CEHD Graduate Programs Rank in Top 10% in the Nation
U.S. News and World Report identifies education graduate programs among best in nation
The education graduate programs in University of Delaware’s College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) have advanced five places in U.S. News and World Report’s 2026 rankings, placing the programs within the top 10% of all education programs across the nation. Housed within CEHD’s School of Education (SOE), the education graduate programs are now ranked 26 among 270 programs.
“I’m proud of all of our faculty, staff and graduate students that have helped our programs advance even further in U.S. News and World Report’s rankings,” said Rena Hallam, interim dean of CEHD and professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences. “Our programs help students address critical issues in teaching and learning, literacy, mathematics, school psychology, school leadership and more through our groundbreaking scholarship, innovative coursework and supportive mentorship. Our graduate students and alumni are making an immediate and meaningful difference in Delaware communities and beyond.”
U.S. News and World Report evaluated CEHD on its research activity, the academic excellence of their entering students, their faculty resources and opinions on program quality from education school deans and school hiring professionals.
Research-driven programs
The SOE offers a broad portfolio of competitive, research-driven graduate programs, including a Ph.D. in education with five specialization areas, a Ph.D. in educational statistics and research methods, an Ed.D. in organizational improvement for educational leaders, and several master’s or specialist programs in educational technology, literacy, special education, school psychology and teacher leadership. CEHD faculty also teach within the interdisciplinary Ph.D. in education and social policy program and M.S. in interdisciplinary evaluation science, housed within UD’s Graduate College.
Informed by research and grounded in rigorous methodological approaches, CEHD’s graduate programs in education are designed and primarily taught by nationally-known, award-winning faculty in the SOE. Students develop content knowledge and advanced skills through coursework, thought-provoking symposia and immersive practicum experiences.
Outside of the classroom, many students also have an opportunity to work closely with faculty on educational research. In fiscal year 2025, faculty garnered over $20 million in research funding and training grants that often included funding for graduate student assistantships.
For example, a team of undergraduates, doctoral students and post-doctoral researchers are working with Nancy C. Jordan, Dean Family Endowed Chair of Education and professor in the SOE, to support early fractions learning in first and second grade. With the support of a $1.2 million grant from the National Science Foundation, the project will help schools integrate fractions more effectively into the primary math curricula, before formal fraction instruction occurs.
Supportive faculty
Across graduate programs, students consistently highlight CEHD’s supportive faculty members and staff. Committed to the development of their graduate students, CEHD faculty offer mentorship and guidance as students prepare to become educators, researchers and leaders in their fields.
Sterling Seemans, principal at Springer Middle School and 2026 Delaware Principal of the Year, shared his experience working with SOE Professor Elizabeth Farley-Ripple as a graduate student studying educational leadership. Seemans described her advising approach as “personable and supportive without sacrificing high expectations” and spoke highly of UD’s graduate programs overall.
“UD unequivocally prepared me to work and serve at a level where I could even be considered as the Delaware Principal of the Year,” Seemans said. “The preparation in my M.Ed. and Ed.D. programs was second to none with a comprehensive approach to data collection and analysis, reflective processes to leadership and an analytical mindset to tackling problems both in the moment and on a larger scale.”
For more information about the U.S. News and World Report rankings and other ranked UD graduate programs, visit UD’s Institutional Research and Effectiveness Rankings webpage.
Article by Jessica Henderson. Graphic by Shelly Silva.