The University had several notable rankings in the annual listing of the nation's best graduate programs released on March 12 by U.S. News and World Report.

The College of Engineering and the College of Education were each ranked among the nation's top 150 schools for their graduate programs.

Among the best graduate schools for engineering, the College of Engineering ranks at No. 132.

Engineering also had several programs listed, including the following top rankings: No. 50 for civil engineering, No. 59 for environmental engineering, No. 132 for mechanical engineering.

"Of particular note is the fact that our Department of Civil Engineering continues to rank among the nation's top 50, while Environmental Engineering is making good progress and is now approaching the top 50," said Manos Maragakis, dean of the College of Engineering. "For the size of our faculty in these areas, this is a very notable accomplishment, and speaks well to our faculty's productivity and impact."

The College of Education has broken into the national rankings of the nation's best colleges for graduate programs in education. The College of Education is ranked No. 149 nationally out of more than 300 colleges of education listed.

Coupled with a No. 52 national online graduate program ranking in education, College of Education Dean Chris Cheney was understandably proud of her faculty, students and staff's achievement.

Cheney noted the college has also attracted a total of about $8.5 million in external grant funding in 2012 and is welcoming three new faculty members this year as the college continues on what she termed "our growth trajectory."

"This is the first time I've see the College of Education make the national rankings," Cheney said. "We're looking at a rosy future."

Other rankings of graduate programs include the University's executive/online MBA program, ranked No. 55; clinical psychology, No. 60; earth sciences, which combines programs in geology and hydrology, No. 63; speech and audiology, No. 84; English, No. 125; chemistry, No. 129; physics, No. 133, psychology, No. 132; social work, No. 148; biology, No. 181; fine arts, No. 187; and nursing, No. 193.

According to U.S. News, ranking methodologies vary by discipline, but admissions selectivity and expert opinions on program quality are part of the equation for most programs.

In the U.S. News and World Report annual "best colleges" issue published last fall, the University of Nevada, Reno is ranked in the top tier of "best national universities." The College of Engineering is ranked among the "best undergraduate engineering programs" and the College of Business is ranked among the "best undergraduate business programs."