Wichita State鈥檚 public affairs program has been ranked near the top third of all graduate school programs of its kind in the United States by U.S. News & World Report for the 2024-2025 academic year. The program, housed in the Hugo Wall School of Public Affairs, emerged in the 99th position, moving up from 118th place last year.
Additionally, the public affairs program鈥檚 specialty area of public finance and budgeting has been ranked 27th by U.S. News, tied with the University of Central Florida and the University of Michigan.
David Guo
鈥淭he Hugo Wall School of Public Affairs has been acknowledged by our peer institutions as one of the top 100 best public affairs schools,鈥� said David Guo, interim director of the Hugo Wall School and Regents Distinguished Professor of Public Finance. 鈥淭his acknowledgment is a testament to the dedication of our faculty, staff, students, and alumni to the field of public administration and the local community.鈥�
鈥淭he Hugo Wall School is a leader in Fairmount College for community engagement and applied learning,鈥� Andrew Hippisley, dean, said. 鈥淚ts new ranking speaks to the high value it holds for connecting students and faculty with local government, state government and nonprofit organizations, to the benefit of our students and the community.鈥�
Wichita State鈥檚 program is ranked second in Kansas, and 18th in the Midwest, according to Guo. The public finance and budget specialty area was first ranked more than 15 years ago, and to Guo鈥檚 knowledge, this is the first time it has appeared in ranking again in the last decade.
鈥淭he Hugo Wall School of Public Affairs has consistently earned peer recognition, with the program's core strengths lying in public finance and city/county management,鈥� Guo said.
Students with a master鈥檚 of public administration degree are prepared to make important management and policy contributions in public and nonprofit organizations, and civic and nonprofit leadership roles. For the spring 2024 semester, 53 students enrolled in the degree program. On average, for the academic years 2020-2023, 23 students graduated each year.
鈥淭he typical career trajectory of our students often begins within the finance or budget department of a local government, progressing towards roles as city or county managers,鈥� Guo said. 鈥淥ur graduates are renowned for their readiness to assume greater responsibilities, attributed to their hands-on experience gained through the MPA curriculum.鈥�