The University of Alabama at Birmingham is strengthening its position as a national leader in healthcare education, with multiple graduate programs earning top rankings in the latest U.S. News & World Report Best Graduate Schools list.
A total of 17 UAB graduate and specialty programs ranked among the top 20 in their respective disciplines, including the university’s Master of Science in Health Administration program, which retained its No. 1 ranking in the nation for Healthcare Management, the University announced.
The rankings also highlight UAB’s continued strength across nursing disciplines. The School of Nursing’s Master of Science in Nursing program ranked No. 8, up from No. 11 last year, while the Doctor of Nursing Practice program ranked No. 9—placing it among the top programs nationally and making it the only Southern public institution in the top 10.
Several nursing specialty programs also earned top-10 placements, including Nursing Administration (No. 5) and Doctor of Nursing Practice Administration (No. 6), alongside family nurse practitioner and gerontology tracks.
Beyond nursing, UAB programs in fields tied to healthcare delivery and public health also ranked highly. Among them, Nursing Anesthesia ranked No. 9, Physical Therapy No. 12, Epidemiology No. 13, Public Health Programs No. 14, Biostatistics No. 19, and Occupational Therapy No. 20.
The university’s Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine also received recognition for outcomes, ranking No. 10 for graduates practicing in medically underserved areas, No. 37 for those practicing in rural areas, and No. 50 for primary care.
Beyond healthcare, UAB also received rankings in disciplines including business, engineering, education, and the sciences, underscoring the university’s broader academic footprint in the latest national evaluation.
UAB leaders said the continued recognition reflects the university’s focus on academic quality and innovation.
“UAB’s continued prominence in these rankings reflects our commitment to offering world-class academic programs and research experiences, some of them the first of their kind regionally and nationally,” said Janet Woodruff-Borden, senior vice president for Academic Affairs and provost.
The annual rankings are based on a combination of peer assessments, faculty resources, research activity, and other data measuring program quality.
UAB offers more than 200 graduate programs and certificates across a range of disciplines.
Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].
