Dear Members of the TC Community, 

I am pleased to share that this year Teachers College ties for 1st overall as the nation’s top Graduate School of Education according to U.S. News & World Report. This year's results reflect the progress and hard work of our entire community — our faculty, students, staff, alumni, Trustees, donors, partners and friends — to build TC for the future and continue our pursuit of a smarter, healthier, more equitable world.

This is a climb of six spots, rising from 7th last year. The College’s gains in research funding and public prominence were driving factors in this shift, in addition to how U.S. News & World Report adjusted its rankings methodology. Key updates in U.S. News’ methodology include: 

• Increased emphasis on total research expenditures and funded research per faculty member
• Increased emphasis on faculty resources, including the number of degrees granted, student-faculty ratios, faculty honors and more
• Statistical methods to account for data outliers related to institutional size
• Reduced emphasis on quality assessment from peers and experts, as well as on student selectivity

The College’s progress in the area of research was particularly important to our achievement. TC ranked second in total research expenditures ($65.2 million) among the top ten ranked schools, and increased our funded research per faculty member, a product of our concerted efforts to strengthen research funding and practices at TC. Simultaneously, nine of our specialty areas were ranked this year — with six of them in the top 10 and the remaining top 15 — and overall, the College ranked second in peer and expert assessment. 

I want to acknowledge the complicated and controversial nature of the rankings. It is notable — and cause for celebration — however, that this year’s results reflect the impact of our hard work and focus on our strategic priorities, particularly in the area of research. As you know, under the leadership of Vice Dean for Research Carol Hammer and her team, Research@TC houses our stronger infrastructure to support all members of our faculty in winning research grants. These extensive research efforts serve to bolster our reputation as well as to attract top students, faculty and staff to TC. And the College’s victories in research, cultivating student pathways, elevating the work of our faculty and the dedication of our community have all contributed to this milestone. 

While we can’t predict the College’s placement in rankings next year, I am pleased with our progress and remain confident that with our dedicated pursuit of TC’s strategic priorities, will continue to advance TC as an institution through the measures of success we have experienced this year.

This outstanding news is a result of our collective efforts and important work together, and I am pleased to share it with all of you. I am grateful for your contributions to our community and your dedicated support of Teachers College. I look forward to continuing our efforts together.

Warmly,

Thomas Bailey
President, Teachers College