U.S. News & World Report released its 2025 rankings of the nation’s best graduate nursing programs April 7, evaluating schools based on research activity, faculty resources, student excellence and peer assessments.
The rankings analyzed in-person, hybrid and flexible master’s and Doctor of Nursing Practice programs, drawing on data submitted in fall 2024 and early 2025 from 683 accredited institutions. Of those, 285 schools reported data for at least one program. A total of 146 master’s programs and 158 DNP programs met eligibility criteria for ranking — including minimum enrollment thresholds and accreditation by national nursing education bodies. Several institutions appeared in both rankings, with overlapping data on research funding and faculty credentials.
This year’s methodology emphasized measurable outcomes such as degree productivity, faculty qualifications and research funding, while placing less weight on qualitative assessments. The full methodology can be found here.
Note: The list includes ties.
10 top nursing schools for master’s degrees, according to the rankings:
1. Emory University Woodruff (Atlanta)
2. Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore)
3. Ohio State University (Columbus)
4. Vanderbilt University (Nashville, Tenn.)
5. Duke University (Durham, N.C.)
6. University of California, San Francisco
6. University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia)
8. University of Michigan (Ann Arbor)
9. New York University—Meyers (New York City)
9. University of California, Los Angeles
And the 10 best nursing schools for DNPs:
1. Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore)
2. Duke University (Durham, N.C.)
3. University of Washington (Seattle)
4. Rutgers University (Newark, N.J.)
4. University of Minnesota Twin Cities (Minneapolis)
6. Sacred Heart University—Davis & Henley (Fairfield, Conn.)
6. University of Michigan (Ann Arbor)
8. Emory University Woodruff (Atlanta)
9. Ohio State University (Columbus)
10. George Mason University (Fairfax, Va.)
