Both showed increases in the latest U.S. News ranking of America’s graduate schools

Tampa, FL (March 13, 2015) — Graduate programs at the University of South Florida’s College of Nursing and College of Public Health ranked among the nation’s best in the latest U.S. News & World Report “America’s Best Graduate Schools” edition, appearing online this week.

Last ranked by U.S. News in 2011, the USF College of Nursing’s graduate program ranking jumped substantially from number 64 to number 38.  USF was Florida’s top-ranked graduate nursing program, surpassing such schools as the University of Florida, Florida State University and the University of Miami.  For this latest report U.S. News surveyed more than 500 accredited nursing schools with master’s or doctoral programs and chose to rank master’s programs. At the graduate level, USF’s nursing school offers several master’s programs as well as a PhD program and a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program.

The USF College of Public Health ranked 16 — up from 21 when the school was last ranked three years ago.  The latest USF News report surveyed 50 accredited public health schools in 2014 for rankings calculated in 2015.  At the graduate level, USF’s public health school offers several master’s programs as well as a PhD program and a Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) program.

Dianne Morrison-Beedy, PhD, dean of the USF College of Nursing, pointed to several advances in the nursing graduate program that have contributed to the rise in the USF Nursing ranking.  These have included curriculum revisions that reflect new practice and education standards, state-of-the-art facilities, and strengthening and development of partnerships with practice organizations.

“This acknowledges the college’s ongoing commitment to creating nursing leaders through innovative educational programs that meet the health care needs of the region and the nation,” Dr. Morrison-Beedy, PhD, said.  “We transform health care and transform lives, by preparing nurse practitioners and educators to address the dynamic changes occurring in today’s health care environment. At no time in Florida has this need been greater.”

Donna Petersen, ScD, dean of the USF College of Public Health, commended the faculty, staff, students and alumni who made the latest top-ranking possible.

“This is a significant achievement for our college of public health, and I couldn’t be more proud of all their hard work and dedication,” Dr. Petersen said. “This leap in our rankings is a true testament to our aggressive strategic plan and our efforts to transform our professional degree programs, the MPH and the DrPH, to create an outstanding new Bachelor of Science in Public Health degree program, and to actively conduct and translate research that improves lives.  We are inspired by this recognition to keep getting better at practicing our passions!”

Other USF colleges and programs achieving gains in the U.S. News rankings this time included the College of Engineering, from 110 to 99 in  Top Engineering Schools overall; the College of Education; 92 to 83 in Top Education Schools overall; College of Business Part-time MBA Program, 146 to 130; Industrial/Manufacturing Engineering Program, 58 to 45; and Rehabilitation Counseling Program, 30 to 24.

-USF Health-
USF Health’s mission is to envision and implement the future of health. It is the partnership of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, the College of Nursing, the College of Public Health, the College of Pharmacy, the School of Biomedical Sciences and the School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences; and the USF Physician’s Group. The University of South Florida is a Top 50 research university in total research expenditures among both public and private institutions nationwide, according to the National Science Foundation. For more information, visit www.health.usf.edu

Media contact:
Anne DeLotto Baier, USF Health Communications
abaier@health.usf.edu or (813) 974-3303