U.S. News & World Report ranks UCSF School of Nursing’s Doctor of Nursing Practice and Master of Science programs No. 1 in California
The UCSF School of Nursing continues to lead California in nursing education with the No. 1 ranked Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) and Master of Science programs in the state, according to U.S. News and World Report’s new 2025 Best Graduate Schools rankings.
The School of Nursing's DNP program ranked No. 1 in California and tied for No. 17 nationally. The school’s Master of Science program ranked No. 1 in California and tied for No. 6 nationally.
“The UCSF School of Nursing continues to drive nursing education forward in the state of California and across the country, reinforcing our legacy as a leader in preparing nurses to accelerate innovation and shape the future of health care,” says Dean Carol Dawson-Rose, PhD, RN, FAAN.
U.S. News & World Report Best Graduate Schools rankings are based on expert opinion on program excellence and statistical data on the quality of a school’s faculty, research, students and post-graduate outcomes.
"We are proud of our school’s continued excellence across education, research and clinical practice,” says Interim Associate Dean for Academic Programs Marianne Biangone, PhD, RN, FAAN. “Our achievement is a testament to the expertise of our talented faculty, staff and students, and their steadfast commitment to transforming health and health care.”
In addition to overall program rankings, one of the school’s DNP program specialties and four of the school’s master’s specialties ranked among the top 10 nationally:
- Among the DNP program specialties:
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner tied for No. 5
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner tied for No. 5
- Among the master’s program specialties:
- Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner tied for No. 5
- Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner tied for No. 3
- Family Nurse Practitioner tied for No. 8
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner ranked No. 2
The School of Nursing is committed to preparing the next generation of nurse leaders at the highest clinical level, keeping graduates at the edge of the field of nursing. In that vein, the school transitioned its master’s specialties to the new BSN Entry to the DNP pathway in 2024. The pathway enables individuals with a bachelor’s degree in nursing to become advanced practitioners in a nursing specialty and attain leadership expertise to transform patient care and health policy. Students graduate with the DNP degree, the highest clinical degree in the nursing profession.