UMSON Rises in All Ranking Categories in Latest ‘U.S. News’ Best Graduate Schools

Baltimore, Md. – Continuing its mission of shaping the nursing profession and the health care environment by developing leaders in education, research, and practice, the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) has once again ranked in the top 10 across the board for public schools of nursing – and moved up in all six categories in which the school is ranked – in the newly released 2024 edition of U.S. News & World Report’s “America’s Best Graduate Schools,” out of 651 accredited nursing school surveyed.

Both UMSON’s Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) and its Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) programs climbed in the rankings among all schools surveyed, DNP tied at No. 8 (up from No. 15 last year) and MSN at No. 20 overall (up from 25 last year) . Among public schools of nursing, the DNP program is tied at No. 4 and the MSN is ranked No. 9.

Two UMSON specialties lead the way in the rankings, both ranked No. 1 (tied) nationwide among public schools of nursing:
•    the DNP Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner specialty, tied at No. 4  among all ranked schools
•    The MSN Health Services Leadership and Management specialty, No. 2 among all ranked schools.

UMSON is also ranked in the top 10 among public schools of nursing for its:
•    Family Nurse Practitioner Doctor of Nursing Practice specialty (No. 3)
•    DNP Nurse Anesthesia specialty (No. 7, tied)

“It is gratifying to continue to be recognized nationally for our Doctor of Nursing Practice program and our Master of Science in Nursing program,” said Yolanda Ogbolu, PhD, NNP, FNAP, FAAN, the Bill and Joanne Conway Dean of the University of Maryland School of Nursing. “The School of Nursing plays a vital role in our collective efforts in Maryland and nationally to increase the number of nurses with advanced education, particularly at the doctoral level. It is essential that we have nurses who are well prepared to meet the changing needs of patients, their families, and our communities at a time when we face increasing complexity in our health care system, growing diversity in our population, and persistent gaps in access to needed care.”

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 2023 and early 2024, U.S. News surveyed 651 nursing schools with master’s or doctoral programs. In total, 292 nursing programs responded to the survey. Of those, 216 provided enough data to be included in the rankings of nursing master’s programs and 188 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 nearly 2,000 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.