UMSON Again Ranked Among Top 10 Nationally by ‘U.S. News’ for Public Schools of Nursing

Baltimore, Md. – The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) once again was ranked in the top 10 across the board for public schools of nursing in the newly released 2024 edition of U.S. News & World Report’s “America’s Best Graduate Schools,” out of 648 accredited nursing schools surveyed. 

Both UMSON’s Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program and its Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program are tied at No. 7 among public schools of nursing. The DNP program is tied at No. 15 among all ranked schools, while the MSN program is tied at No. 25 among all ranked schools. 

Leading the way in the rankings are four specialties, all ranked No. 1 nationwide among public schools of nursing:

•    the DNP Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP) specialty, tied at No. 4 among all ranked schools 
•    the DNP Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner specialty, also tied at No. 4 among all ranked schools
•    the MSN Health Services Leadership and Management specialty, ranked No. 2 among all schools
•    the MSN Clinical Nurse Leader option, tied at No. 2 among all schools.

UMSON is also ranked in the top five among public schools of nursing for its DNP Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner/Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist specialty (No. 3, tied) and DNP Family Nurse Practitioner specialty (No. 4.)

“It is gratifying to continue to be recognized nationally for our Master of Science in Nursing and Doctor of Nursing Practice programs,” said Jane Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN, the Bill and Joanne Conway Dean of the University of Maryland School of Nursing. “We continue to play a vital role in efforts within Maryland and nationally to increase the number of nurses with advanced education at the master’s and doctoral level. We believe this is essential to ensuring that our graduates are well-prepared to meet the needs of patients and their families at a time when the health care system is increasingly complex with a growing percentage of older adults and a far more diverse population overall.”

The U.S. News & World Report rankings are based on a variety of indicators, including student selectivity and program size, faculty resources, and research activity, and on survey data from deans of schools of nursing that are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. In fall 2022 and early 2023, U.S. News surveyed 648 nursing schools with master’s or doctoral programs. In total, 296 nursing programs responded to the survey. Of those, 184 provided enough data to be included in the rankings of nursing master’s programs and 169 provided enough data to be eligible for inclusion in the ranking of DNP programs. Many institutions were ranked in both, using overlapping data.

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The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top nursing schools nationwide. Enrolling more than 2,100 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.