VCU news

By Tom Gresham

The Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts ranks among the top five and five other VCU schools are ranked in the top 50 of the U.S. News & World Report Best Graduate Schools list, according to the magazine’s annual rankings released today. Overall, VCU has graduate programs ranked in the top 50 in 22 fields, according to the publication.

The School of the Arts Sculpture program retained its No. 1 ranking, while the school itself is No. 4 in Fine Arts. The school’s ranks rose for Printmaking at No. 2 (previously No. 10), Graphic Design at No. 4 (previously No. 7) and Time-Based/New Media at No. 5 (previously not ranked). The Painting/Drawing program ranks No. 12.

This year’s top-50 rankings included sharp increases from the School of Nursing at No. 33 for master’s (previously No. 53) and No. 37 for Doctor of Nursing Practice (previously No. 44), the College of Humanities and Sciences for Clinical Psychology at No. 43 (previously No. 57) and the School of Medicine for Primary Care at No. 49 (previously No. 55).

The College of Health Professions’ Occupational Therapy program improved to No. 15 (previously No. 17) and its Physical Therapy program kept its No. 20 spot, making both the top programs of their kind in Virginia. In addition, two schools — the School of Pharmacy at No. 20 and the School of Education at No. 26 — retained top-30 rankings, and the Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs was ranked No. 45, with its Public Management & Leadership program at No. 39. The College of Engineering’s Nuclear Engineering program moved up to No. 18 (previously No. 20).

“We commend our outstanding faculty and students for this important recognition,” said Gail Hackett, Ph.D., provost and senior vice president for academic affairs. “Their efforts to ensure excellence at VCU – both in and out of our classrooms, studios, laboratories and clinics – have not gone unnoticed. We congratulate them for their award-winning work.”

Among VCU’s highly ranked programs in previously updated listings are Nurse Anesthesia (No. 1), Fine Arts – Glass (No. 3), Rehabilitation Counseling (No. 4) and Health Care Management (No. 5). Not all program areas receive updated rankings each year. For more about VCU’s rankings, including graduate programs ranked in the top 50 during previous updates by U.S. News & World Report, visit www.vcu.edu/about-vcu/facts-and-rankings/.

To learn more about the newest rankings, visit grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools.