U.S. News, America's Best Graduate Schools 2006

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – U.S. News and World Report ranks The University of Alabama School of Law among the Top 50 law schools in the nation, as it has annually since 1999.

UA’s School of Law is ranked 41st in U.S. News’ 2006 edition of its annual “Best Graduate Schools” publication. The Manderson Graduate School of Business in UA’s Culverhouse College of Commerce and Business Administration is ranked 60th. The Alabama M.B.A. is one of the most selective in the country with 32.3 percent selectivity. Among public graduate business schools, UA’s Manderson ranks 31st. Among public law schools, the UA School of Law ranks 18th.

“Alabama's stature among the nation's top law schools is now firmly established. Perhaps more important than whether the school moves up or down a spot or two is the fact that, now, year after year, UA’s law school is ranked highly,” said Ken Randall, dean of the UA School of Law. “The first year we were ranked as a Top 50 law school, we asked whether it was the real thing. But after about a half-dozen years of high rankings, it is clear that the Law School’s heightened reputation is here to stay.”

“This is very positive news and a testament to the great faculty and staff and the work they have done over the past few years and the continuous improvement initiatives we have in place,” said Susan Carver, assistant dean of the Manderson Graduate School who oversees UA’s M.B.A. programs.

“We are always cautious about rankings and the various methodologies; however this affirms our message – that we have a great story to tell, and we have an excellent program,” Carver said. “We have changed our focus in recent months and are taking our ‘Wow’ message to the customers, including students, alumni and corporate recruiters.

“Being among the top 60 out of hundreds of universities that offer prospective students a graduate business education is remarkable, especially when you consider that half of the schools ranked above us are private institutions and have significant endowment resources. Moreover, this shows that now is a good time to be at The University of Alabama and shows that the University and the business school are moving in a positive direction,” said Carver.

The M.B.A. program has moved up from 76 to 60 in three years, and ranks ahead of eight other SEC schools.

In the mid 1990s, Alabama was ranked in the third tier of all law schools. In recent years, the law school has moved up approximately 40 to 50 spots in the rankings.

The national law school rankings involve a reputational assessment by lawyers and judges around the country, as well as by legal educators throughout the United States. On an objective basis, the ranking includes statistics in the areas of admissions, bar passage and career services.

“Over the last dozen or so years, no other law school nationwide has moved up further than Alabama in the national rankings,” Randall said. “It is challenging to be ranked ahead of about 150 other quality law schools nationwide, but our ranking represents effective strategic planning and the responsible use of state and philanthropic dollars.”

Among the data used to compile the business rankings were ratings from business school deans, corporate recruiters and directors of accredited business school programs. The strength of the programs’ students, based on standardized test scores and grades, are also weighed, and graduates’ salary figures and employment rates are factored in the rankings.

The hallmark of UA’s M.B.A. program is the selection of a diverse academic and professional class that has in common high achievement and high potential for leadership.

The UA School of Law is Alabama’s only public law school.

In addition to the law and business rankings, UA's civil engineering program ranked 78th and UA’s psychology program ranked 189th.