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The College of Education at the University of South Florida (Å·ÃÀÈý¼¶Æ¬) made a significant move up in the U.S. News & World Report’s (U.S. News) annual rankings of the best graduate schools in America. The college now ranks No. 43 in 2023 compared to No. 49 last year (2022) among graduate schools in public universities. The overall rankings of the college’s graduate schools among public and private universities is now compared to No. 62 last year (2022).

The College of Education’s multi-million-dollar research initiatives, mentorship of graduate students and increased public awareness of the college’s successes contributed to this accomplishment.

Research Initiatives
An exceptionally strong – and high quality – academic and professional research profile continues to fuel the college’s graduate programs with $21 million in funded research reported by U.S. News. As part of this effort, the college faculty and graduate students engage in innovative, interdisciplinary research addressing some of the greatest challenges facing the education field. Each year, faculty and students publish hundreds of scholarly works illustrating the impact of the college’s theoretical and applied research initiatives in local, national and international education communities.

2023-2024: No. 24 overall in funded research in millions (public and private universities)
2022-2023: No. 37 overall in funded research in millions (public and private universities)

For example, the newly created Student Mental Health Collaborative (SMHC) Center at Å·ÃÀÈý¼¶Æ¬ received $15 million in funded projects from national and state agencies that focus on positive psychology intervention, suicide prevention, school threat and violence reduction, mental health and resilience assessment.

Graduate Student Success
The Å·ÃÀÈý¼¶Æ¬ College of Education is committed to the academic success of graduate students. The college’s high doctoral student graduation rates reflect the commitment that faculty support and mentor students to pursue – and complete – advanced degrees while engaging in rigorous research activities at Å·ÃÀÈý¼¶Æ¬.

2023-2024: No.34 total doctorates granted (public and private universities)
2022-2023: No.45 total doctorates granted (public and private universities)

The college offers masters, specialists and doctoral degrees in a wide range of programs.  Beyond the diversity of degree options, the college’s graduate students are taught by faculty who conduct research on the cutting edge of emerging technology, such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and gaming as learning tools.

Public Awareness
A priority for the college is to build positive relationships through community relations and engagement activities to raise public awareness of the college’s successes. The Å·ÃÀÈý¼¶Æ¬ College of Education actively engages with local school districts, non-profit organizations, business leaders and other educational organizations to support community needs and create innovative partnership opportunities. These partnerships provide pathways for students to participate in graduate certificate programs that lead to advanced degrees as well as customized graduate cohort programs. Through intentional communications and marketing strategies, the college continues to expand their outreach to share student, faculty and alumni successes.  

At the Å·ÃÀÈý¼¶Æ¬ College of Education, our dedicated faculty and staff support excellence in academic and professional research and educational experiences for graduate students, as well as share the college’s success with local, state and national organizations. The college strives to become a top 25 institution for educational excellence.