Within the US News Best Graduate Schools Rankings 12 broad areas are considered, and each of the broad area list includes a few specialties and programs, e.g. Best Business Schools Ranking includes two programs and 13 specialties (with a separate list prepared for each of them), Best Fine Arts Schools Ranking includes seven specialties, Best Health Schools Ranking includes 14 specialties, etc. Each broad area has its separate methodology and in case of three broad areas, a separate methodology is considered for each program/specialty.

For each broad field there is a separate methodology. For example the U.S. News’ Best Social Sciences and Humanities rankings, the U.S. News’ Best Sciences rankings, the U.S. News’ Best Library and Information Studies rankings are based solely on the results of peer assessment surveys sent to academics in each discipline. The individuals rate the quality of the program at each institution on a scale of 1 (marginal) to 5 (outstanding).

The U.S. News’ Best Law Schools rankings evaluate institutions on their successful placement of graduates, their faculty resources, the academic achievements of entering students, and opinions by law schools, lawyers and judges on overall program quality.

The U.S. News’ Best Engineering Schools rankings compare schools on their research activity, faculty resources, academic achievements of entering students and assessments by other engineering schools and employers.

The U.S. News’ Best Business Schools rankings are based on the results of peer assessment surveys, recruiter assessment score, placement success including three ranking indicators on employment and earnings, student selectivity including three admissions indicators, etc.

The U.S. News’ Best Medical Schools - Research and Best Medical Schools – Primary Care evaluate schools on faculty resources, the academic achievements of entering students and qualitative assessments by schools and residency directors. The research rankings include two measures of research productivity, while the primary care rankings incorporate two metrics for graduates going into primary care.

The U.S. News’ Best Nursing Schools rankings assess programs on their research activity, faculty resources, student excellence and qualitative ratings from experts.

U.S. News evaluated education schools on research activity, academic excellence of entering students, faculty resources, and opinions on program quality from education school deans and school hiring professionals.

The rankings of Master of Fine Arts programs and the rankings of public affairs programs are based solely on peer assessment survey results. 

US NEWS BEST GRADUATE SCHOOLS RANKINGS INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING RANKINGS:

• Best Business Schools (496 institutions listed) - https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-business-schools/mba-rankings; https://www.usnews.com/education/best-graduate-schools/articles/business-schools-methodology
• Best Law Schools (196 institutions listed) - https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-law-schools/law-rankings; https://www.usnews.com/education/best-graduate-schools/articles/law-schools-methodology
• Best Medical Schools (193 institutions listed) - Graduating from medical school provides a pathway to many different careers in medicine. To help prospective students determine their best options, U.S. News produced two distinct rankings - Best Medical Schools: Research and Best Medical Schools: Primary Care - https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-medical-schools/research-rankings; https://www.usnews.com/education/best-graduate-schools/articles/medical-schools-methodology
• Best Engineering Schools (219 institutions listed) - https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-engineering-schools/eng-rankings; https://www.usnews.com/education/best-graduate-schools/articles/engineering-schools-methodology
• Best Nursing Schools (603 institutions listed) - https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-nursing-schools/nur-rankings; https://www.usnews.com/education/best-graduate-schools/articles/nursing-schools-methodology
• Best Education Schools (456 institutions listed) - https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-education-schools/edu-rankings; https://www.usnews.com/education/best-graduate-schools/articles/education-schools-methodology
• Best Fine Arts Schools (226 institutions listed) - https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-fine-arts-schools/fine-arts-rankings; https://www.usnews.com/education/best-graduate-schools/articles/fine-arts-schools-methodology
• Best Public Affairs Schools (269 institutions listed) - https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-public-affairs-schools/public-affairs-rankings; https://www.usnews.com/education/best-graduate-schools/articles/public-affairs-schools-methodology
• Best Library and Information Studies Schools (55) - https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-library-information-science-programs/library-information-science-rankings; https://www.usnews.com/education/best-graduate-schools/articles/library-and-information-studies-methodology
• Best Health Schools (the methodology and the number of institutions listed depends on the specialty) 
• Best Science Schools (the methodology and the number of institutions listed depends on the specialty)
• Best Social Sciences and Humanities Schools (the methodology and the number of institutions listed depends on the specialty)