Eighteen graduate programs or specialties and two colleges at Old Dominion University earned recognition from U.S. News & World Report in its Best Graduate Schools for 2024, which was released on April 25.
The Darden College of Education and Professional Studies graduate program; the Strome College of Business’ public administration (which is in the public affairs category) and part-time MBA programs; and the master’s and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs in the School of Nursing earned the highest placements in the survey. All ranked among the top 37% of programs assessed in their respective disciplines. The master’s nursing program ranked among the top 10% in the nation. The part-time MBA program moved up 31 spots from its 2023 placement to a tie for No. 89. The Darden College moved up six spots to No. 83.
The rankings for these programs are:
- No. 89 (tie) Best Graduate Part-Time MBA Programs (out of 299)
- No. 83 (tie) Best Graduate Education Schools Programs (out of 456)
- No. 59 Best Graduate Nursing Master’s Programs (out of 603)
- No. 74 (tie) Doctor of Nursing Practice (out of 354)
- No. 98 (tie) Best Graduate Public Affairs Programs (out of 269)
Among other highlights of the rankings:
- The Batten College of Engineering and Technology and eight of its programs are ranked for the fourth consecutive year.
- The public health program moved up 24 spots from its 2023 ranking to a tie for No. 136. The chemistry, computer engineering and physics programs also improved their rankings.
- In addition to the Darden College, nursing master’s, DNP and public affairs programs, the aerospace engineering, environmental engineering and industrial/manufacturing/systems engineering programs placed among the top 100 nationally in their respective fields.
“It is gratifying to receive this national recognition from U.S. News & World Report,” said Austin Agho, provost and vice president for academic affairs. “It is further evidence of the quality and scope of our academic offerings.”
Here is a complete list of the categories where ODU’s graduate programs earned national recognition in the latest U.S. News and World Report survey:
- Business Schools: Part-time MBA
- Chemistry
- Computer Science
- Education Schools
- Engineering Schools
- Aerospace Engineering
- Biomedical Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Computer Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Environmental Engineering
- Industrial/Manufacturing/Systems Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Earth Sciences
- Mathematics
- Nursing DNP
- Nursing Master’s
- Physics
- Public Affairs
- Public Health
ODU offers 42 master's programs, 22 doctoral degrees and numerous certificates and licenses. Instruction is offered through various modes, including on-campus, video streaming, online and portable media. ODU enrolls more than 4,700 graduate students, nearly two-thirds of whom are part-time.
“The latest rankings confirm that Old Dominion University’s graduate profile is on the rise across a wide range of disciplines,” noted Robert Wojtowicz, vice provost and dean of the Graduate School. “Our graduate students and our graduate alumni deliver a tremendous economic impact both regionally and nationally.”
Each year, U.S. News ranks professional school programs in business, education, engineering, law, medicine and nursing, including specialties in each area.
The Best Graduate Schools rankings in these areas are based on two types of data: expert opinion about program excellence and statistical indicators that measure the quality of a school's faculty, research and students.
To see ODU's full graduate program rankings, go to the U.S. News & World Report website.
This is just the latest accolade for ODU. In March, the University earned a Gold ranking as a Military Friendly® School for 2023-2024 from militaryfriendly.com. In September, U.S. News & World Report placed the University among the nation’s top institutions in its Best Colleges rankings. It was the fifth year in a row ODU had made that list. In June, ODU was named a College of Distinction for the 2022-23 academic year. And last April, the University was recognized as a top-tier institution in the Center for World University Rankings' Global 2000 list.