US Best Graduate Nursing Program

In 2007, U.S. News & World Report released its rankings of the best graduate nursing programs in the United States (2008 edition). These rankings were an important reflection of the growing significance of nursing in the healthcare field and the increasing demand for well-trained, highly skilled nursing professionals. The graduate nursing programs ranked highly in this edition included the University of Washington, University of California–San Francisco, University of Pennsylvania, Johns Hopkins University, University of Michigan–Ann Arbor, and University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill (School of Nursing).

University of Washington

The University of Washington (UW), ranked first in the U.S. News 2008 edition of best graduate nursing programs, has long been a leader in nursing education, research, and practice. The UW School of Nursing is recognized as one of the top nursing schools in the world, offering a comprehensive range of graduate programs that prepare students for roles in clinical practice, research, and healthcare leadership.

UW’s nursing programs are particularly known for their strong emphasis on research. The School of Nursing is home to some of the most distinguished nursing researchers in the country, particularly in the areas of public health, chronic disease management, and health disparities. Students are encouraged to engage in research from the outset of their academic careers, and the school’s research infrastructure provides them with the support they need to develop their own research agendas. The focus on research ensures that graduates of the University of Washington’s nursing program are well-equipped not only to provide high-quality patient care but also to contribute to the ongoing evolution of the nursing profession.

Another notable feature of UW’s graduate nursing program is its commitment to community health and working with underserved populations. The university has developed partnerships with healthcare institutions across the state of Washington and beyond, giving nursing students ample opportunities for clinical rotations in both urban and rural settings. This broad range of clinical experiences ensures that graduates of UW’s nursing programs are well-prepared to face the challenges of providing care in diverse and often underserved communities.

University of California, San Francisco

Ranked second in the U.S. News 2008 list, the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) is another top institution for graduate nursing education. UCSF’s School of Nursing has earned a reputation for producing highly skilled nurse practitioners (NPs) and leaders in the field of nursing, particularly in specialties such as family health, pediatrics, and psychiatric-mental health nursing. UCSF is unique in that it is exclusively dedicated to health sciences, creating a focused environment where nursing students can work alongside other healthcare disciplines, such as medicine, pharmacy, and public health, in an interdisciplinary setting.

UCSF is renowned for its strength in nurse practitioner programs. The university offers a wide range of NP specialties, preparing nurses to work in primary care, specialty care, and acute care settings. UCSF’s nurse practitioner programs combine rigorous academic coursework with hands-on clinical training, ensuring that students are well-equipped to provide patient care in a variety of settings. UCSF is particularly noted for its focus on health equity, making it an ideal environment for students who are passionate about improving healthcare access for underserved populations.

The university’s faculty are recognized leaders in nursing research, and students are encouraged to engage in cutting-edge studies that contribute to improving health outcomes. UCSF is known for its work in areas such as HIV/AIDS, maternal-child health, and cancer care, and nursing students at UCSF have the opportunity to participate in these groundbreaking research projects. This focus on research and evidence-based practice ensures that UCSF graduates are well-prepared to not only provide high-quality care but to push the boundaries of nursing practice and contribute to health policy development.

University of Pennsylvania

Ranked third in the U.S. News 2008 graduate nursing rankings, the University of Pennsylvania (Penn) has long been one of the leading institutions for nursing education. Established in 1850, the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing is one of the oldest and most prestigious nursing schools in the United States. The program is well-regarded for its academic rigor, its distinguished faculty, and its commitment to research and leadership in nursing practice.

The School of Nursing at Penn is known for its interdisciplinary approach to education, with nursing students working alongside students from other health-related disciplines in the university’s Health System. This collaboration fosters a deep understanding of the interconnectedness of various healthcare fields and prepares nursing students for leadership roles in a range of healthcare settings. Penn’s nursing faculty are leaders in nursing research, particularly in areas such as health disparities, geriatric care, and nursing education. This emphasis on research helps ensure that students are not only learning from the latest evidence but also contributing to the development of new knowledge that can advance the field of nursing.

In addition to its academic and research strengths, the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing is known for its commitment to community health. The school has established strong partnerships with local healthcare providers, ensuring that nursing students have access to a wide range of clinical training opportunities. Penn’s proximity to some of the nation’s top healthcare institutions, including the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, provides students with exceptional opportunities to gain hands-on experience in clinical settings.

Johns Hopkins University

Johns Hopkins University, ranked fourth in the U.S. News 2008 graduate nursing rankings, is internationally recognized as a leader in healthcare education, research, and clinical practice. The Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, established in 1889, has built a reputation for producing nursing leaders who are at the forefront of patient care, research, and healthcare policy. The university’s focus on research and innovation has made it a key player in advancing the nursing profession.

One of the standout features of Johns Hopkins’ graduate nursing programs is its emphasis on research and evidence-based practice. The university has a world-class research infrastructure, and nursing students at Johns Hopkins are encouraged to engage in research projects from their first year of study. Faculty members are internationally recognized for their work in areas such as nursing informatics, public health, and global health, and students at Johns Hopkins have opportunities to work on groundbreaking research that influences healthcare delivery both in the United States and abroad.

Johns Hopkins is also known for its strong clinical programs, which emphasize patient-centered care. The School of Nursing offers a wide variety of clinical specialties, including family health, adult health, and psychiatric-mental health nursing, and students gain extensive hands-on experience in the university’s affiliated hospitals and clinics. Johns Hopkins’ commitment to global health also ensures that nursing students are prepared to address healthcare challenges in diverse cultural and socioeconomic contexts.

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

The University of Michigan–Ann Arbor, ranked fifth in the U.S. News 2008 rankings, is a leading institution for nursing education and research. The University of Michigan School of Nursing has a long tradition of excellence, offering a wide range of graduate programs designed to prepare nurses for leadership roles in clinical practice, research, and education. The school is particularly known for its strengths in nursing leadership, community health, and pediatric nursing.

One of the key strengths of the University of Michigan’s nursing program is its focus on interdisciplinary learning. Students at the University of Michigan work closely with colleagues in medicine, public health, and social work, gaining a holistic understanding of healthcare systems. The university is also known for its commitment to community health, with a number of programs focused on improving health outcomes for underserved populations both in Michigan and beyond.

Research is a critical component of the nursing program at the University of Michigan, and students are encouraged to engage in research early in their academic careers. The university’s faculty members are leaders in nursing research, with particular expertise in areas such as health disparities, aging, and chronic illness management.

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill: A Strong Commitment to Community Health Also ranked fifth in the U.S. News 2008 graduate nursing rankings, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) is another institution with a strong reputation for nursing education. The UNC School of Nursing is known for its focus on community health and its commitment to improving health outcomes for underserved populations, particularly in North Carolina and the broader Southeastern United States.

UNC’s nursing program offers a variety of graduate-level programs, including nurse practitioner tracks in family health and psychiatric-mental health nursing. The university has a strong focus on evidence-based practice and community health, and students are provided with numerous opportunities to gain hands-on experience working with diverse populations in community clinics, schools, and public health agencies. The school’s commitment to health equity makes it an attractive option for students passionate about making a difference in the health of marginalized communities.

Below is the list of US Best Graduate Nursing Programs (Ranked in 2007) :

1. University of Washington
2. University of California–San Francisco
3. Univ of Pennsylvania
4. Johns Hopkins Univ
5. Univ of Michigan–Ann Arbor
5. Univ of North Carolina–Chapel Hill (School of Nursing)
7. Oregon Health and Science Uni
7. Uni of Illinois–Chicago
7. Uni of Maryland–Baltimore
7. Uni of Pittsburgh–Main Campus
7. Yale Uni
12. Uni of California–Los Angeles
12. Uni of Iowa
12. Uni of North Carolina–Chapel Hill (School of Public Health)
15. Case Western Reserve U
15. Duke U
15. Indiana University-Purdue University–Indianapolis
15. U of Colorado–Denver
19. Columbia U
19. Rush U
19. U of Texas Health Science Center–Houston
19. U of Texas–Austin
19. U of Virginia
19. U of Wisconsin–Madison
19. Vanderbilt U
26. Boston College
26. Emory U
26. New York U
26. U of Alabama–Birmingham
26. U of Arizona
26. U of Kentucky
32. Arizona State U
32. Georgetown U
32. Ohio State U
32. U of Florida
32. U of Minnesota–Twin Cities
32. U of Nebraska Medical Center
32. U of Tennessee Health Science Center
32. U of Wisconsin–Milwaukee
40. Catholic U of America
40. Loyola U Chicago
40. U of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
40. U of Kansas
40. U of Rochester
40. U of Texas Health Science Center–San Antonio
40. Wayne State U
47. Frontier School of Midwifery and Family Nursing
47. Michigan State U
47. U of Missouri–Columbia
47. U of San Diego
47. U of Utah
47. Villanova U
47. Virginia Commonwealth U
54. Marquette U
54. Medical College of Georgia
54. Medical U of South Carolina
54. Pennsylvania State U–University Park
54. St. Louis U
54. Texas Woman’s U
54. U of Louisville
54. U of Massachusetts–Amherst
54. U of San Francisco
63. George Mason U
63. George Washington U
63. Northeastern U
63. Pace Uni
63. U of Connecticut
63. U of Oklahoma Health Science Center
63. U of South Carolina–Columbia
63. U of Texas Medical Branch–Galveston
63. Washington State U
72. Baylor U
72. Brigham Young U
72. CUNY–Hunter College
72. California State U–Los Angeles
72. Creighton U
72. Duquesne U
72. Georgia State U
72. Indiana State U
72. Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions
72. Rutgers, the State U of New Jersey–Newark
72. San Diego State U
72. University at Buffalo–SUNY
72. U of Cincinnati
72. U of Colorado–Colorado Springs
72. U of Delaware
72. U of Massachusetts–Boston
72. U of North Carolina–Charlotte
72. U of North Carolina–Greensboro
72. U of Portland
72. U of South Florida
72. U of Tennessee–Knoxville
72. Uy of Texas–Arlington
72. West Virginia U
95. Clemson U
95. Georgia College and State U
95. Georgia Southern U
95. Loma Linda U
95. Loyola U New Orleans
95. Montana State U
95. SUNY–Stony Brook
95. Seton Hall U
95. South Dakota State U
95. Southern Illinois U–Edwardsville
95. Texas Christian U
95. Texas Tech Univ Health Sciences Center
95. Thomas Jefferson U
95. U of Alabama
95. Uof Massachusetts–Worcester
95. U of Miami
95. U of Michigan–Flint
95. U of Missouri–Kansas City
95. U of New Mexico
95. U of Southern Maine
115. Binghamton U
115. Drexel U
115. East Carolina U
115. Fairfield U
115. Illinois State U
115. Northern Illinois U
115. Purdue U–Calumet
115. Research College of Nursing
115. San Francisco State U
115. Seattle U
115. Simmons College
115. St. Xavier U
115. Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
115. U of Alabama–Huntsville
115. U of Central Florida
115. U of Indianapolis
115. U of Massachusetts–Dartmouth
115. U of Mississippi Medical Center
115. U of Missouri–St. Louis
115. U of North Dakota
115. U of Scranton
115. U of South Alabama
115. U of Texas–Tyler
115. U of Toledo
115. U of Wisconsin–Eau Claire
115. Xavier U
141. College of St Catherine
141. East Tennessee State U
141. Florida Atlantic U
141. Florida International U
141. Florida State U
141. Gonzaga U
141. Howard U
141. Kent State U
141. Louisiana State U Health Sciences Center
141. Old Dominion U
141. SUNY–Upstate Medical Center
141. Samuel Merritt College
141. Temple U
141. Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi
141. UMDNJ–School of Nursing
141. U of Detroit Mercy
141. U of Hawaii–Manoa
141. U of Maine–Orono
141. U of Northern Colorado
141. U of Rhode Island
141. U of Vermont
141. U of Wisconsin–Oshkosh
141. U of Wyoming
141. Valparaiso U
141. Widener U
141. Wright State U
167. Adelphi U
167. Azusa Pacific U
167. Ball State U
167. CUNY–Lehman College
167. Clarkson College
167. College of St Scholastica
167. DePaul U
167. Grand Valley State U
167. Indiana Wesleyan U
167. Kennesaw State U
167. La Salle U
167. Minnesota State U–Mankato
167. Mount St. Mary’s College
167. Northern Kentucky U
167. Pacific Lutheran U
167. Queens College of Charlotte
167. Radford U
167. SUNY–Downstate Medical Center
167. Samford U
167. San Jose State U
167. Seattle Pacific U
167. Sonoma State U
167. The Sage Colleges
167. Tri-College Univ Nursing Consortium
167. U of Akron
167. U of Alaska–Anchorage
167. U of Massachusetts–Lowell
167. U of Nevada–Las Vegas
167. U of New Hampshire
167. U of North Carolina–Wilmington
167. U of North Florida
167. U of Southern Mississippi
167. U of Texas–El Paso
167. U of the Incarnate Word
167. Wichita State U
167. Winona State U–Rochester
203. Anderson U

Source: US News & World Report 2008 Edition