Atlanta-based Emory University has the No. 1 program for earning a master's degree in nursing, and Baltimore-based Johns Hopkins University has the No. 1 program for earning a doctor of nursing practice, according to U.S. News and World Report's "Best Nursing Schools" for 2024 released April 25.
The rankings are part of U.S. News' annual "Best Graduate Schools" lists. The publication pushed back the release date for its best law and medical schools after "unprecedented" inquiries. However, the publication released all other best graduate school rankings April 25.
The nursing school rankings are based on data from nursing schools with master's or doctoral programs accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. A total of 184 nursing programs were included in the rankings of nursing master's programs, and 169 were included in the ranking of DNP programs.
For the first time, a school with an active program that did not report data for the most recent rankings but did for the previous year's rankings would be ranked in that program using the previous year's statistical data, said U.S. News.
The publication examined nursing schools based on research activity, faculty resources, student excellence and qualitative ratings from experts. Read more about the methodology here.
Note: The lists include ties.
The top nursing schools for master's degrees, according to the rankings:
1. Emory University (Atlanta)
2. Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore)
3. University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia)
4. University of Washington (Seattle)
4. Duke University (Durham, N.C.)
6. Vanderbilt University (Nashville, Tenn.)
6. Columbia University (New York City)
8. University of Michigan (Ann Arbor)
8. The Ohio State University (Columbus)
10. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
10. University of Alabama at Birmingham
10. University of California San Francisco
The top nursing schools for DNPs, according to the rankings:
1. Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore)
2. Columbia University (New York City)
2. Duke University (Durham, N.C.)
2. Rush University (Chicago)
2. University of Washington (Seattle)
6. Emory University (Atlanta)
6. Rutgers University-Newark (N.J.)
6. University of Michigan (Ann Arbor)
6. University of Minnesota Twin Cities (Minneapolis)
10. University of Pittsburgh
To view the full rankings, click here.