie) | George Washington University | Washington, D.C. | 3.8 |
| 14 (tie) | Ohio State University | Columbus | 3.8 |
| 14 (tie) | University of California-Los Angeles | Los Angeles | 3.8 |
| 14 (tie) | University of Kansas | Lawrence | 3.8 |
| 21 (tie) | Columbia University | New York City | 3.7 |
| 21 (tie) | Georgia State University | Atlanta | 3.7 |
| 21 (tie) | University at Albany-SUNY | Albany, N.Y. | 3.7 |
| 21 (tie) | University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill | Chapel Hill | 3.7 |
| 25 (tie) | Duke University | Durham, N.C. | 3.6 |
| 25 (tie) | Florida State University | Tallahassee | 3.6 |
| 25 (tie) | Georgetown University | Washington, D.C. #25 in Best Public Affairs Programs (tie) | 3.6 |
| 25 (tie) | University of Colorado-Denver | Denver | 3.6 |
| 25 (tie) | University of Kentucky | Lexington | 3.6 |
| 25 (tie) | University of Maryland-College Park | College Park | 3.6 |
| 25 (tie) | University of Nebraska-Omaha | Omaha | 3.6 |
| 25 (tie) | University of Wisconsin-Madison | Madison | 3.6 |
| 33 (tie) | Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey-Newark | Newark | 3.5 |
| 33 (tie) | Texas A&M University-College Station | College Station | 3.5 |
| 35 (tie) | Cornell University | Ithaca, N.Y. | 3.4 |
| 35 (tie) | University of Arizona | Tucson | 3.4 |
| 35 (tie) | University of Illinois-Chicago | Chicago | 3.4 |
| 35 (tie) | University of Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh | 3.4 |
| 39 (tie) | CUNY-Baruch College | New York City | 3.3 |
| 39 (tie) | Georgia Institute of Technology | Atlanta | 3.3 |
| 39 (tie) | Indiana University-Purdue University | Indianapolis | 3.3 |
| 39 (tie) | Johns Hopkins University | Washington, D.C. | 3.3 |
| 39 (tie) | University of Delaware | Newark | 3.3 |
| 39 (tie) | University of Virginia | Charlottesville | 3.3 |
| 39 (tie) | Virginia Commonwealth University | Richmond | 3.3 |
| 39 (tie) | Virginia Tech | Blacksburg | 3.3 |
| 47 (tie) | George Mason University | Arlington, Va. | 3.2 |
| 47 (tie) | North Carolina State University | Raleigh | 3.2 |
| 47 (tie) | Northern Illinois University | DeKalb | 3.2 |
| 47 (tie) | Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey-New Brunswick | New Brunswick | 3.2 |
| 47 (tie) | University of Connecticut | Hartford | 3.2 |
| 47 (tie) | University of Missouri | Columbia | 3.2 |
| 53 (tie) | Brigham Young University-Provo | Provo, Utah | 3.1 |
| 53 (tie) | Brown University | Providence, R.I. | 3.1 |
| 53 (tie) | Johns Hopkins University | Baltimore | 3.1 |
| 53 (tie) | Portland State University | Portland, Ore. | 3.1 |
| 53 (tie) | University of Central Florida | Orlando | 3.1 |
| 53 (tie) | University of Texas-Dallas | Richardson | 3.1 |
| 53 (tie) | Vanderbilt University | Nashville, Tenn. | 3.1 |
| 60 (tie) | Brandeis University | Waltham, Mass. | 3.0 |
| 60 (tie) | CUNY--John Jay College | New York City | 3.0 |
| 60 (tie) | Cleveland State University | Cleveland | 3.0 |
| 60 (tie) | Naval Postgraduate School | Monterey, Calif. | 3.0 |
| 60 (tie) | University of Baltimore | Baltimore | 3.0 |
| 60 (tie) | University of Massachusetts-Amherst | Amherst | 3.0 |
| 60 (tie) | University of North Carolina-Charlotte | Charlotte | 3.0 |
| 60 (tie) | University of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia | 3.0 |
| 68 (tie) | Binghamton University-SUNY | Binghamton, N.Y. | 2.9 |
| 68 (tie) | Claremont Graduate University | Claremont, Calif. | 2.9 |
| 68 (tie) | New School | New York City | 2.9 |
| 68 (tie) | Ohio University | Athens | 2.9 |
| 68 (tie) | University of Alabama-Birmingham | Birmingham | 2.9 |
| 68 (tie) | University of Utah | Salt Lake City | 2.9 |
| 74 (tie) | Florida International University | Miami | 2.8 |
| 74 (tie) | Mississippi State University | Mississippi State | 2.8 |
| 74 (tie) | Northeastern University | Boston | 2.8 |
| 74 (tie) | Pepperdine University | Malibu, Calif. | 2.8 |
| 74 (tie) | University of California-San Diego | La Jolla | 2.8 |
| 74 (tie) | University of Massachusetts-Boston | Boston | 2.8 |
| 74 (tie) | University of Oklahoma | Norman | 2.8 |
| 74 (tie) | University of Oregon | Eugene | 2.8 |
| 82 (tie) | Auburn University | Auburn, Ala. | 2.7 |
| 82 (tie) | Florida Atlantic University | Boca Raton | 2.7 |
| 82 (tie) | Louisiana State University-Baton Rouge | Baton Rouge | 2.7 |
| 82 (tie) | Pennsylvania State University-Harrisburg | Middletown | 2.7 |
| 82 (tie) | Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey-Camden | Camden | 2.7 |
| 82 (tie) | San Diego State University | San Diego | 2.7 |
| 82 (tie) | University of Illinois-Springfield | Springfield | 2.7 |
| 82 (tie) | University of Maryland-Baltimore County | Baltimore | 2.7 |
| 82 (tie) | University of North Texas | Denton | 2.7 |
| 82 (tie) | University of Notre Dame | Notre Dame, Ind. | 2.7 |
| 82 (tie) | Villanova University | Villanova, Penn. | 2.7 |
| 82 (tie) | West Virginia University | Morgantown | 2.7 |
| 94 (tie) | Boise State University | Boise, Idaho | 2.6 |
| 94 (tie) | California State University-Los Angeles | Los Angeles | 2.6 |
| 94 (tie) | College of Charleston | Charleston, S.C. | 2.6 |
| 94 (tie) | College of William and Mary | Williamsburg, Va. | 2.6 |
| 94 (tie) | Grand Valley State University | Grand Rapids, Mich. | 2.6 |
| 94 (tie) | San Francisco State University | San Francisco | 2.6 |
| 94 (tie) | University of California-Riverside | Riverside | 2.6 |
| 94 (tie) | University of Denver | Denver | 2.6 |
| 94 (tie) | University of Louisville | Louisville, Ky. | 2.6 |
| 94 (tie) | University of Missouri-Kansas City | Kansas City | 2.6 |
| 94 (tie) | University of New Mexico | Albuquerque | 2.6 |
| 94 (tie) | University of San Francisco | San Francisco | 2.6 |
| 94 (tie) | University of Tennessee-Knoxville | Knoxville | 2.6 |
| 94 (tie) | University of Vermont | Burlington | 2.6 |
| 94 (tie) | Wayne State University | Detroit | 2.6 |
| 109 (tie) | Appalachian State University | Boone, N.C. | 2.5 |
| 109 (tie) | Kansas State University | Manhattan | 2.5 |
| 109 (tie) | Old Dominion University | Norfolk, Va. | 2.5 |
| 109 (tie) | Oregon State University | Corvallis | 2.5 |
| 109 (tie) | San Jose State University | San Jose, Calif. | 2.5 |
| 109 (tie) | Suffolk University | Boston | 2.5 |
| 109 (tie) | University of Alabama | Tuscaloosa | 2.5 |
| 109 (tie) | University of Arkansas | Little Rock | 2.5 |
| 109 (tie) | University of Hawaii-Manoa | Honolulu | 2.5 |
| 109 (tie) | University of La Verne | La Verne, Calif. | 2.5 |
| 109 (tie) | University of Nevada-Las Vegas | Las Vegas | 2.5 |
| 109 (tie) | University of New Hampshire | Durham | 2.5 |
| 109 (tie) | University of South Carolina | Columbia | 2.5 |
| 109 (tie) | Wichita State University | Wichita, Kan. | 2.5 |
| 123 (tie) | California State University-Long Beach | Long Beach | 2.4 |
| 123 (tie) | California State University-Sacramento | Sacramento | 2.4 |
| 123 (tie) | California State University-San Bernardino | San Bernardino | 2.4 |
| 123 (tie) | DePaul University | Chicago | 2.4 |
| 123 (tie) | James Madison University | Harrisonburg, Va. | 2.4 |
| 123 (tie) | Seton Hall University | South Orange, N.J. | 2.4 |
| 123 (tie) | University of Arkansas-Little Rock | Little Rock | 2.4 |
| 123 (tie) | University of Colorado-Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs | 2.4 |
| 123 (tie) | University of Memphis | Memphis, Tenn. | 2.4 |
| 123 (tie) | University of Miami | Coral Gables, Fla. | 2.4 |
| 123 (tie) | University of North Carolina-Greensboro | Greensboro | 2.4 |
| 123 (tie) | University of North Carolina-Wilmington | Wilmington | 2.4 |
| 123 (tie) | University of South Florida | Tampa | 2.4 |
| 123 (tie) | University of Texas-Arlington | Arlington | 2.4 |
| 123 (tie) | University of Texas-San Antonio | San Antonio | 2.4 |
| 123 (tie) | Willamette University | Salem, Ore. | 2.4 |
| 139 (tie) | Auburn University-Montgomery | Montgomery, Ala. | 2.3 |
| 139 (tie) | CUNY-City College | New York City | 2.3 |
| 139 (tie) | California State University-Fullerton | Fullerton | 2.3 |
| 139 (tie) | Kent State University | Kent, Ohio | 2.3 |
| 139 (tie) | Marist College | Poughkeepsie, N.Y. | 2.3 |
| 139 (tie) | Seattle University | Seattle | 2.3 |
| 139 (tie) | Texas Tech University | Lubbock | 2.3 |
| 139 (tie) | University of Missouri-St. Louis | St. Louis | 2.3 |
| 139 (tie) | University of New Orleans | New Orleans | 2.3 |
| 139 (tie) | University of North Dakota | Grand Forks | 2.3 |
| 139 (tie) | Washington State University | Vancouver | 2.3 |
| 139 (tie) | Western Michigan University | Kalamazoo | 2.3 |
| 151 (tie) | Bowling Green State University | Bowling Green, Ohio | 2.2 |
| 151 (tie) | CUNY--Hunter College | New York City | 2.2 |
| 151 (tie) | California State Polytechnic University-Pomona | Pomona | 2.2 |
| 151 (tie) | California State University-Dominguez Hills | Carson | 2.2 |
| 151 (tie) | College at Brockport--SUNY | Rochester, N.Y. | 2.2 |
| 151 (tie) | Drexel University | Philadelphia | 2.2 |
| 151 (tie) | Georgia Southern University | Statesboro | 2.2 |
| 151 (tie) | Kennesaw State University | Kennesaw, Ga. | 2.2 |
| 151 (tie) | New Mexico State University | Las Cruces | 2.2 |
| 151 (tie) | Northern Arizona University | Flagstaff | 2.2 |
| 151 (tie) | Southern Illinois University-Carbondale | Carbondale | 2.2 |
| 151 (tie) | University of Dayton | Dayton, Ohio | 2.2 |
| 151 (tie) | University of Houston | Houston | 2.2 |
| 151 (tie) | University of Texas-El Paso | El Paso | 2.2 |
| 165 (tie) | Augusta University | Augusta, Ga. | 2.1 |
| 165 (tie) | California State University-Bakersfield | Bakersfield | 2.1 |
| 165 (tie) | California State University-Northridge | Northridge | 2.1 |
| 165 (tie) | Central Michigan University | Mt. Pleasant | 2.1 |
| 165 (tie) | East Carolina University | Greenville, N.C. | 2.1 |
| 165 (tie) | Eastern Kentucky University | Richmond | 2.1 |
| 165 (tie) | Evergreen State College | Olympia, Wash. | 2.1 |
| 165 (tie) | Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey | Monterey, Calif. | 2.1 |
| 165 (tie) | Northern Kentucky University | Highland Heights | 2.1 |
| 165 (tie) | Oakland University | Rochester, Mich. | 2.1 |
| 165 (tie) | University of Alaska-Anchorage | Anchorage | 2.1 |
| 165 (tie) | University of Montana | Missoula | 2.1 |
| 165 (tie) | University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras | San Juan | 2.1 |
| 165 (tie) | University of South Dakota | Vermillion | 2.1 |
| 165 (tie) | University of Wyoming | Laramie | 2.1 |
| 165 (tie) | West Chester University of Pennsylvania | West Chester | 2.1 |
| 165 (tie) | Western Kentucky University | Bowling Green, Ky. | 2.1 |
| 182 (tie) | Ball State University | Muncie, Ind. | 2.0 |
| 182 (tie) | Bridgewater State University | Bridgewater, Mass. | 2.0 |
| 182 (tie) | Clark Atlanta University | Atlanta | 2.0 |
| 182 (tie) | Clark University | Worcester, Mass. | 2.0 |
| 182 (tie) | Eastern Michigan University | Ypsilanti | 2.0 |
| 182 (tie) | Eastern Washington University | Spokane, Wash. | 2.0 |
| 182 (tie) | Jackson State University | Jackson, Miss. | 2.0 |
| 182 (tie) | Montana State University | Bozeman | 2.0 |
| 182 (tie) | Pace University | White Plains, N.Y. | 2.0 |
| 182 (tie) | Sam Houston State University | Huntsville, Texas | 2.0 |
| 182 (tie) | Tennessee State University | Nashville | 2.0 |
| 182 (tie) | University of Akron | Akron, Ohio | 2.0 |
| 182 (tie) | University of Idaho | Moscow | 2.0 |
| 182 (tie) | University of Michigan-Dearborn | Dearborn | 2.0 |
| 182 (tie) | University of North Florida | Jacksonville | 2.0 |
| 182 (tie) | University of Tennessee-Chattanooga | Chattanooga | 2.0 |
| 182 (tie) | Wright State University | Dayton, Ohio | 2.0 |
| 199 (tie) | California State University-Chico | Chico | 1.9 |
| 199 (tie) | California State University-East Bay | Hayward | 1.9 |
| 199 (tie) | California State University-Fresno | Fresno | 1.9 |
| 199 (tie) | California State University-Stanislaus | Turlock | 1.9 |
| 199 (tie) | Drake University | Des Moines, Iowa | 1.9 |
| 199 (tie) | Hamline University | St. Paul, Minn. | 1.9 |
| 199 (tie) | Indiana State University | Terre Haute | 1.9 |
| 199 (tie) | Indiana University-South Bend | South Bend | 1.9 |
| 199 (tie) | LIU Brooklyn | New York City | 1.9 |
| 199 (tie) | Minnesota State University-Mankato | Mankato | 1.9 |
| 199 (tie) | Park University | Kansas City, Mo. | 1.9 |
| 199 (tie) | Purdue University-Fort Wayne | Fort Wayne, Ind. | 1.9 |
| 199 (tie) | SUNY Buffalo State | Buffalo, N.Y. | 1.9 |
| 199 (tie) | Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi | Corpus Christi | 1.9 |
| 199 (tie) | Texas Southern University | Houston | 1.9 |
| 199 (tie) | Texas State University | San Marcos | 1.9 |
| 199 (tie) | Western Carolina University | Cullowhee, N.C. | 1.9 |
| 216 (tie) | Arkansas State University-Jonesboro State University | Jonesboro | 1.8 |
| 216 (tie) | Florida Gulf Coast University | Fort Myers | 1.8 |
| 216 (tie) | Gallaudet University | Washington, D.C. | 1.8 |
| 216 (tie) | Georgia College & State University | Milledgeville, Ga. | 1.8 |
| 216 (tie) | Grambling State University | Grambling, La. | 1.8 |
| 216 (tie) | Idaho State University | Pocatello | 1.8 |
| 216 (tie) | Indiana University-Northwest | Gary | 1.8 |
| 216 (tie) | Jacksonville State University | Jacksonville, Ala. | 1.8 |
| 216 (tie) | LIU Post | Brookville, N.Y. | 1.8 |
| 216 (tie) | Mills College | Oakland, Calif. | 1.8 |
| 216 (tie) | Savannah State University | Savannah, Ga. | 1.8 |
| 216 (tie) | Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville | Edwardsville | 1.8 |
| 216 (tie) | Southern University and A&M College | Baton Rouge, La. | 1.8 |
| 216 (tie) | Southern Utah University | Cedar City | 1.8 |
| 216 (tie) | University of Alaska-Southeast | Juneau | 1.8 |
| 216 (tie) | University of Michigan-Flint | Flint | 1.8 |
| 216 (tie) | University of Rhode Island - Rhode Island College | Providence | 1.8 |
| 216 (tie) | University of West Georgia | Carrollton | 1.8 |
| 216 (tie) | Valdosta State University | Valdosta, Ga. | 1.8 |
| 235 (tie) | Bowie State University | Bowie, Md. | 1.7 |
| 235 (tie) | Golden Gate University | San Francisco | 1.7 |
| 235 (tie) | Governors State University | University Park, Ill. | 1.7 |
| 235 (tie) | Kentucky State University | Frankfort | 1.7 |
| 235 (tie) | Morehead State University | Morehead, Ky. | 1.7 |
| 235 (tie) | North Carolina Central University | Durham | 1.7 |
| 235 (tie) | Nova Southeastern University | Fort Lauderdale, Fla. | 1.7 |
| 235 (tie) | Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania | Shippensburg | 1.7 |
| 235 (tie) | St. Cloud State University | St. Cloud, Minn. | 1.7 |
| 235 (tie) | Texas A&M International University | Laredo | 1.7 |
| 235 (tie) | Troy University | Montgomery, Ala. | 1.7 |
| 235 (tie) | University of Central Oklahoma | Edmond | 1.7 |
| 235 (tie) | University of Houston-Central Campus | Houston | 1.7 |
| 235 (tie) | University of North Carolina-Pembroke | Pembroke | 1.7 |
| 235 (tie) | University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley | Brownsville | 1.7 |
| 235 (tie) | University of the District of Columbia | Washington, D.C. | 1.7 |
| 235 (tie) | University of the Pacific | Sacramento, Calif. | 1.7 |
| 235 (tie) | West Virginia State University | Institute | 1.7 |
| 235 (tie) | Albany State University | Albany, Ga. | 1.6 |
| 253 (tie) | East Tennessee State University | Johnson City | 1.6 |
| 253 (tie) | Fairleigh Dickinson University | Teaneck , N.J. | 1.6 |
| 253 (tie) | Franklin University | Columbus, Ohio | 1.6 |
| 253 (tie) | Illinois Institute of Technology | Chicago | 1.6 |
| 253 (tie) | Kean University | Union, N.J. | 1.6 |
| 253 (tie) | Marshall University | Huntington, W.V. | 1.6 |
| 253 (tie) | Metropolitan College of New York | New York City | 1.6 |
| 253 (tie) | Metropolitan State University | St. Paul, Minn. | 1.6 |
| 253 (tie) | Roger Williams University | Bristol, R.I. | 1.6 |
| 253 (tie) | University of New Haven | West Haven, Conn. | 1.6 |
| 253 (tie) | University of Southern Indiana | Evansville | 1.6 |
| 253 (tie) | Widener University | Chester, Penn. | 1.6 |
| 266 (tie) | California State University-Channel Islands | Camarillo | 1.5 |
| 266 (tie) | Columbia Southern University | Orange Beach, Ala. | 1.5 |
| 266 (tie) | Columbus State University | Columbus, Ga. | 1.5 |
| 266 (tie) | Delaware Valley University | Doylestown, Penn. | 1.5 |
| 266 (tie) | Merrimack College | North Andover, Mass. | 1.5 |
| 266 (tie) | Mississippi Valley State University | Itta Bena | 1.5 |
| 266 (tie) | Norwich University | Northfield, Vt. | 1.5 |
| 266 (tie) | Regent University | Virginia Beach, Va. | 1.5 |
| 266 (tie) | Saginaw Valley State University | University Center, Mich. | 1.5 |
| 266 (tie) | Tarleton State University | Fort Worth, Texas | 1.5 |
| 266 (tie) | University of Louisiana-Monroe | Monroe | 1.5 |
| 266 (tie) | University of Texas-Tyler | Tyler | 1.5 |
| 266 (tie) | Westfield State University | Westfield, Mass. | 1.5 |
| 279 (tie) | Barry University | Miami Shores, Fla. | 1.4 |
| 279 (tie) | Post University | Waterbury, Conn. | 1.4 |
| 279 (tie) | South University | Savannah, Ga. | 1.4 |
| 279 (tie) | St. Peter's University | Jersey City, N.J. | 1.4 |
| 279 (tie) | Upper Iowa University | Fayette, Iowa | 1.4 |
| 284 | Walden University | Minneapolis | 1.3 |
| 285 | Capella University | Minneapolis | 1.2 |