Joe C. Wen School of Nursing MSN & DNP programs climb in national rankings

The UCLA Joe C. Wen School of Nursing’s Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) programs have risen to #8 in the nation, according to the latest U.S. News & World Report list of Best Graduate Schools. The school's Doctor of Nursing Practice also improved to #25.

“This recognition reflects the strength and momentum of our academic programs and the collective efforts of our extraordinary community,” said Lin Zhan, PhD, RN, FAAN, dean of the UCLA Joe C. Wen School of Nursing. “Our faculty and students continue to push the boundaries of nursing education, research, and practice, and this ranking affirms the meaningful impact of that work.”

U.S. News & World Report evaluated nearly 300 master’s nursing programs nationwide through comprehensive surveys of deans, faculty leaders, and academic administrators. The rankings look at a variety of program data, including output productivity, student-faculty ratio, research activity, peer evaluations, and more. 

The ranking includes UCLA’s two MSN degree programs; the Master’s Entry Clinical Nurse (MECN) program, designed for students who hold a bachelor’s degree in another discipline and are preparing for a professional nursing career; and the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) program, which prepares nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists for national certification in specialty areas such as pediatrics and adult gerontology acute care.

To better align with the AACN’s New Essentials and meet the evolving healthcare needs of communities nationwide, UCLA is currently transitioning away from the APRN program following the launch of its new Post BSN-to-Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program, which welcomed its first cohort in Fall 2025.

Alongside the MSN program’s improvement, UCLA’s Doctor of Nursing Practice program also saw significant progress in this year’s rankings, moving up #25 nationally. 

With these advancements, the UCLA Joe C. Wen School of Nursing continues to solidify its position as a leader in nursing education, research, and clinical excellence.