College of Education and Human Development - George Mason University

College of Education and Human Development

Top-Tier Programs

September 17, 2020

FAIRFAX, Va. – Three graduate programs in George Mason University’s College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) have been ranked in the top 15 among institutions nationwide in the U.S. News & World Report 2021 Best Colleges rankings.

Mason’s online education curriculum and instruction master’s degree program ranked ninth, while online special education and online education administration graduate programs ranked 10th and 11th, respectively. In addition, the special education graduate program ranked 19th, breaking the top 20 for the third year in a row.

“I am pleased to see the national recognition of these outstanding CEHD programs,” CEHD Interim Dean Robert Baker said. “These rankings acknowledge the quality of CEHD programming and demonstrate the national reputation we have garnered in the online space. Clearly, the collective quality of faculty teaching, research, and professional service bolsters the national recognition CEHD, and these programs in particular, so richly deserve. While CEHD offers extensive, high quality online programming, these highly ranked programs reflect the growing national prominence of CEHD and George Mason University.”

Mason was also the top ranked public university in Virginia for ethnic diversity and tied for 15th nationally. The university also made significant gains in several high-profile categories, including its rank among national universities (143, up 10 spots) and public universities (65, up seven spots). It reached the top 100 best schools for veterans and is listed as an “A+ School for B Students.”

“We are very pleased U.S. News has recognized the positive trajectory of our university,” Mason Provost and former CEHD Dean Mark Ginsberg said. “The rankings provide continued affirmation of the quality of our programs and the recognition of the strength of our university, as well as the achievements of our faculty and staff by our peers around the country.”