Graduate programs among best in 2026 U.S. News rankings
DNP program is ranked No. 11; Master's program is ranked No. 22. Three DNP specialty programs are in the top 20 nationally.
Rankings in-depth
The UIC College of Nursing’s Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program rose six spots to 11th in the country, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 Best Graduate Schools rankings. The nursing master’s degree tied for 22nd nationally and is the leader in Illinois.
Three specialty programs in the College of Nursing earned top-20 status: the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program (tied for sixth), the Family Nurse Practitioner program (tied for ninth) and the Nurse-Midwifery program (tied for 20th).
UIC Nursing offers 10 DNP specialty areas that lead to advanced practice roles as nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists or nurse midwives, and one that prepares RNs for leadership roles in health systems. The programs at campuses in Chicago, Peoria, Rockford, Springfield and Urbana.
The master’s program tied for the 22nd position with Purdue University and University of South Florida.
Across advanced degree programs, the University of Illinois Chicago continues to demonstrate national strength.
- The graduate program at UIC Retzky College of Pharmacy, which has campuses in Chicago and Rockford, moved up four places to be ranked 11th (tied) nationally. It remains No. 1 in Illinois.
- The School of Public Health’s graduate-level program is tied for 22nd overall nationally.
- The College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs tied at 36th nationally for the best overall public affairs school.
- In the College of Applied Health Sciences, the occupational therapy program ranked fifth in the country, while the physical therapy program tied for 33rd.
- The education administration program offered by the College of Education is ranked 20th.
Not all programs are ranked annually. Visit USNews.com for the most recent rankings and methodology details.