DNP program ranked #4 by U.S. News & World Report
April 8, 2025

U.S. News & World Report placed the University of Minnesota School of Nursing No. 4 in its 2025 ranking of Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs. This is the program’s highest rating in its history.
The school is tied for fourth with Rutgers University – Newark. Johns Hopkins University, Duke University and the University of Washington claimed the top three places in the 2025 rankings.
"Our DNP program has rigorous, evidence-based curricula led by distinguished faculty who are deeply committed to student success," said Stephanie Delkoski, DNP, APRN, WHNP-BC, assistant dean for the DNP Program. "Students have opportunities to engage in transformative clinical experiences, develop advanced leadership skills, and contribute to meaningful healthcare improvements. Our graduates emerge as confident, compassionate leaders, prepared to drive change and elevate patient outcomes across diverse settings."
U.S. News ranked 158 DNP Programs based on 14 indicators including faculty resources, quality assessment, research activity, DNP program size and student selectivity.
Specialty rankings were conducted based on a survey of academics at peer institutions. The school’s nurse-midwifery DNP specialty was ranked No. 8. In the ranking of Best Nursing-Anesthesia (CRNA) Schools the University of Minnesota is tied at No. 41.
The complete rankings and more information on U.S. News’s methodology can be found on its website.