Twenty-one graduate programs at Florida State University are ranked in the Top 25 among public universities in the 2025 U.S. News & World Report’s edition of Best Graduate Schools, demonstrating the university’s excellence across multiple disciplines.
Notably, FSU’s graduate program in Law, the College of Nursing’s Doctor of Nursing Practice, the College of Medicine’s primary care program and the College of Business’ graduate studies in real estate ranked No. 1 among Florida’s public universities.
“These rankings reflect the incredible dedication of our faculty, the talent of our students and the strength of our graduate programs,” FSU President Richard McCullough said. “They are a testament to our commitment to academic excellence and real-world impact. We are dedicated to sustaining this momentum and achieving even greater heights.”
“These rankings reflect the incredible dedication of our faculty, the talent of our students and the strength of our graduate programs. They are a testament to our commitment to academic excellence and real-world impact. We are dedicated to sustaining this momentum and achieving even greater heights.”
— FSU President Richard McCullough
Provost Jim Clark said these rising graduate program rankings reinforce FSU’s reputation as a top-tier research university.
“The success of our students and faculty shows that FSU is effectively preparing the next generation of leaders, innovators and scholars,” Clark said. “We’re proud of this progress and excited for what’s ahead.”
Programs in law, education, business, nursing and engineering are ranked annually by U.S. News, using data on enrollment, job attainment, faculty and other quality indicators.
College of Law
The College of Law climbed 10 spots to No. 38 overall and is No. 17 among public universities. The College of Law shares this ranking with the University of Florida, Emory University, UC Irvine and Fordham University. FSU also ranks in the Top 25 among public universities in eight law 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 ever, and we are incredibly proud to see our efforts being recognized,” said Erin O’Hara O’Connor, dean of the FSU College of Law. “We have risen 18 spots over the past two years, which underscores the strength of our world-class faculty, our robust legal curriculum and our top-notch student support services. I also want to acknowledge the university’s commitment to investing in our students’ success — we’re thrilled to see these efforts reflected in our rankings.”
Anne Spencer Daves College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences
The Anne Spencer Daves College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences graduate program in education ranks No. 10 among public universities and No. 18 overall. FSU programs ranked among the Top 20 public universities in specialties ranked 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 extremely proud of the faculty, students, and staff of Anne’s College and the work they do to maximize human potential,” said Damon Andrew, dean of Anne’s College. “Our specialties, in particular, continue to shine, and that is a direct testament to the dedication and research impact of our world-class faculty.”
College of Business
The College of Business’ MBA specialty in real estate secured the No. 1 spot in Florida, the No. 6 ranking among public universities nationwide, and No. 13 overall. It’s a new high mark for the MBA specialty.
“This significant achievement can be traced to many factors, including our stellar MBA students and world-renowned faculty members,” said Michael Hartline, dean of the FSU College of Business. “We are infusing every facet of the learning process with real-world experiences, from internships to corporate immersion experiences.”
The college’s specialized graduate studies in real estate — available to students pursuing a master’s degree in business administration (MBA) or finance (MSF) — focus on the high-demand area of real estate finance and investment.
College of Nursing
The College of Nursing’s Doctor of Nursing Practice ranked No. 28 overall and No. 18 among public colleges. The DNP program ranks No. 1 among public and private institutions in Florida.
“The College of Nursing’s rankings affirm our commitment to excellence and innovation in doctoral nursing education,” said Jing Wang, dean of the College of Nursing. “Being ranked No. 1 in Florida is a testament to our faculty, students and staff who are driving bold advancements in patient care and health care leadership. With continued investments in our programs, research and clinical partnerships, these rankings will only rise, further solidifying our position as a national leader in graduate nursing education and innovation.”
College of Medicine
The College of Medicine’s primary care program earned the highest designation in Florida among public medical schools. FSU earned a Tier 2 ranking in the publication’s new four-tier ranking system for medical schools.
“Having access to a primary care physician provides a foundation for healthy individuals and entire communities,” said Alma Littles, dean of the FSU College of Medicine. “This ranking underscores our commitment to serving the health care needs of Floridians — and we are proud that more than half of our graduates continue to live and work in this state.”
FAMU-FSU College of Engineering
The FAMU-FSU College of Engineering is celebrating a noteworthy advancement in national recognition, climbing four positions to secure the No. 56 ranking among public engineering graduate programs with doctorate degrees. In addition, four of the college’s graduate engineering program rankings (biomedical, electrical, industrial and mechanical engineering) moved up on the list.
This upward movement demonstrates the college’s growing strength in research, teaching excellence and innovative approaches to solving engineering challenges. The distinctive partnership between Florida A&M University and Florida State University continues to create valuable opportunities for students and faculty alike, according to Suvranu De, dean of the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering.
“We’re building momentum through collaborative research initiatives and preparing graduates who are ready to make meaningful contributions to society,” De said. “As we continue investing in our people and programs, I’m confident we’ll see our national prominence rise even further in the coming years.”
College of Communication and Information
This year, U.S. News also ranked the disciplines of speech-language pathology and library and information studies disciplines. These rankings are based solely on opinions of each program’s quality as rated by academic experts at peer institutions.
FSU’s Library and Information Studies program, housed in the College of Communication and Information’s School of Information, placed No. 12 nationally and No. 10 among public universities. The ranking is the best in the state.
The speech-language pathology graduate program in the School of Communication Science and Disorders, housed within the College of Communication and Information, ranked No. 14 among publics and No. 18 overall. The program is also the best in Florida.
“I’m deeply proud of our academic programs and specialties,” said Michelle Kazmer, dean of the College of Communication and Information. “The rankings achieved by the programs in the School of Communication Science and Disorders and in the School of Information reflect the innovative courses of study, exceptional teaching, and impactful translational research conducted in both schools. The sustained quality in these programs over time is extraordinary, and I am profoundly grateful to work with such brilliant and committed colleagues.”
College of Social Sciences and Public Policy
Graduate programs within the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy also received recognition in this year’s rankings, which are based solely on opinions of each program’s quality as rated by academic experts at peer institutions.
The college’s specialty 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. Housed primarily in the Reubin O’D. Askew School of Public Administration and Policy, the Department of Political Science, and the Department of Urban & Regional Planning, these programs train future leaders in policy and public service to the betterment of countless local communities, the state and nation.
“Once again, the college’s policy programs shine in national rankings of initiatives that are central to the functioning of American democracy,” said COSSPP Dean Tim Chapin. “Our public administration, political science and planning units produce graduates with the skills and intellectual foundations to be local and national leaders in government service and non-profit organizations. Put plainly, the faculty, students, and alumni of these programs help the nation to function, and I couldn’t be more proud of the work they do.”