The University of Miami placed high in the 2011 edition of “America’s Best Graduate Schools,” published by U.S. News & World Report today.

The University’s Miller School of Medicine ranked No. 47 this year, moving up four slots from No. 51 last year. The School of Law had the most dramatic rise, moving up 11 points in one year. The school is ranked 60th this year out of 188 schools; last year it was ranked number 71.

“This prestigious ranking from U.S. News is further evidence of the high caliber of our students, our education, and the research being conducted at the Miller School of Medicine,” said Pascal J. Goldschmidt, senior vice president for medical affairs and dean of the Miller School. “To be ranked in the top 50 of research medical schools reflects our deep commitment to educating the medical leaders of tomorrow, while making the discoveries that will help patients in South Florida and around the world.”

U.S. News & World Report ranks thousands of professional school programs each year. These rankings are based on two types of data: expert opinions about program quality and statistical indicators that measure the quality of a school’s faculty, research, and students. These data come from surveys of more than 1,200 programs and some 11,000 academics and professionals.

In the medical school research rankings, 120 schools provided the data needed to calculate the rankings. The medical school research model is based on a weighted average of eight indicators, including quality assessment, peer assessment, research activity, and student selectivity. The latest ranking for the school’s physical therapy program was No. 7. This program has consistently placed in the top ten of the U.S. News rankings.

The School of Law made the most significant strides in this year’s rankings for UM. Its Tax Law Program ranked No. 5 this year, moving up one spot from last year; this program consistently ranks among the top ten nationally.

“I am pleased to see this public acknowledgement that the UM School of Law is a place on the move,” said Dean Patricia D. White. “I am especially pleased to see our LL.M. tax program recognized as the powerhouse that it is.”

The clinical psychology graduate department, under the auspices of the College of Arts and Sciences, ranked 25 out of 210 programs. The program has become highly competitive. In 2010, the department received about 500 applications to fill only 15 open slots.

“Our program challenges these highly qualified students to go beyond traditional clinical training in psychology by combining a broad spectrum of basic, applied, and interdisciplinary courses with a ‘mentor model’ of research training in specific areas of student/faculty interest,” said Rod Wellens, chair of the Department of Psychology.

Also under the College of Arts and Sciences, the Department of Psychology, in the latest rankings available, came in at No. 60 out of 241 schools ranked.

All the graduate school rankings will be published in the May print issue of the magazine. For more information, go to the U.S. News & World Report’s Web site at www.usnews.com.