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The University of Washington Information School rose to a tie for the No. 1 spot in U.S. News & World Report’s latest rankings of U.S. master’s degree programs in library and information science. The magazine’s “” were released Tuesday, April 8.

Cindy Aden, chair of the Master of Library and Information Science program, who is herself an alum who returned to the iSchool in 2021 as distinguished practitioner in residence said, “I’ve been waiting impatiently for this particular ranking to catch-up with us and reflect what I’ve always known to be true: that we are the best program in the country.” 

The iSchool rose steadily up the rankings through the past two decades, reaching No. 2 in the U.S. News rankings in 2017 and holding a tie for that spot in 2021, before moving to No. 1 this year alongside the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Aden continued, “This No. 1 ranking is a reflection of the hard work of our faculty, staff and students – as evidenced by the diverse and rigorous research being conducted and in the quality of the learning experience offered in all our classrooms.”

Professor Michelle H. Martin, who preceded Aden as MLIS chair, also credited the inclusive nature of the MLIS program and the hands-on experience students gain by working with faculty.

“The UW is known for being a ‘high touch’ program in which the faculty don’t just teach students but expend time and energy supporting them to become the information professionals of the future,” Martin said. “Ask any faculty member, and we can tell you about many students who are still in touch and doing great work in libraries, the nonprofit sector, industry and many other information environments. Students also come to us and refer others to the UW iSchool because we foster a welcoming environment for all.” 

Anind K. Dey, dean of the school, however, notes that rankings don't tell the whole story. “Seeing the Information School reach the top of the rankings is very welcome news,” said Dey. “But the far-reaching impact of our students, faculty and staff, and especially our alumni on the communities they serve, is both the true measure of our work and the driving force behind our academic mission.” 

To create the rankings, U.S. News surveys deans, program directors and select senior faculty of more than 50 accredited library and information science programs. Questionnaires, sent in fall 2024, asked individuals to rate the academic quality of each institution’s programs on a scale of 1 (marginal) to 5 (outstanding).

Dozens of other UW schools and departments placed highly in the , including public affairs, nursing, speech and language pathology, education, public health, computer science, psychology and engineering.