BYU ranks 29th for business school

Two of Utah's largest schools — the University of Utah and Brigham Young University — are touting high ratings in U.S. News & World Report's most recent rankings of graduate schools across the country.

The Salt Lake City school boasted placement on each of the magazine's lists, including a ranking within the nation's best business, medical and law schools. Provo's BYU showed up as the 29th best business school in the country and 46th best law school.

The U.'s S.J. Quinney College of Law moved up among the top-tier law schools, ranking 51st, six spots higher than last year's tally, which compares schools according to surveys of more than 1,200 programs and 14,000 academics and professionals that were conducted in fall 2007.

"Rankings are of instrumental importance as a rough proxy of value used by applicants, peers, donors and employers," said Hiram Chodosh, dean of the U.'s College of Law. "However, at the same time, rankings do not shape our institutional values and commitments."

By numbers, however, BYU's law school — whose ranking of 46th-best was a drop of two spots from last year — carries about 60 more students than the U. and puts a lower price tag on their education, asking $17,400 for tuition. The U. charges more than $26,000.

Chodosh said the U. school has worked hard to "earn" the ranking with its dedication to "making a difference in the world through training the next generation of leaders, raising and helping to solve critical issues of our time, and finding innovative ways to serve our local, national and global communities."

This year, the U.'s medical school placed 50th in the nation for research and 31st for primary care, moving up a total of 14 spots from last year. Recognition was also given for various programs, including pharmacy, physician assistant, nursing, nursing-midwifery, audiology, clinical psychology, occupational therapy, physical therapy and rehabilitation counseling.

Among business schools, five of Utah's public colleges and universities ended up on the list, though some of them went recognized but unranked. Among those mentioned were Utah State University's Huntsman Business College, Weber State University's Goddard School of Business and the Business College at Southern Utah University.

BYU's Marriott School of Business again landed high on the list, ranking 29th in the nation. The competitive school moved up from its 41st-place spot in the same category last year.