FSU Graduate Programs Soar

TALLAHASSEE, FL — Florida State University’s graduate programs rank among the best in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2024 edition of “Best Graduate Schools” released April 9. 

Graduate programs in education, law and nursing continue to shine in the rankings, led by Education’s rise to No. 14 among all public and private universities. 

“Florida State University’s outstanding graduate programs contribute to our prominence as one of the best universities in the country,” said President Richard McCullough. “Our faculty and students are engaged in cutting-edge research, teaching and service that make a positive impact on our state, nation and world. These rankings are a testament to their hard work, dedication and innovation across a wide range of disciplines.” 

Notably, FSU’s graduate program in Education and the College of Nursing’s Doctor of Nursing Practice ranked No. 1 among Florida’s public universities. 

“Outstanding graduate programs are driving FSU’s success as a top research institution,” said Jim Clark, provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs. “These rankings reflect the significant investments FSU is making into graduate education to attract high-quality students and support them in their scholarly and creative activities.”  

Interest in FSU’s graduate programs continues to gain momentum. The number of prospective students who applied for Fall 2024 is already the third largest in university history, and applications are still being accepted. 

“FSU’s colleges and programs continue to gain increasing recognition and these latest rankings are further evidence of this exciting upward trajectory eclipsing our previous numbers,” said Mark Riley, dean of The Graduate School. “There is a very special collective coherence in all our graduate endeavors with our faculty, students and deans, working together to produce significant outcomes, and these efforts are being noticed both nationally and internationally.” 

The College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences’ graduate program in Education rose seven spots to No. 14 overall and No. 6 among publics. In addition, four education specialties placed in the Top 25 among public universities — Special Education (No. 14), Elementary Teacher Education (No. 18), Education Administration (No. 18), and Curriculum and Instruction (No. 22). 

“I am overjoyed at the rankings earned by the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences,” said Damon Andrew, the college’s dean. “Not only are we the top-ranked college among education colleges in Florida, but we also solidified our standing among elite institutions across the nation. My hearty congratulations go to the faculty, staff and students who made this outstanding result possible.”  

The College of Nursing’s Doctor of Nursing Practice continued its upward trajectory, moving seven spots to No. 26 overall and five places to No. 17 among public colleges. The DNP program, which has risen 51 places in three years, ranks No. 1 among public and private institutions in Florida. 

“We’re immensely proud of our DNP program’s national ranking climb,” said Jing Wang, dean of the College of Nursing. “The bold rise of 51 spots in three years reflects the diligent efforts of our world-class faculty who hold prestigious national honors and fellowships, the groundbreaking research our scientists embark on to solve the most complex issues in health care, and the innovative curriculum we offer as we educate the next generation of nurse practitioners leading in primary care, mental health, acute care, lifestyle medicine and health systems change. Congratulations to all our faculty, staff and students on a job well done, as we continue to make Florida State University shine on the national and global stage in our new journey on FSU Health.” 

The College of Law climbed six places to No. 23 among public institutions and eight spots overall to No. 48 overall. Seven specialty programs ranked in the Top 25 among public institutions: Environmental Law (No. 7); Tax Law (No. 12); Contracts/Commercial Law (No. 16); Constitutional Law (No. 18); International Law (No. 18); Criminal Law (No. 19) and Business/Corporate Law (No. 21).  

“We are delighted to be ranked among the nation’s top-tier law schools and to have many of our substantive programs ranked among the Top 50,” said Erin O’Hara O’Connor, dean of the College of Law. “The fact that seven of our programs are ranked in the Top 50 — including environmental law at No. 17 and tax law at No. 28 — reflects the strength of our nationally recognized faculty and the impressive breadth of our curriculum.”