AU recognized in numerous areas by U.S. News Best Graduate School rankings

ASHLAND, Ohio – Ashland University’s Dwight Schar College of Education has been selected as a 2026 Best Graduate School by U.S. News & World Report, and for the first time, Ashland’s MBA program within the Dauch College of Business and Economics earned a series of specialty rankings from the media company that is widely respected for its education rankings.

Designed for prospective students seeking professional growth and new career opportunities, the Best Graduate Schools rankings evaluated programs in a variety of disciplines. Within education, U.S. News evaluated schools on research activity, academic excellence of entering students, faculty resources and opinions on program quality from education school deans and school hiring professionals.

Ashland’s graduate education program was one of just nine within the state of Ohio, and one of 263 overall, to earn a Best Education School distinction.

“We are very pleased to receive this recognition from U.S. News again,” stated Lisa Vernon-Dotson, dean of AU’s Dwight Schar College of Education. “It is recognition such as this that confirms what we already know at Ashland; our programs continue to prepare graduate students to meet the needs of our P-12 partners by helping them develop and enhance their skill sets across various advanced educational programs.”

U.S. News’ Best Business School rankings are the result of a comparison of MBA programs on their career attainment success, student excellence and qualitative assessments by experts. New in 2026, it supplemented the overall rankings with 13 specialized subject rankings, and Ashland’s MBA program excelled, particularly compared to its statewide peers, earning spots in more than half of the categories:

• 1 of 4 in Ohio and 113th overall in Best Executive Program
• 1 of 8 in Ohio and 120th overall in Best International Programs
• 1 of 10 in Ohio and 230th overall in Best Marketing Programs
• 1 of 12 in Ohio and 222nd overall in Best Part-time MBA Programs
• 1 of 12 in Ohio and 249th overall in Best Finance Programs
• 1 of 13 in Ohio and 317th overall in Best Accounting Programs
• 1 of 13 in Ohio and 275th overall in Best Analytics Programs

"It is a great honor for our MBA and many of our specializations to be recognized as some of the best options in Ohio by U.S. News," said Lance Kaltenbaugh, interim dean of AU's Dauch College of Business and Economics. "This is more evidence that the graduate students of our MBA program are being well prepared by our outstanding faculty to excel and make an impact in their chosen field."

LaMont Jones, managing editor for education at U.S. News, summarized the significance of these rankings. “The 2026 Best Graduate Schools rankings are designed to provide those pursuing an advanced degree with a wealth of data to inform their academic choices and to help them as they evaluate their post-college choices. Achieving a top ranking signifies a program demonstrates strong performance across key metrics – from faculty resources and research activity to graduate employment and student selectivity – which ultimately serves those seeking the best possible graduate education.”

U.S. News & World Report is the global leader for journalism that empowers consumers, citizens, business leaders and policy officials to make confident decisions in all aspects of their lives and communities. A multifaceted media company, U.S. News provides unbiased rankings, independent reporting and analysis and consumer advice to millions of people on USNews.com each month.