URochester School of Nursing Ranks No. 11 in U.S. News Top Master’s Programs

The University of Rochester School of Nursing has been ranked No. 11 among U.S. nursing schools — and No. 1 in Upstate New York — for its master’s programs, according to the 2026 Best Graduate Schools guide produced by U.S. News & World Report.

The U.S. News ranking arrives just months after the School of Nursing marked its 100th anniversary on Sept. 15, reflecting a long history of pioneering new pathways for nurses at the master’s and doctoral level.

The School of Nursing offers flexible master’s degree pathways in education, leadership, and six nurse practitioner (NP) specialties. Last fall, the School also launched a Master’s Direct Entry program, offering an opportunity for non-nurses to pursue a new career while developing enhanced skills in key areas such as healthcare leadership, health policy, population health, and quality improvement.

“Our rise in the U.S. News master’s nursing rankings is a testament to the determination, creativity, and brilliance of the people who make up our School of Nursing,” said Dean Lisa Kitko, PhD, RN, FAHA, FAAN. “As we celebrate our Centennial year, this recognition reinforces our continued commitment to shaping both the profession and the health of our communities.”

The School of Nursing has been recognized as an Apple Distinguished School and National League for Nursing (NLN) Center of Excellence in Nursing Education, and has consistently earned Top 40 U.S. News rankings over the past two decades.

An early leader in the Nurse Practitioner movement, the School of Nursing was the first in the nation to introduce an Acute Care NP master’s program in the 1980s, and was also among the first in the country to prepare nurse practitioners in primary care. With a recent shift to hybrid-online learning, the School of Nursing’s NP programs have expanded their reach to nurses across New York.

The School also became one of the first institutions to offer a master’s degree aligned with the Clinical Nurse Leader certification, and remains the only school with a CNL program in Upstate New York. Meanwhile, its Master’s in Nursing Education program, introduced in 2015, has strengthened the pipeline of nursing faculty in the face of national shortages.

The annual U.S. News Best Graduate Schools ranking compiles data on enrollment, job attainment, faculty, and other quality indicators to help prospective students make informed decisions.

"The 2026 Best Graduate Schools rankings are designed to provide those pursuing an advanced degree with a wealth of data to inform their academic choices and to help them as they evaluate their post-college choices,” said LaMont Jones, EdD, managing editor for Education at U.S. News. "Achieving a top rank signifies a program demonstrates strong performance across key metrics – from faculty resources and research activity to graduate employment and student selectivity – which ultimately serves those seeking the best possible graduate education."

Learn more about master’s nursing programs at the University of Rochester. Subscribe to our newsletter for monthly updates. See how the School of Nursing’s academic programs compare to other institutions and programs, and how the rankings are calculated on USNews.com.