UNC Gillings remains No. 1 public school of public health in US

March 29, 2022

Once again, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Gillings School of Global Public Health was ranked by peer leaders as the number one public school of public health in the United States — and tied for number two overall.

The rankings were published on March 29, 2022, by U.S. News and World Report.

Dean Barbara K. Rimer

“We are honored and humbled to be ranked by our peers as the number one public school of public health and tied for second overall,” said Barbara K. Rimer, DrPH, dean and Alumni Distinguished Professor at the Gillings School. “This ranking reflects our faculty, staff, students, alumni, donors and friends’ commitment to our mission — improving public health and eliminating health inequities across North Carolina and around the world through our research, education and practice. Our ranking also depends on the support of our School by North Carolinians and leaders at UNC-Chapel Hill.”

This marks the fifth consecutive rankings period in which UNC Gillings was ranked second overall and the number one public school of public health by the magazine.

“The School’s work during the pandemic has been life-changing, and now, we are looking forward to continuing to address the world’s greatest health threats and challenges even as we prepare to prevent future pandemics,” Rimer shared. “We are committed to train North Carolina’s and the world’s future public health leaders and to turn our research evidence and interventions into practice that improves lives. We would not be a top school without strong support from the University and state of North Carolina. We do not take our ranking, or the support given to us, for granted, and we seek to earn our reputation every day.”

The Gillings School has been ranked among the top schools and programs of public health by U.S. News since the magazine first ranked public health schools in 1987.

Rankings results are based on peer assessment surveys sent to deans and other administrative leaders at all Council on Education for Public Health-accredited schools and programs of public health. Each of the 195 schools and programs included in the 2023 rankings was judged on overall academic quality using a scale of outstanding to marginal.

“While schools and programs compete on rankings, we are united in our commitment to improve the health of the public,” Rimer said. “Public health never has been more important than it is right now.”

Contact the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health communications team at sphcomm@unc.edu.