U.S. News & World Report ranks UCSF School of Nursing’s Doctor of Nursing Practice program No. 1 in California, tied for No. 4 nationally.
The UCSF School of Nursing continues to lead the country in nursing education with the No. 1 ranked Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program in the state, according to U.S. News and World Report’s new 2026 Best Graduate Schools list.
The School of Nursing's DNP program ranked No. 1 in California and tied for No. 4 nationally, among 159 ranked DNP programs nationwide.
“The school’s continued national leadership in educational excellence is a testament to the expertise and commitment of our talented faculty, students, and staff,” says Dean Carol Dawson-Rose, PhD, RN, FAAN. “Grounded in inquiry and innovation, our education programs are dedicated to developing the next generation of health care leaders.”
U.S. News & World Report Best Graduate Schools rankings are based on expert opinion of program excellence and on statistical data of the quality of a school’s faculty, research, students and post-graduate outcomes.
"Our graduates are equipped with the skills, judgment, and confidence to develop solutions for the most complex health issues,” says Interim Associate Dean for Academic Programs Marianne Biangone, PhD, RN, FAAN. “We are committed to preparing nurse leaders at the highest clinical level and at the leading edge of the field of nursing.”
Additionally, in just the second year the program has been eligible, three of the school’s DNP specialties ranked among the top 10 nationally:
- Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner tied for No. 9
- Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner tied for No. 9
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner tied for No. 9
The School of Nursing offers four doctoral program pathways, including two DNP pathways — one for nurses who hold a BSN to become leaders in an advanced practice specialty and a separate, leadership-focused pathway for master’s-prepared nurses. UCSF’s programs prepare students to advance nursing science and lead innovative change in health care and health policy.