As UCF’s graduate programs continue to rise, they reinforce the university’s role as a national leader preparing professionals to tackle society’s most urgent challenges.
UCF continues our upward momentum in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report Graduate Programs rankings, earning 14 recognitions in the top 50. From emergency management and counseling to nursing and aerospace engineering, UCF’s rise highlights a university-wide focus on faculty excellence, hands-on learning, and preparing graduates to lead in high-impact careers across critical workforces.
A 34-Spot Rise in Advanced Nursing Education
UCF’s College of Nursing jumped 34 spots to No. 37 for Doctor of Nursing Practice Graduate Programs in the nation — the highest ranking in the college’s history.
UCF’s Doctor of Nursing Practice program (DNP) improved ranking reflects a continued investment in academic rigor, faculty expertise and hands-on clinical training designed to address the nation’s growing need for nurse practitioners.
“Healthcare is changing at warp speed,” says Jacqueline LaManna ’13PhD, director of UCF’s family nurse practitioner and adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner programs. “Through a rigorous curriculum, UCF is preparing graduates to be both clinicians and executive leaders to successfully navigate the new realities in healthcare delivery today and in the future.”
UCF’s College of Nursing jumped 34 spots to No. 37 for Doctor of Nursing Practice Graduate Programs in the nation — the highest ranking in the college’s history.
“The success of our acute care nurse practitioner program at UCF is also a reflection of the high quality of our preceptors, who are professionals who have been working in their specialty for a long time and are passionate about sharing their expertise and knowledge with the next generation of practitioners,” says Christopher Blackwell ’00 ’01MSN ’05PhD, director of UCF’s adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner program.
Graduates from the DNP program consistently outperform national first-time pass rates on nurse practitioner certification exams. They also often receive job offers before they even complete their degrees, according to Blackwell.
All full-time faculty hold at least one doctoral degree, more than half remain actively practicing clinicians and many are nationally recognized fellows. Through partnerships with healthcare organizations across Central Florida students gain applied experience alongside expert preceptors in varied clinical settings.
“The incredible amount of support I’ve received from UCF’s nursing professors and the opportunities to make an impact through my research and clinical practice solidified that I made the best choice in my graduate degree,” says Mimi Alliance ’21, a family nurse practitioner doctoral student who provides care and conducts research on the UCF Mobile Health Clinic.
Some of that training is anchored in the college’s Helene Fuld Health Trust STIM Center, an internationally recognized simulation facility that strengthens clinical skills and decision-making before students enter patient-care environments. The STIM Center, as well as UCF’s nursing programs, are housed in the Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion, which opened in Lake Nona in Fall 2025 thanks to generous state and industry support — a proof point of UCF’s ability to solve real-world issues.
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