Twenty-one graduate programs at Florida State University are recognized in the Top 25 among public universities in the 2025 U.S. News & World Report’s edition of Best Graduate Schools, showcasing the university’s prowess across various fields.
Significantly, FSU’s graduate program in Law, the Doctor of Nursing Practice from the College of Nursing, the primary care program from the College of Medicine, and the graduate studies in real estate from the College of Business ranked No. 1 among Florida’s public universities.
“These rankings signify the remarkable commitment of our faculty, the aptitude of our students, and the strength of our graduate programs,” stated FSU President Richard McCullough. “They serve as evidence of our dedication to academic excellence and tangible impact. We are committed to maintaining this momentum and aspiring to achieve even greater milestones.”
“These rankings signify the remarkable commitment of our faculty, the aptitude of our students, and the strength of our graduate programs. They serve as evidence of our dedication to academic excellence and tangible impact. We are committed to maintaining this momentum and aspiring to achieve even greater milestones.”
— FSU President Richard McCullough
Provost Jim Clark remarked that the rising rankings of graduate programs further affirm FSU’s standing as a premier research institution.
“The accomplishments of our faculty and students demonstrate that FSU is effectively grooming the next generation of leaders, innovators, and scholars,” Clark commented. “We are proud of this advancement and enthusiastic about the future.”
U.S. News ranks programs in law, education, business, nursing, and engineering every year, utilizing data regarding enrollment, job placement, faculty quality, and other indicators of excellence.
College of Law
The College of Law advanced 10 positions to No. 38 overall and is rated No. 17 among public universities. This ranking is shared with the University of Florida, Emory University, UC Irvine, and Fordham University. Additionally, FSU appears in the Top 25 among public universities in eight legal specialties: environmental law (No. 8); contracts/commercial law (No. 13); criminal law (No. 14); tax law (No. 15); constitutional law (No. 16); business/corporate law (No. 17); health care law (No. 24); international law (No. 25).
“This is our highest ranking to date, and we are incredibly proud to see our endeavors acknowledged,” expressed Erin O’Hara O’Connor, dean of the FSU College of Law. “We have ascended 18 places over the last two years, emphasizing the caliber of our world-class faculty, our comprehensive legal curriculum, and our exceptional student support services. Additionally, I wish to recognize the university’s dedication to investing in our students’ triumphs — we are thrilled to witness these efforts manifest in our rankings.”
Anne Spencer Daves College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences
The graduate program in education at Anne Spencer Daves College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences is ranked No. 10 among public universities and No. 18 overall. FSU’s programs achieved a position among the Top 20 public universities in all eight specialties evaluated by the publication: special education (No. 10); curriculum and instruction (No. 13); elementary teacher education (No. 17); secondary teacher education (No. 17); education administration and supervision (No. 18).
“I am immensely proud of the faculty, students, and staff at Anne’s College and the impactful work they do to unlock human potential,” commented Damon Andrew, dean of Anne’s College. “Our specialties, in particular, continue to excel, which directly reflects the commitment and research influence of our world-class faculty.”
College of Business
The MBA specialty in real estate from the College of Business attained the No. 1 position in Florida, with a No. 6 ranking among public universities nationwide, and No. 13 overall. This marks a new achievement for the MBA specialty.
“This remarkable success can be attributed to various factors, including our outstanding MBA students and internationally recognized faculty members,” said Michael Hartline, dean of the FSU College of Business. “We are integrating every aspect of the educational journey with practical experiences, from internships to corporate immersion opportunities.”
The college’s specialized graduate studies in real estate — open to students pursuing a master’s degree in business administration (MBA) or finance (MSF) — emphasize the high-demand sector of real estate finance and investment.
College of Nursing
The Doctor of Nursing Practice from the College of Nursing is ranked No. 28 overall and No. 18 among public institutions. The DNP program holds the No. 1 ranking among both public and private facilities in Florida.
“The rankings of the College of Nursing affirm our commitment to excellence and innovation within doctoral nursing education,” stated Jing Wang, dean of the College of Nursing. “Being designated No. 1 in Florida attests to our faculty, students, and staff who are leading transformative advancements in patient care and health care leadership. With ongoing investments in our programs, research, and clinical partnerships, these rankings will continue to improve, further establishing our role as a national leader in graduate nursing education and innovation.”
College of Medicine
The primary care program in the College of Medicine received the highest recognition in Florida among public medical schools. FSU achieved a Tier 2 ranking in the new four-tier ranking system for medical schools introduced in the publication.
“Access to a primary care physician lays a crucial groundwork for healthy individuals and entire communities,” remarked AlmaLittles, dean of the FSU College of Medicine. “This ranking highlights our dedication to addressing the health care requirements of Floridians — and we take pride in the fact that over half of our alumni choose to reside and work in this state.”
FAMU-FSU College of Engineering
The FAMU-FSU College of Engineering is commemorating a significant leap in national acknowledgment, moving up four spots to achieve the No. 56 position among public engineering graduate programs offering doctorate degrees. Furthermore, four of the college’s graduate engineering programs (biomedical, electrical, industrial, and mechanical engineering) have also improved their rankings.
This ascendance illustrates the college’s increasing competence in research, teaching excellence, and innovative strategies for tackling engineering problems. The unique collaboration between Florida A&M University and Florida State University continues to generate valuable opportunities for both students and faculty, as stated by Suvranu De, dean of the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering.
“We are generating momentum through collaborative research initiatives and equipping graduates who are prepared to make significant contributions to society,” De indicated. “As we persist in investing in our individuals and programs, I am confident we will witness our national stature elevate even more in the years ahead.”
College of Communication and Information
This year, U.S. News also recognized the fields of speech-language pathology and library and information studies. These evaluations are based purely on assessments of each program’s quality as rated by academic experts from peer institutions.
FSU’s Library and Information Studies program, situated in the College of Communication and Information’s School of Information, landed at No. 12 nationally and No. 10 among public universities. The school library media specialty retained its No. 1 rank, alongside its No. 3 position in services for children and youth specialty. All three placements are the highest in the state.
The speech-language pathology graduate program in the School of Communication Science and Disorders, part of the College of Communication and Information, achieved No. 14 among public universities and No. 18 overall. This program also holds the title of the best in Florida.
“I am immensely proud of our academic programs and specialties,” remarked Michelle Kazmer, dean of the College of Communication and Information. “The rankings accomplished by the programs in the School of Communication Science and Disorders and the School of Information signify the innovative curricula, distinguished teaching, and impactful translational research conducted in both schools. The enduring quality of these programs over time is remarkable, and I am deeply appreciative to collaborate with such brilliant and dedicated colleagues.”
College of Social Sciences and Public Policy
Graduate programs within the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy also attained acknowledgment in this year’s rankings, based exclusively on the evaluations of each program’s quality as rated by academic experts from peer institutions.
The college’s specialization in local government management ranked No. 10 overall and No. 9 among public universities, while the leadership specialty ranked No. 16 overall and No. 10 among public universities. Primarily housed in the Reubin O’D. Askew School of Public Administration and Policy, the Department of Political Science, and the Department of Urban and Regional Planning, these programs cultivate future leaders in policy and public service for the advancement of numerous local communities, the state, and the nation.
“Once again, the college’s policy programs shine in national rankings of endeavors vital to the functioning of American democracy,” stated COSSPP Dean Tim Chapin. “Our public administration, political science, and planning units prepare graduates with the capabilities and intellectual foundations to be local and national leaders in government service and non-profit organizations. Simply put, the faculty, students, and alumni of these programs play a crucial role in the nation’s operation, and I couldn’t be prouder of the work they accomplish.”
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