Johns Hopkins University graduate programs in education, medicine, public health, and nursing, and in individual disciplines such as biomedical engineering, remain among the best in the nation, according to the newest U.S. News & World Report "Best Graduate Schools" rankings.
The report includes first-place spots for the schools of Public Health and Education, top-two honors for Nursing, and top-three recognition for Medicine.
The master's and doctoral programs at the university's Bloomberg School of Public Health have held the No. 1 spot every year since the magazine began ranking schools of public health more than 20 years ago (new public health rankings are released every four years).
"We are honored and humbled that our peers have once again made us the No. 1 school of public health in the United States, even during this time of explosive growth in public health education," says Michael J. Klag, dean of the Bloomberg School. "We are in this position because of the great work of our faculty, top-notch students, active alumni, dedicated staff, and the many donors and organizations that we work with. They enable us, through research, education, and practice, to protect health and save lives—millions at a time."
The Johns Hopkins School of Education landed first in its category for the second consecutive year, ahead of Harvard and Stanford. The school ranked second in 2013 and sixth in 2012.
David W. Andrews, dean of the School of Education, says his program's repeat first-place ranking is welcome news to those who have worked to elevate the school's standing. In the past year, he says, the school has expanded its doctoral programs, led the way in developing evidence-based models of instruction, and attracted an increasing number of top scholars to its faculty.
"I am proud and honored that the hard work and commitment of our students, faculty, staff, and alumni to improving educational opportunities for all learners have helped us achieve this national recognition," Andrews says. "We are committed to providing students with the best possible education by ensuring access to high-quality teachers, excellent research-based programs, and the most effective school leaders."
The School of Nursing's master's degree programs tied for second with those at the University of California, San Francisco, down from first when nursing programs were last ranked, in 2011. The U.S. News methodology for ranking nursing schools changed this year, adding statistical measures—such as research funding—to the ranking algorithm in addition to data from a reputational survey. The School of Nursing ranked no lower than seventh in five of the nursing specialty categories, including a tie at second in programs for nurse practitioners in adult acute care. The school's online programs ranked third, up from 24th last year.
"This top-ranked recognition is a reflection of the strategic and innovative work of our faculty, students, and alumni who work locally and globally to improve health through nursing research and practice," says Nursing Dean Patricia Davidson. "The rankings are a reminder that our work is never done and that we need to continue to be open to new opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration and partnerships to advance the nursing profession."
The university's School of Medicine tied for third in the nation on U.S. News & World Report's list of top research-oriented medical programs. The school held the third spot alone in 2014 and 2013, and tied for second in 2012. Its programs in internal medicine and geriatrics ranked first in those specialties, while the AIDS program ranked second, women's health third, and pediatrics fourth.
The Whiting School of Engineering jumped two spots to a tie at 25th place, along with Penn State. Biomedical Engineering, a joint program of Engineering and Medicine, remained first in the nation. The university's programs in environmental engineering and environmental health tied at eighth, the same as last year.
The Whiting School's online engineering program rose from 14th to 12th place, while the online program in computer information technology ranked fifth, up from the 13th spot.
For complete listings, go to http://usnews.com/rankings.
