Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and Vanderbilt University School of Nursing have again been ranked among the nation’s elite “Best Graduate Schools” by U.S. News and World Report magazine.
In the publication’s 2016 rankings released this week, the School of Medicine moved up one spot this year to No. 14 among the country’s top programs, while the School of Nursing moved up four spots to No. 11 since its most recent ranking four years ago.
To determine scores, U.S. News & World Report uses a ranking methodology for Schools of Medicine-Research, which arrives at a weighted average across eight indicators.
Programs within the Health Disciplines categories, such as Nursing, Audiology, Clinical Psychology and Speech-Language Pathology, are ranked by a different methodology involving program directors and faculty, and are not re-ranked on an annual basis. Audiology was No. 1, Clinical Psychology No. 14 and Speech-Language Pathology No. 3 when last ranked in 2012.
Jeff Balser, M.D., Ph.D., vice chancellor for Health Affairs and dean of the School of Medicine, said the rankings are a reflection of the dedication to excellence across the Medical Center and University.
“These rankings, and the many others bestowed on us throughout the year, reflect the rising impact that our commitment to delivering world class health care, educating leaders and making high-impact discoveries is having on people everywhere. Our Schools of Medicine and Nursing are increasingly attracting the very brightest who come here to learn from the very best in an environment rich with innovation and excitement.”
Linda Norman, DSN, R.N., Valere Potter Menefee Professor of Nursing and dean of the School of Nursing, said she is proud of the school’s continuing rise among the nation’s top programs.
“We are very proud that we advanced four places to become the 11th ranked graduate nursing school in the country. It is an exceptional achievement that our Family Nurse Practitioner, Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Nurse-Midwifery, Nursing Informatics, Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner and Healthcare Leadership programs are among the top specialty programs.
“There’s never been a better time to pursue a graduate degree in nursing, and Vanderbilt University School of Nursing is among the best places to pursue a graduate nursing program of study. We have nationally renown faculty, dedicated staff, nearly 900 current students pursuing their master’s, Doctor of Nursing Practice or Ph.D. degrees and more than 9,000 alumni who are making a difference in nursing every day,” Norman said.
Among Nursing Specialty disciplines, the School of Nursing’s Midwifery program ranked No. 3; Nursing Informatics, No. 3; Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program, No. 4; Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program, No. 5; Family Nurse Practitioner program, No. 7; Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner program, No. 9; Healthcare Leadership (Nursing Administration), No. 10; and Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner program, No. 12.
Several other Vanderbilt programs were ranked in this latest edition of America’s Best Graduate Schools, including:
• Peabody College of Education and Human Development — No. 3
• Vanderbilt School of Law — No. 17
• Owen Graduate School of Management (Schools of Business) — No. 27; and
• Vanderbilt School of Engineering — No. 35.
The 2016 edition of U.S. News & World Report’s Best Graduate Schools book will be available in print April 7.