Earth Sciences Rankings

The regression-based quality measure is one of two estimates of overall program quality prepared by the NRC. Both measures use the same data on 20 key variables, but they use different methods to determine which variables are the most important predictors of program quality. For the regression-based measure, the relative weight of each variable is derived input from about 50 faculty members in each field. The faculty assessed a random selection of graduate programs on a scale of 1 to 6 without specifying the their assessment criteria. Those variables that were most often associated with highly regarded programs received the most weight. Learn more.

The number of publications per faculty member shows the productivity, on average, of faculty research. In addition, graduate students may have more opportunities to co-author papers when working with prolific faculty. Note, however, that publication norms vary greatly between fields. The use of allocated faculty prevents the overrepresentation of faculty who take part in more than one graduate program. For example, a faculty member who was equally involved with two graduate programs would be allocated 50% to each.

Citation frequency reflects the recognition of faculty research by other academics and is often used as a measure of publication quality and relevance. Important or influential papers tend to be widely cited.

Funding agencies give grants to faculty members that are engaged in worthwhile research, so high levels of funding suggest high quality of faculty research. In addition, programs with well-funded faculty may offer greater resources and opportunities to graduate students.

Awards show that the faculty's work is held in high regard.

A high 6-year completion rate suggests that faculty mentors emphasize the timely completion of graduation requirements.

Completing your doctorate quickly is less expensive and minimizes the delay before starting a career.

High scores for this variable suggest that the program does a good job of helping students find jobs or that its graduates are more competitive in the marketplace.

If your goal is to work at an educational institution, you may prefer programs whose graduates find such employment.

An annual review helps ensure that expectations are clearly communicated among students, faculty advisers and program administrators.

The ability to prepare and present an engaging, memorable lecture can be developed with instruction and practice. The skill is valuable in academic settings, obviously, but it is also relevant to non-academic careers, many of which require strong written and oral communication skills.

The ability to write a compelling proposal improves your chances of winning support for your research. This skill is particularly important if you plan to pursue an academic career.

Two key measures of academic success—publications and grants—both require the ability to skillfully express complex ideas. This skill can be developed with practice, and better writing may improve your prospects for later success.

A working knowledge of statistics is necessary in every quantitative field.

A formal orientation accelerates social integration and helps ensure that administrative and logistical issues have been addressed.

A separate orientation for international graduate students can help mitigate cultural stresses and provide a forum to address concerns specific to students from outside the U.S.

The judging process in award competitions can be a source of important feedback from faculty members who are not directly involved in the research or course development. Prizes reward exceptional work, highlight best practices, and provide recognition that can help students distinguish themselves in a competitive job market.

Local research conferences provide a low-stakes environment in which to develop the skill of presenting your research.

Professional meetings provide opportunities to interact with others in your field, to learn about their work, and to present your own. They are an important, if sometimes expensive, part of graduate education.

Ethical issues are critically important and ubiquitous in academic settings, and the ethically correct response to certain circumstances is not always obvious. Formal training prepares students to deal with a variety of issues, including authorship, conflict of interest, financial reporting, mentoring, human and animal research, data hygiene and whistleblowing.

Graduate student associations provide a collective voice for graduate students. They advocate on behalf of student concerns and often improve communication between students and administrators.

Staff support for a graduate student association can improve the stability and productivity of this representative body. Over time, this support may translate to policies that better reflect student needs.

Financial support for a graduate student association can improve the stability and productivity of this representative body. Over time, this support may translate to policies that better reflect student needs.

Academic grievances include conflicts over grades, course credit, authorship, attribution and similar issues. A formal grievance procedure helps resolve such conflicts quickly and equitably.

A sanctioned procedure for dispute resolution helps students, faculty and staff settle conflicts that cannot be solved informally. Such procedures provide a blueprint for communication, mediation, negotiation and the development of pragmatic solutions.

By meeting regularly, program administrators may be more likely to standardize policies and practices between programs.