Two ASU graduate colleges recently made the U.S. News & World Report "America's Best Graduate School 2004" list.
The master of fine arts program in the Herberger College of Fine Arts ranked No. 13 overall, and the College of Education graduate program placed No. 16 overall.
When ranked among public schools only, the art department ranked 8th and the education program ranked 9th.
"It's a tremendous testament of the programs we have in the school of art and to the faculty," said J. Robert Wills, fine arts dean. "We are very, very strong and we can only get stronger."
The dramatic improvement in the program, ranked 45th in the nation in 1997, was largely due to a $12 million donation from local philanthropist Katherine K. Herberger, according to Fine Arts spokeswoman Stacey Shaw.
"The gift itself provided for faculty enrichment and it enabled us to communicate nationally," Shaw said.
Alex Emmons, a first-year photography graduate student, said she was not surprised the school did so well.
"[The ranking] largely reflects on our faculty and program," she said. "The greatest facilities in the world do not equal great teaching."
The College of Education moved up from No. 29 to No. 16 in the nation.
College of Education Dean Eugene E. Garcia said the college received the highest ranking in the Southwest.
"I hope that the college will continue to improve its professional and graduate programs so that we can all be assured that the children of Arizona have the best educators serving them that this state can provide," Garcia said.
U.S. News and World Report rankings are based on surveys from deans, faculty and administrators of the nation's accredited graduate programs.
The magazine ranked only visual arts in the fine arts program this year.
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Reach the reporter at sarah.muench@asu.edu.
