U.S. News & World Report has released its 2023 rankings for the best graduate schools in the country, and UConn School of Nursing placed in the top 5 for both master’s and Doctor of Nursing Practice programs in New England.
The School is ranked No. 34 among nursing master’s programs in the U.S. and No. 40 among the country’s DNP programs. Among higher education institutions in New England, UConn’s nursing master’s program is No. 3, behind only Yale University and Boston College, and its DNP program is No. 2 after Yale.
“I am incredibly proud of our graduate students and faculty and congratulate them on this accomplishment,” says Dean Deborah Chyun. “Our students are dedicated to achieving advanced degrees so they can better serve patients in our communities and teach their fellow nurses. None of this would be possible without their hard work and our faculty’s commitment to building competitive graduate-level programs.”
The UConn School of Nursing master’s program has had a steady presence on the best graduate programs list the past few years, and it has risen dramatically in U.S. News’ best online programs rankings. In January, the School was ranked among the top 10 online nursing master’s programs for the first time. The master’s program has six concentrations – adult gerontology acute care nurse practitioner, adult gerontology primary care nurse practitioner, family nurse practitioner, neonatal nurse practitioner, nurse educator, and nurse leader – offering students a variety of specialties to choose from.
“These current rankings of the master’s and Doctor of Nursing Practice programs recognize the excellence and expertise of the programs, the faculty, and graduates,” says Interim Associate Dean for Graduate Studies Annette Jakubisin Konicki. “Built on the foundation of a commitment to innovating, caring, and advocating, UConn School of Nursing provides the exceptional education needed for graduate-prepared nurses to succeed in this dynamic and evolving profession. It is this work and these accomplishments that drive the success of the School.”
“Our students are dedicated to achieving advanced degrees so they can better serve patients in our communities and teach their fellow nurses.” — Dean Deborah Chyun
The DNP program has continued to climb in the best graduate schools rankings in recent years. Last year, it was ranked No. 44 and, two years ago, was No. 59. UConn’s DNP program was the first ever in Connecticut and is offered primarily online, with intensive format courses required on campus only once or twice a year. Students have the opportunity to specialize in their area of interest, while earning a doctorate focused on practice and leadership.
“UConn’s DNP program positions nurses to be prepared as leaders, faculty, and clinical experts,” says Joy Elwell, clinical professor and director of the DNP program. “Our program provides a strong curriculum along with a broad array of opportunities for students to conduct doctoral studies in their own areas of scholarly interest. Thanks to the quality of our DNP program, our graduates are sought after in top-tier universities and clinical institutions across the country.”
In creating its rankings, U.S. News & World Report focuses on the following categories: assessment from other nursing school deans; assessment from health care professionals; research activity; the number of faculty who are active in nursing practice; faculty credentials; student-to-faculty ratio; faculty’s academic achievements in the nursing field; the number of degrees awarded; student GPA; enrollment; and acceptance rates.
For the 2023 rankings, 199 master’s programs and 158 DNP programs across the country were evaluated.
Find the complete lists of the 2023 U.S. News & World Report Best Nursing Schools: Master’s rankings and Best Nursing Schools: Doctor of Nursing Practice rankings online. Complete information regarding methodologies for the 2023 rankings can be accessed here.
To learn more about the UConn School of Nursing, visit nursing.uconn.edu and follow the School on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or LinkedIn.
