U.S. News & World Report ranks Kent State University in the top 20 Best Library and Information Studies Programs in the country in its 2022 edition of Best Graduate Schools. Kent State is the only Ohio institution included in this ranking. Overall, Kent State is recognized in 12 new national rankings in the 2022 edition of Best Graduate Schools, including three specialty rankings. U.S. News released the rankings Tuesday, March 30.
In addition to being recognized as a Best Library and Information Studies Program in the nation, Kent State is included in three library and information studies specialty rankings. Kent State ranks No. 5 in the country for School Library Media, No. 9 in the country for Services for Children and Youth and No. 12 in the country for Archives and Preservation.
Kent State’s College of Communication and Information offers library and information science programs at the graduate level through its School of Information (iSchool). Library and information science is a meta-discipline, whose theories and practices span what are considered traditional academic research disciplines, and whose focus is on the collecting, maintaining, preserving and providing access to information in a broad array of formats. A Master of Library and Information Science prepares graduates for work in a number of information-related fields, not limited to libraries but including taxonomy positions at online retailers and metadata positions in any field that requires cataloging large amounts of data and information.
“I am really proud that we continue to be ranked among the nation’s best schools of information,” said Amy Reynolds, Ph.D., dean of Kent State’s College of Communication and Information. “The iSchool ranking is a testament to the high quality of all of the school’s graduate programs – it speaks directly to the impactful work of our faculty and staff, as well as the impressive accomplishments of our students and alumni. Our specialty rankings are noteworthy and show the school’s commitment to these important areas within the broader discipline. Our faculty and staff in school library media, services for children and youth, and archives and preservation are talented and dedicated researchers and teachers. I am glad to see them receive the national recognition that they deserve.”
Kent State also continues to be ranked in the top 100 of Best Nursing Schools: Master’s in the nation, making it the highest-ranked public institution in northern Ohio. Offered by the College of Nursing, the program improved its ranking to No. 71 in the country this year, up from last year’s debut ranking of No. 87. Among the nation’s public institutions, Kent State’s ranking jumps to No. 44.
Kent State’s Master of Science in Nursing program prepares registered nurses for roles in advanced practice, education and healthcare administration. Students in this program develop a foundation for further postgraduate and doctoral-level study in nursing.
“I am proud of this accomplishment and our faculty and staff who have been diligent in their pursuit of academic excellence,” said Denice Sheehan, Ph.D., interim dean and Henderson Memorial Endowed Chair of Kent State’s College of Nursing. “Our ranking is a testament to their dedication to the advanced practice of nursing and to our graduate students who work hard to earn their degrees.”
In the new national rankings of Best Graduate Schools, Kent State also ranks No. 100 for Best Sociology Programs, No. 103 for Best Education Schools, No. 109 for Best Political Science Schools, No. 110 for Best History Programs, No. 114 for Best Public Health Schools, No. 116 for Best English Programs and No. 135 for Best Public Affairs Programs.
The Best Graduate Schools rankings help prospective students compare institutions as they weigh their options and ultimately decide which school best fits their needs. For more information about U.S. News’ 2022 rankings of Best Graduate Schools, visit www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools.
For more information about graduate programs at Kent State, visit www.kent.edu/graduatestudies.
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Media Contacts:
Eric Mansfield, emansfie@kent.edu, 330-672-2797
Emily Vincent, evincen2@kent.edu, 330-672-8595