Cornell's College of Veterinary Medicine was ranked the best in the nation in U.S. News and World Report's 2008 edition of "America's Best Graduate Schools," released March 31. The college has consistently been ranked at the top since 2000.

"Our faculty strive to maintain our reputation as the premier program in veterinary education, supported by a world-class animal hospital and Animal Health Diagnostic Center," said Donald F. Smith, the Austin O. Hooey Dean of Veterinary Medicine. "This ranking by our peers across the country also reflects the quality of our research and graduate education, including the emphasis on collaborations with the physical sciences, biological sciences and engineering programs at Cornell."

The U.S. News rankings of health programs, including veterinary schools, are compiled every four years, and are the result of assessments by program directors and faculty.

Other professional schools at Cornell also made the top schools lists, including Cornell Law School, which placed 13th (the same as last year) for quality and 41st for diversity; the Johnson School was rated 14th (tied with Yale and up from 16th last year); and Weill Cornell Medical College tied for 15th place (the same as last year) with the University of Chicago and University of Pittsburgh schools of medicine. In Ph.D. programs, Cornell's rankings included a tie for 12th place, with Duke and Princeton universities, in the sciences and a tie for 44th with University of Florida in education programs.