The Heller School at Brandeis University named top 10 graduate school in two public affairs categories

U.S. News & World Report recognizes Heller as 9th for social policy, 9th for health policy and management

March 30, 2021

U.S. News and World Report Best Grad Schools Public Affairs 2022 Badge

The Heller School for Social Policy and Management is now a top 10 graduate program in both social policy and health policy and management according to the 2022 U.S. News & World Report rankings for graduate schools of public affairs.

Heller rose to number 9 for health policy and management, joining Heller’s social policy ranking at the same spot. Social policy and health policy and management are specialty areas within the public affairs category, where Heller ranks in the top 20 percent of schools.

The 2022 U.S. News & World Report rankings are based on a survey of deans, directors and department chairs at 285 graduate schools of public affairs across the country. Dean David Weil says, “I’m proud that the Heller School’s excellence in both social policy and health policy and management is being recognized by our peer institutions. Heller is uniquely positioned to respond to the multitude of challenges, such as health care equity and access, child poverty and labor rights, which have been brought to the forefront over the past year.”

Heller is a nationally-recognized research and educational institution shaped by its social justice roots at Brandeis University. Since its founding in 1959, the school has expanded from a single doctoral program in social policy to include six master’s degrees that span U.S. and global policy as well as management. The institution also boasts 10 research institutes, centers and collaboratives known for applied interdisciplinary research and active public engagement. Heller’s motto is “knowledge advancing social justice.”

Michael Doonan, director of the Master of Public Policy program and the Massachusetts Health Policy Forum, says, “During the COVID-19 pandemic, Heller’s contributions to health and social policy at the local, state and federal levels, as well as globally, are more critical than ever. We remain committed to creating social change through world-class graduate education, rigorous research and public engagement.”