U.S. News released 2025 rankings for best grad schools. How did Penn State fare?
Penn State saw some of its graduate programs’ rankings improve in the U.S. News & World Report’s recently released 2025 Best Graduate Schools rankings, especially in the Best Law School rankings.
U.S. News released its rankings Tuesday for best education, engineering, law, business, medical and nursing schools. Penn State rose one spot in education rankings, Dickinson Law rose 16 spots in law school rankings, and Penn State’s Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing earned national recognition in the rankings of Doctor of Nursing Practice programs for the first time.
Last year, Penn State was not ranked in Best Nursing Schools (Master’s), Best Nursing Schools, Best Business Schools. The university kept its ranking from last year in Best Engineering Schools.
Best Education School: tied-45 (14th in Big Ten)
Best Engineering School: tied-31 (11th in Big Ten)
Best Law School: Penn State University Park — t-68; Penn State Dickinson Law — t-59
Best Business Schools: Not ranked
Best Medical Schools, Research: Not ranked
Best Medical Schools, Primary Care: Not ranked
Best Nursing Schools (Master’s): Not ranked
Best Nursing Schools (Doctorate): tied-64 (t-13th Big Ten)
The Doctor of Nursing Practice program was previously unranked because of its migration from the master’s level to doctoral level, the university said in an email.
“Formerly, the program was considered entirely online; however, with considerable hours spent in-person participating in clinical experiences and presenting comprehensive exams, the program was designated as hybrid, thereby qualifying for the USNWR Best Graduate Nursing Schools rankings again.”
In 2022 Penn State Smeal College of Business transitioned its two-year resident MBA program to a one-year MBA, the university said, so it no longer participates in these rankings. The one-year program is different from the previous program and therefore can’t be directly compared to two-year programs ranked by U.S. News, Penn State said.
In a written statement, Penn State said they’re pleased that the graduate programs “continue to achieve strong rankings across diverse fields of study.”
“With 24 programs ranked in the top 25 nationally by U.S. News for 2025, this is a clear indicator of the high standards we maintain in our graduate offerings,” the university’s statement reads.
Rankings are one way to measure and represent success, and there isn’t a ranking that can capture the full scope of any of Penn State’s program or impact, the university said. The statement pointed to the more than 300 graduate degree programs across six campuses and the 13,000 students it serves.
“Each year, Penn State awards over 4,500 graduate degrees, and the true impact of our programs is most evident in the accomplishments of our graduates. We are dedicated to offering exceptional graduate education that empowers students to become leaders, foster innovation, and address society’s greatest challenges. Our students benefit from learning alongside world-renowned experts, engaging in pioneering research, mentoring undergraduates, and participating in real-world experiences that prepare them for success in their careers and lives,” the university said.
The rankings also included specialty programs in each larger category. The land-grant university’s top-ranked specialty programs are Higher Education Administration (third), Petroleum Engineering (tied for third) and Chain Management MBA Programs (fourth).
Conversely, Penn State University Park tied for No. 151 nationally in Trial Advocacy — up 15 spots from last year — among 193 spots. That doubled as the university’s worst ranking from U.S. News and tied it with 14 other schools in that specific category.
Where Penn State ranks (specialty areas)
Penn State’s full rankings are below. Only the specialty areas where PSU is ranked have been included. For full rankings or more information, visit www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools.
Education Specialties: Curriculum and Instruction Programs — 12 (7th in Big Ten); Educational Administration and Supervision — t-9 (5th in Big Ten); Education Policy — t-16 (t-7th in Big Ten); Educational Psychology — t-17 (9th in Big Ten); Higher Education Administration — t-3 (3rd in Big Ten); Secondary Teacher Education — 15 (9th in Big Ten), Special Education — 13 (7th in Big Ten); Student Counseling and Personnel Services — 4 (3rd in Big Ten)
Engineering Specialties: Aerospace/Aeronautical/Astronautical Engineering — t-15 (t-6th in Big Ten); Biological/Agricultural Engineering — t-12 (t-6th in Big Ten); Biomedical Engineering/Bioengineering — t-43 (12th in Big Ten); Chemical Engineering — t-27 (t-9th in Big Ten); Civil Engineering — t-23 (9th in Big Ten); Computer Engineering — t-25 (t-9th in Big Ten); Electrical/Electronic/Communications Engineering — t-31 (12th in Big Ten); Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering — 25 (8th in Big Ten); Industrial/Manufacturing/Systems Engineering — 13 (6th in Big Ten); Materials Engineering — t-9 (4th in Big Ten); Mechanical Engineering — t-17 (t-6th in Big Ten); Nuclear Engineering — t-12 (5th in Big Ten); Petroleum Engineering — t-3 (1st in Big Ten)
Law Specialties: Business/Corporate Law — UP: t-113, Dickinson: t-113; Clinical Training — UP: t-90, Dickinson: t-90; Constitutional Law — UP: t-98, Dickinson: t-98; Contracts/Commercial Law — UP: t-98, Dickinson: t-98; Criminal Law — UP: t-102, Dickinson: t-118; Dispute Resolution — Dickinson: 86; Environmental Law — UP: t-76, Health Care Law — UP: t-99, Dickinson: t-99; Intellectual Property Law — UP: t-115, Dickinson: t-89; International Law — Penn State UP: t-109, Dickinson: t-93; Tax Law — UP: t-104, Dickinson: t-95; Trial Advocacy — UP: t-151, Dickinson: t-126
In new categories, Penn State Dickinson Law is tied for 27 in law schools with most graduates in public interest law and tied for 37 in law schools with most graduates in federal clerkships.
Business Specialties: Part-time MBA — Pennsylvania State Harrisburg: t-156, Penn State Erie: t-170, Best Accounting Programs — Penn State Smeal: t-39 (t-9th in Big Ten); Best Production-Operations MBA Programs — Penn State Smeal: t-14 (6th in Big Ten); Best Supply Chain Management MBA Programs — Penn State Smeal: 4 (t-2nd in Big Ten)
Medical Specialties: Most graduates practicing in primary care — Penn State College of Medicine: 123; most graduates practicing in rural areas — Penn State College of Medicine: 65; most graduates practicing in medically underserved areas — Penn State College of Medicine: 127
