Contact:	Carolyn Gonzales 277-5920 Frank D. Martinez 277-1811
April 5, 2002 UNM PROGRAMS AMONG THE BEST IN 2002 U.S. NEWS SURVEY The University of New Mexico ranks among the best in the nation when it comes to law, engineering and medicine. This year, seven UNM programs were cited among the best in the country. U.S. News and World Report first ranked graduate schools in 1987 and has done so annually since 1990. Three programs in the UNM School of Medicine cracked the top 10. For the eighth consecutive year, the school's rural medicine program held the number two spot in the nation. UNM's primary-care curriculum ranked fourth this year, down from third last year. UNM's family medicine program moved up from sixth to fifth place this year. The UNM clinical law training program is still in the top 10. Again this year, U.S. News identified the law schools in the country with the most racially diverse student bodies. The diversity index is based on the total proportion of minority students - not including international students-and the mix of racial groups on campus. UNM's School of Law made the table because its student population is 23 percent Hispanic. To be included in the table, the law school must be accredited by the American Bar Association. UNM's law school remains among the top 100 law schools in the nation, although the magazine did not release an exact numeric rating. UNM's School of Engineering again ranks among the top 50 engineering schools in the country. UNM is in a four-way tie for 46th this year, with Dartmouth College, University of Massachusetts-Amherst and Vanderbilt University. Last year UNM ranked 48th. Every year the magazine ranks graduate programs in medicine, law and business. Other graduate programs are evaluated every three years. The magazine lists new rankings this year in applied mathematics, biological sciences, chemistry, computer science, mathematics and physics. New rankings are listed for Ph.D. programs in the social sciences and humanities including economics, English, history, political science, psychology and sociology. The rankings were based on various criteria including faculty and dean recommendations, academic reputation, research activities, faculty salaries, student selectivity and employment success. The magazine also surveys people outside of academia who are likely to hire new graduates or come into contact with them in the workplace. Judges are surveyed for their opinions on law schools. Practicing engineers and recruiters are canvassed for their knowledge of engineering programs. April 8 is the big day for U.S. News. The 2002-2003 edition of Best Graduate Schools will be available that date at newsstands. Many, but not all of the rankings will also be included in the April 15 issue of U.S. News, also available at newsstands April 8. Additionally, the rankings are available on the U.S. News Online website www.usnews.com on April 5. The U.S. News guide to undergraduate rankings, America's Best Colleges, comes out around Labor Day. # # #

The University of New Mexico
Public Affairs Department
Hodgin Hall, 2nd floor
Albuquerque, NM 87131-0011
Telephone: (505) 277-5813
Fax: (505) 277-1981