Rush University College of Nursing strengthened its national reputation for excellence, receiving four No. 1 rankings in U.S. News & World Report’s 2022 Best Graduate Schools rankings released March 30. That includes the school’s Doctor of Nursing Practice program, which vaulted seven spots to move into the No. 1 ranking.
Rush’s DNP program has ranked in the top five in four of five years since U.S. News introduced the category. U.S. News assesses DNP programs using the following criteria: peer assessment scores, faculty resources, student selectivity and program size, and research activity.
In addition to the overall DNP category, the College of Nursing ranks No. 1 in the following DNP specialty rankings:
- Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing
- Pediatric Acute Care DNP
- Pediatric Primary Care DNP
Additionally, in January the College of Nursing ranked first for the second straight year in U.S. News’ Best Online Programs list.
“U.S. News’ rankings reflect our high standards, and are a tribute to our excellent faculty, staff and students,” says Christine M. Kennedy, PhD, RN, FAAN, dean of the College of Nursing. “We are so proud of everyone involved and are committed to finding even more ways to innovate and excel. Achieving this during the stress of the COVID-19 year is even more gratifying.”
The College of Nursing ranked in the top 5 in four other categories:
- Nursing Administration (No. 2)
- Adult/Gerontology Nurse Practitioner — Primary Care (No. 2)
- Family Nurse Practitioner (No. 3)
- Adult/Gerontology Nurse Practitioner — Acute Care (No. 4)
Rush improved two spots in both the Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing and Nursing Administration categories. The College of Nursing also moved up 11 places in the Master’s Degree category to No. 13.
The college’s improved rankings reflect Kennedy’s goal to provide a “preeminent space for clinical education and research, constructive collaborations and innovative thinking” when she was named dean in 2020.
This year U.S. News assessed nearly 600 nursing schools in the U.S. with master’s or doctoral programs.
About Rush University College of Nursing
The College of Nursing and its faculty are consistently recognized across the nation and internationally for excellence in nursing education and leadership in the profession. The school’s heritage dates back to 1885, when its first antecedent, the St. Luke’s Hospital Training School of Nursing, opened to offer diploma education to nurses. Today, well over 7,000 baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral students have graduated from the College of Nursing.