Vanderbilt University School of Nursing continues to be among the nation’s top graduate nursing schools in the latest U.S. News & World Report “Best Graduate School” rankings released April 25.
In the new 2024 rankings, VUSN’s Master of Science in Nursing program is ranked No. 6. That is the highest the MSN has placed since U.S. News began ranking graduate nursing programs. For the first time, the MSN Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner program was ranked No. 1.
The school’s Doctor of Nursing Practice program ranked No. 13, with its DNP Executive Leadership track assessed by peer institutions as the No. 1 Administrative DNP degree in the country.
“The past few years have been difficult for nursing professionals, including many of our students. Our faculty and staff have worked unwaveringly to educate and support them in their goals for advanced education, regardless of challenges,” said Pamela Jeffries, PhD, FAAN, ANEF, FSSH, dean and Valere Potter Distinguished Professor of Nursing. “These rankings reflect their dedication and expertise. I am pleased that U.S. News recognizes Vanderbilt’s excellence in educating nurses who impact patients’ lives and health care itself.”
The School of Nursing continues to be highly regarded in six specialty areas ranked by the publication. Its Family Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner programs are No. 2 and Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner is No. 3. The DNP Adult-Gerontology Acute Care program is No. 2.
Its Nurse-Midwifery program is ranked on a multi-year basis so the specialty remains ranked No. 1.
U.S. News & World Report bases best graduate schools rankings on two types of data: expert opinion about program excellence and statistical indicators that measure the quality of a school’s faculty, research and students. The surveys and assessments were conducted from late summer 2022 to early 2023.
Individual specialty rankings were:
| Program | Ranking |
|---|---|
| Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (MSN) | No. 1 |
| Administration (DNP) | No. 1 |
| Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (MSN) | No. 2 |
| Adult-Gerontology Acute Care (DNP) | No. 2 |
| Family Nurse Practitioner (MSN) | No. 2 |
| Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (MSN) | No. 2 |
| Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (MSN) | No. 3 |